Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE is a playwrite, director and actor. He was the artistic director of the Young Vic theatre from 2018-2024, and was previously artistic director of Baltimore Centerstage, and of the Festival of Black Arts and Culture, Senegal, where he wrote and directed the opening ceremony at Senghor stadium.
As a playwright, Kwame was the first African Caribbean to have a play, Elmina’s Kitchen, produced in London’s West End. His triptych of plays was produced at the National Theatre where he later created the online resource, The Black Plays Archive. Kwame is visiting Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford and a patron of Ballet Black and The Black Cultural archives. He also chairs the Warwick Arts Centre advisory board. From 2010 to 2015, Kwame was Chancellor of the University of the Arts London.
Kwame was awarded an OBE for services to drama in 2011, and in 2020 listed as one of the 100 Great Black Britons.
Appointment information
- Appointed by: Prime Minister
- Appointment: 7 January 2022
- Term expires: 6 January 2030
Other Membership
- Chair of Tate Britain Advisory Group
- Ethics Committee