Anthony Ekundayo Lennon
Anthony. Ekundayo Lennon during Open. Art Surgery © Owen Ling
Anthony initially trained as an actor at Weekend Arts College, Cockpit Theatre, and Forum Alternative/Old Vic/Lyric Youth Theatres, followed by extensive work with companies such as Black Mime, Double Edge, Talawa, Black Theatre Forum, Staunch Poets & Players, Carib, and the Liverpool - Everyman Playhouse. Following a shift in focus to directing, he’s was staff director at the National Theatre and assisted at the Almedia, Birmingham Rep, Manchester Exchange, Kiln, Royal Court, Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and when associate director at Talawa he successfully completed artistic director training whilst simultaneously being assistant director for Nikolai Foster’s musical An Officer and a Gentleman (UK tour). Anthony directed the sell-out production of Hatch (Talawa) and his re-visioning of Othello, set in a world of ‘black ops’, eavesdropping and surveillance (Birmingham Hippodrome). He’s a leading co-mentor for Open Art Surgery & Back to the Lab (Breakin’ Convention) with other career highlights including being assistant director for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof directed by Debbie Allen and assisting Iqbal Khan on his historically ground-breaking production of Othello (RSC).
As part of his associate director position at Lyrici Arts theatre company, he mentored and assisted artists with the creation of their individually tailored contributions to the production of Soul Food, co-directed with Keely Augustus. Anthony is a co-dramaturge for Ivan Michael Blackstock’s Traplord, and the production of FREE, created by Akeim Toussaint Buck. As part of Anthony’s continuing relationship with ArtsEd drama school, he has directed Layla’s Room, Contractions, Proof and Snowflake. He is a guest director, sharing his knowledge and skills of theatre making with the first cohort at Academy Breakin’ Convention, the UK’s first level three extended diploma in performance and production arts, specialising in Hip Hop Theatre (Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells East). He is about to collaborate with vocalist Danni Mayers, creating a unique event consisting of song/drama, celebrating the history of Handsworth. (Legacy West Midlands, Birmingham). He is also looking forward to collaborating with Natalie ‘Floacist’ Stewart on her up and coming “Get Write Wellness Retreat” taking place at the Mansion, Bethany, Pennsylvania USA. (FLO Vortex & Speak to My Soul).
Anthony’s a guest speaker, workshop facilitator and educator in relation to exploring ‘race’, identity, culture, positive self-reflection, empowerment and authentic human connection/empathy.