Hi there! My name is Alix Harris and I am lecturer in Drama at the University of Exeter. I deliver on the practice/studio modules within the department. My main focus as a director is to give space and voice to themes of social and racial justice. As a freelance Theatre Director and practitioner, I have worked nationally and internationally in South Africa, Canada and Palestine.

Alongside my work at the University of Exeter I am the founder and Artistic Director of Beyond Face. Beyond Face’s mission is to raise the profile and visibility of Black, Asian and ethnically diverse artist’s and young people on stages and cultural spaces across the South West. We have four strands to our work, young people, early career artists, touring productions, racial justice workshops and consultancy.

Beyond Face was founded from a series of conversations with young people and early career artists who were telling me that they didn’t see the theatre industry as something for them. They hadn’t been to the theatre, or if they had, the spaces they did walk into, they didn’t see themselves reflected and didn’t feel that they belonged there. I asked them, if there was something specifically for them, would they want to be a part of it? They said yes and Beyond Face was formed.

In order for me to grow and build Beyond Face as a company, I needed to research and acknowledge other theatre companies and artists who have been doing this work in the industry before me. I spent a long time learning and being inspired by so many, it was hard to narrow this list down to seven people/companies to highlight.

I am excited to share with you people who have shaped, and are still shaping, the history of Black artists and companies in theatre. Each of them I have admired, some I know and I urge everyone who reads this to learn more about their work and support the initiatives that they are offering the industry. It was important as well to recognise that some of these artists are based/from the South West. The theatre industry can be incredibly focused on London and so I wanted to ensure that there is representation here from the South West, and all of the other companies have toured work to Devon.