My Gurus – Stella Kanu

Generation Xers, like myself are uniquely designed to be influenced by movements and ideas rather than individuals – it’s just how we roll! So, I’m clear about my influences but they are not ‘single-person-guru driven’ as a rule. Black leadership, especially BAMER female leadership, is often created and sustained without mentorship. We are frequently overlooked at the right (emerging) time as mentees in organisations, so often our influences tend to be ‘other’.

Ovalhouse

Ovalhouse has always been an important space for me. It was the first place, as a pre-teen, that I saw theatre being made. I watched Giles Agis, CEO at Brouhaha, and comedian Jim Sweeney apply heavy makeup through huge smiles and lots of laughter; and groups of (mainly men) filling up the dressing room and public spaces with Marcel-influenced mime. It was a heady place for a teen.

Led by Roz Price and Alphi Pritchard, Theatre of Black Women, Black Theatre Co-op and LGBT workshops on political theatre at Ovalhouse supported my youth work practice and my own artistic development during the 1980s. By the time I went off to university, I was equipped with skills and ideas, and ready to use them.

It’s amazing to be back at Ovalhouse, leading the strategy for our new artistic life for the 21st century and our new home in Brixton for 2020.