Women Speak Volumes in Conversation throws the spotlight on the work of pioneering creative older women whose stories need to be told. Over the course of seven weeks we will present seven ground-breaking women who have forged careers across different art forms and whose stories are an inspiration to us all.
Wednesday 16 April 2025 at 7.00–8.30pm
198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, 198 Railton Road, London SE24 0JT
£5
Back in the 1970s, seeing Black British actresses on mainstream TV programmes was a rare thing. So Anni Domingo’s 1977 appearance on the hugely popular action series ‘The Professionals’ alongside actors Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins was a ground-breaking moment, one of many of this Shakespearean actress over her long career.
Born in London and educated in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Anni returned to the UK to attend college, graduating from Rose Bruford School of Speech and Drama. Since then, her extensive acting career includes theatre, film, television and radio plays, from the sci-fi thriller film ‘Outland’ (1981) to recent appearances on BBC’s ‘EastEnders’ and in ‘Three Sisters’ at the National Theatre. As a Shakespearean actor, Anni has toured Europe, the USA and Australia, as well as running workshops on the playwright in schools, youth clubs and theatres. She works regularly as a theatre director and lectures on drama. Turning to writing in later years, an extract from Anni’s novel ‘Breaking the Maafa Chain’ won the 2018 Myriad Editions First Novel competition and was published in the UK (Jacaranda, 2021), the USA (2022) and in Portuguese translation in Brazil (2024). Her first screenplay ‘Blessed Assurance’ has just been filmed and will be out later this year. Anni is now working on her second novel ‘Ominira’ as part of her PhD at King’s College London.
Come and hear about the life and work of this pioneering actress, whose tireless pursuit of excellence has led her to become an award-winning author, and whose teaching has inspired generations of drama students. Anni will be in conversation with literary activist and creative entrepreneur Joy Francis, co-founder of Words of Colour.
These conversations are part of a wider project: Women Speak Volumes Between Generations. Produced in collaboration by Speaking Volumes, Words of Colour and the George Padmore Institute, in association with 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning and the University of Coastal Carolina.
This is the fifth of seven conversations running from 19 February to 14 May which will throw the spotlight on the work of pioneering creative older black women whose stories need to be shared.
The Women Speak Volumes project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
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