Mojisola Kareem-Elufowoju began her working life as a human rights lawyer and only in her 40s ventured professionally into her first love – theatre and performance. Here she shares how her career has unfolded.
15 years ago, Mojisola returned to university to kickstart her second career studying theatre performance at York St John University. Her first job was a 6-month internship at York Theatre Royal and from there she built relationships across the industry enabling her to work nationally and internationally.
CEO & Artistic Director, Utopia Theatre (2012 - present)
I’ve always had the ambition to establish an authentic theatre company to empower and engage African communities, support emerging artists and inspire the next generation. And I wanted to do it in the North of England - my home - a place with gaps in creative opportunities for people marginalised from mainstream theatre.
When I launched Utopia Theatre in 2012, it was a milestone. I’d spent years working hard to make connections and build a network of people with the drive to make a difference. I was thrilled to secure a partnership with Sheffield Theatres which saw us become a resident company at The Crucible. What an amazing breakthrough!
From there the company has grown and developed hugely. We commission both new writing and present classics in an African context to dispel stereotypes and encourage authentic voices from the African diaspora. We have commissioned and devised multiple productions with a combination of professional and community actors. And we have produced and toured shows to more than 30 venues across the UK and internationally.
We have an experienced board of trustees, underpinning our governance and helping to bring our vision to life. This work has culminated in securing pivotal funding from Arts Council England and being named a National Portfolio Organisation in the latest round. Another proud and humbling moment.
From that, we’ve been able to launch our Youth Academy, running classes and workshops for 9 to 19-year-olds alongside a programme of mentoring and training. It’s the first of its kind in Sheffield, providing opportunities for young people of African and Caribbean descent, as well as those from other minority groups. By breaking down barriers, the academy supports young people to be confident future leaders.
All Our Goals, Utopia Theatre at Sheffield Crucible. Photo: Dan Stead
Guest director (2019 – present)
My focus on inspiring the next generation of storytellers - directors, producers and performers - has led to invitations to direct at several prestigious organisations including the British American Drama Academy, East 15 and the University of West Scotland.
I have worked with hugely talented people on productions which push the boundaries and open up access to the arts and have given me the chance to present true representations of African culture which help the next generation take flight.
During the pandemic, I partnered with London South Bank University on a creative hub: This a programme offering free online courses and talks for people of African origin aged 16 and over. The sessions were run by industry experts and covered a wealth of topics including set, costume and sound design and marketing. It was hugely appreciated and at a time of uncertainty, it provided reassurance as well as skills development.
This work has enabled me to grow as a theatre maker and teacher. In particular, engaging with overseas students has allowed me to experiment with new ways of working and added huge value to my professional practice.
Staff director, National Theatre (2019-2020)
During my time at the National, I directed Three Sisters by Inua Ellams. Based on a tale of love and longing in 1960s Nigeria, the play told the story of Lolo, Nne Chukwu and Udo - all grieving the loss of their father. It was a privilege to stage such a unique African story.
Opening productions to wider audiences, via runs on mainstream theatre stages, enables my community to share stories of our African culture and heritage, often with a new, refreshing lens on a traditional tale.
I met such an eclectic range of people, and it was amazing to feel the buzz that surrounded our work in London. But while it was fabulous to be part of this, it felt a bit of a London ‘bubble’ at times.
I travelled home to Sheffield regularly and boarding the train north gave me an even stronger incentive to establish a northern base. It made me see the cultural gaps that were so blatantly present, and I saw the potential to produce such high-quality productions across the UK and worldwide.
Founding member, Mosaic Opera Collective (2018 - present)
Mosaic Opera Showcase is an exciting programme celebrating Black and Asian opera makers in the UK, with a focus on stories yet to be seen or heard in contemporary Britain. From West Africa to Armenia to Ancient China and beyond, the collective exists to showcase opera traditions from around the world, mixed with jazz, Chinese orchestra, edgy contemporary classical and more.
I co-founded Mosaic Opera Collective as a response to the dearth of Black, Asian/global majority makers and narratives in opera. It extends my work as an inclusive arts activist allowing me to investigate why the conversation about diversity in opera has stalled. Why is the casting of singers so narrow and why isn’t there more interrogation of the operatic canon, which is flawed and stagnant?
By cultivating relationships with leading opera practitioners, organisations and producers, the collective has started to reshape that conversation to include investing in opera-makers from the global majority at the beginning of the creative process.
Human rights lawyer (1999 - 2008)
After completing my post-graduate degree in Law at Leeds Metropolitan University, I worked as a human rights lawyer. My work involved representing asylum seekers in the UK. It was challenging but extremely rewarding work, which required me to advocate for minority voices daily. It helped me to build connections and confidence representing others and, ultimately, inspired me to find my path back to theatre.
Mojisola Kareem-Elufowoju is the founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Utopia Theatre.
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