Nadine Deller is a theatre researcher who writes about Black women’s theatre and the National Theatre’s Black Plays Archive, and is the creator and co-host of That Black Theatre Podcast, which charts Black theatre histories in Britain. Nadine is Black and dual-heritage, so reclaiming Black histories and dismantling stereotypes of what is to be Black and British is very important to her. She has a passion for film (which she also writes about!) and her family are from the Seychelles, home to beautiful beaches and the world’s largest nut, the coco-de-mer!
MEET NADINE
Why did you decide to work in theatre?
I decided to do a PhD on Black theatre because I think seeing yourself represented in culture is vital, and I’m interested in the intersections between race, gender, class, sexuality and performance. Doing a PhD with the National Theatre on the Black Plays Archive was a fantastic opportunity to rediscover Black theatre histories and share them beyond the academy. Theatre is a vehicle for empathy and social change, and I believe that it can give voices to marginalised perspectives and lead us to rethink the world we live in for the better.
Theatre is a vehicle for empathy and social change, and I believe that it can give voices to marginalised perspectives and lead us to rethink the world we live in for the better.
What’s something that you've learned along the way that you use often?
Something that I have learned along the way is to remind yourself of how far you’ve come and to actively believe in yourself. As a person of colour in a majority white institution, sometimes it can be hard to feel your voice is heard, so I try to appreciate the work I do, remind myself that it didn’t happen by accident, and to value myself as much as I value the achievements of other people.
What experiences have shaped who you are and how you work?
I think my childhood has really shaped my approach to life and my work ethic. I grew up on a council estate in a large dual-heritage family, so I’ve always been encouraged to be proactive and work hard to get what I want from life. I grew up in a pretty political household, and I was encouraged to read a lot, so I’ve always been invested in all kinds of writing that isn’t necessarily in the ‘canon’, Black politics and feminism, which heavily influence the work I do and my perspectives in life.
What advice do you have for people wanting to engage with the arts during this difficult time?
The advice I would give to people who want to engage with the arts at the moment is that the arts really need support right now more than ever, so if you can donate to your local/favourite theatre, it will make a real difference. I’d also say that the internet is an amazing tool to engage with what theatre companies are doing right now. I’m amazed at the work that is being created by the National, the Bush theatre, the Young Vic and Graeae theatre (and so many others)!
I would love to see more work by Black writers – particularly work by Back women, Black queer, and Black trans creatives.
What kind of theatre would you love to see more of?
I would love to see more work by Black writers – particularly work by Back women, Black queer, and Black trans creatives. There are so many wonderful stories out there that aren’t being given the platforms they deserve, and seeing Black theatre is something that was so rare for me as a child, so I just want to see more and for our voices to be heard on stage. As a Seychellois, I’d also really love to see some theatre about our history and culture, as it’s so under-represented in Britain.