Collective Artistes (CA) is an international Black ensemble committed to producing culturally diverse professional and community theatre of social concern. Formed in the UK in 2002, Collective Artistes received its charity status in 2006. Our creative team and core performing company has been working together since 1997 in major productions touring nationally and internationally.

CA's mission is to nurture, create, produce and present dramatic experiences from a participatory base which are eclectic, non compartmental and humanely indexed, utilising cultural diversity as a springboard to activity. Forever central to Collective Artistes mission, is to embrace the African Diaspora communities, to address the needs of its members and to promote a complex and positive perception of Africa and the African Diaspora to UK and international audiences.

Collective Artistes' national and international touring productions have included: Things Fall Apart (1997 and 1999), the award winning Yerma (2001), Sense of Belonging (2002 and 2003), and Trojan Women - Women of Owu (2004). Our most recent production, The Lion and the Jewel, was co-produced with the Barbican and the Young Vic as part of the Barbican BITE/Young Genius season and received great critical acclaim. Collective Artistes has partnered with major regional theatres, production companies and festivals, including the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Chipping Norton Theatre Company, Arcola Theatre, London International Festival of Theatre, the Commonwealth Games, the Young Vic and the Barbican. The company's proven track record of producing and managing large touring productions has won the respect of critics, audiences and our fellow theatre companies. Collective Artistes has been repeatedly approached to contribute to professional publications with articles on our working methods, as well as being included in publications on international theatre practice. These publications include 'African Theatre in Development', the International Schools Theatre Association's handbook on international theatre practice, and 'The Turning World: Stories from the London International Festival of Theatre'.