Dr Suzann McLean MBE spills the T on Peckham’s success stories
What were you doing back in 1986? Over in Peckham something really exciting was just beginning, with the initial launch of Theatre Peckham, now celebrating its 40th anniversary. As part of this, their eighth Young, Gifted and Black season presents a spectacular season of work from diverse, talented creatives. We were excited to know more about what’s on the schedule, about how Theatre Peckham has evolved over the last four decades and what the future holds for all those involved. Seems like the best thing to do then was call up Dr Suzann McLean MBE, Theatre Peckham’s CEO and Artistic Director, to fill us in on this amazing success story.
CEO and AD Theatre Peckham
Hi Suzann. Thank you so much for chatting with us today about Theatre Peckham’s fortieth anniversary and the upcoming season. Forty years is a long time to still be around for any organisation. What did Theatre Peckham set out to do when it was established, to lay the foundations for this longevity?
At its heart, Theatre Peckham was founded on a very simple but powerful belief that where you’re born, the colour of your skin or your family’s income should never determine your access to creativity. Back in 1986, young people in Peckham had talent in abundance but opportunities were limited. Theatre Peckham set out to change that by creating a space where young people could be seen, heard and celebrated.
I think the reason we’ve been around for forty years is because we’ve never lost sight of that mission. We’ve evolved, we’ve grown, we’ve responded to the changing needs of our community, but our purpose has remained the same. Every generation of young people has needed somewhere go, somewhere to grow and somewhere to shine. Theatre Peckham continues to be that place.
This is the eighth year of the Young, Gifted and Black programme, which runs right through Black History Month. What makes it so successful and why is it an important part of what you do?
The success of Young, Gifted and Black comes from being rooted in community. It reflects the voices, experiences and creativity of the young artists who make our community so brilliant.
This year’s Black History Month theme, Honouring Our Communities, feels particularly significant for us because it speaks directly to what Theatre Peckham has been doing for forty years. It’s about recognising the everyday people who shape Black communities across Britain. Whether it’s a young person stepping onto a stage for the first time, a parent supporting their child’s creative journey, or an artist returning to mentor the next generation, these are the people creating legacy in real time.
The title, inspired by Nina Simone’s Young, Gifted and Black album, captures the spirit of our season perfectly. It’s a celebration of talent and potential. Through the season, we’re honouring those who have paved the way and championing the young people who are shaping what comes next.
What have responses to it been like from creatives and the local community across the years?
The response has been fantastic. Over the years, Young, Gifted and Black has become something our community genuinely feels part of. A reviewer from Everything Theatre, Philip Rham, recently summed it up perfectly when they said, “If this is the standard of the shows in this Young, Gifted and Black season then we are in for a real treat of talents and promise. Remember these names, you saw them first at Theatre Peckham!”
One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing young people who first engaged with us as audience members later returning as artists. That’s so special because it shows that Young, Gifted and Black is creating lasting connections across generations.
This seems to be a particularly empowering season, with a whole variety of events, from drama to spoken word. Could you perhaps start by telling us about playing Shakespeare with young Black creatives and what that means both for them as individuals and in our wider culture?
This year’s Young Peckham Company produced A Midsummer Night’s Dream to open our season. They chose to work with a Shakespeare as they wanted to take a timeless story and make it relevant to a new generation.
Too often, conversations about young Black people focus on challenge and struggle. What this production offered was something beautifully different. It centred joy. It centred romance. It centred friendship. It gave Black characters the space to be playful, soft, desirable and full of possibility. The result was funny, heartfelt and full of energy, and the audience response showed just how much people connected with seeing Black joy take centre stage.
And what are some of the other highlights in this year’s programme?
This year’s season explores themes of migration, memory, identity and belonging through a range of exciting productions and events. Plays such as , X Marks the Spot and A Collection of Conversations tell stories about place, community and the experiences of young Black people today. Themes of friendship, resilience, responsibility and the choices people make as they move through life run through Don’t Write Me Off, In Her Eyes I’m a Good Man and the return of Tobi King Bakare’s Before I Go: Marcel. Spoken word piece No Photos, and Intrusive Theatre’s In My Head, examine the internal worlds of young people navigating self-image, relationships and mental wellbeing.
We’re also delighted to support early career writers through the Alex Wheatle Witness Writing Project, helping ten new playwrights develop their craft, alongside the return of Poetry Foyer, which continues to platform outstanding spoken word artists.
Our season closes with Legacy After Dark, bringing together some of London’s most exciting young Black dancers, singers, rappers and highlighting the talent and ambition shaping the future of Black culture.
You’ve collaborated with a number of external organisations in putting the season together. What was the intention there?
Collaboration is part of our DNA. The challenges facing the cultural sector can’t be solved by organisations working in isolation. When we collaborate, we create more pathways for artists and build stronger ecosystems around young people. We’ve always believed that if we’re serious about creating opportunities, we have to work collectively.
Hot on the heels of Young, Gifted and Black is your festive show A Ladd in Peckham, which you’re directing. Can you give us a sneaky peek into what to expect there?
Absolutely. It’s a show about 1 Lad, 2 Phones and 3+ Wishes!
Audiences can expect all the ingredients of a great festive show: original music, laugh-out-loud comedy, audience interaction, plenty of festive magic and a healthy dose of Peckham charm.
At its heart is a story about identity, community and believing in yourself. Our Aladdin discovers that the things we value most in life can’t be wished into existence.
What I particularly love about this production is that it brings together professional actors and young performers from our Academy. That’s always been the Theatre Peckham way, creating opportunities, celebrating talent and putting our community at the heart of everything we do. I am very excited for audiences to see the show.
Finally, what do you hope will be taken away by the creatives/alumni and the wider community when the season ends?
My hope is that the artists involved leave feeling more confident in their voice and more ambitious about their future. For audiences, I hope they discover new artists and leave having laughed, reflected and connected with stories that resonate.
More than anything, I hope that everyone feels a greater sense of belonging. That’s really what Theatre Peckham has been about for forty years.
Thanks very much to Suzann for this brilliant insight into an exciting month of work. The eighth Young Gifted and Black Season runs at Theatre Peckham until Friday 30 October. You can find out all about it below.
