Draft:Monique Touko
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Monique Touko | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Theatre director, producer |
| Years active | 2010s–present |
| Known for | Directing The Boy at the Back of the Class, Marie and Rosetta, School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, Liberation, Jaja's African Hair Braiding |
| Awards | The Stage Debut Award for Best Director (2022) Olivier Award for Best Family Show (2026) |
Monique Touko is a British theatre director and producer.[1] She won The Stage Debut Award for Best Director in 2022 for her production of Malindadzimu at the Hampstead Theatre[2] and directed the Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of The Boy at the Back of the Class (Best Family Show).[3] She has directed productions across major UK and West End venues, including @sohoplace, the Lyric Hammersmith, Almeida Theatre, Bush Theatre, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and the Royal Court Theatre.
Early life and education
[edit]Touko studied Law and History at the University of Kent, where she began directing student drama productions.[1] She subsequently pursued professional director training through attachment programs and assistant roles within prominent UK theatre institutions, including the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and the Young Vic.[1]
Career
[edit]Touko's early directing work included assistant and associate directing roles on major productions across regional and London venues. In 2021, she directed the world premiere of Tyrell Williams's play Fair Play at the Bush Theatre, earning critical praise for its exploration of gender and athletics.[4]
In late 2021, Touko directed the thematic drama Malindadzimu by Chris Chikana at the Hampstead Theatre Downstairs.[5] Her work on the production earned her The Stage Debut Award for Best Director in September 2022.[2]
Touko subsequently directed several high-profile stage premieres and revivals, including:
- The Clinic by Dipo Baruwa-Etti at the Almeida Theatre (2022)[6]
- School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh at the Lyric Hammersmith (2023)[7]
- The Boy at the Back of the Class, adapted by Nick Ahad from Onjali Q. Raúf's children's novel, which toured the UK and won the Olivier Award for Best Family Show[3]
- G by Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller at the Royal Court Theatre (2024)
- Liberation by Ntombizodwa Nyoni at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester in co-production with Manchester International Festival (2025)
- Jaja's African Hair Braiding by Jocelyn Bioh at the Lyric Hammersmith (2025).
In 2024–2025, Touko directed the UK premiere of George Brant’s play Marie and Rosetta starring Beverley Knight as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, which premiered at the Rose Theatre Kingston before transferring to the West End at @sohoplace in 2026.[8]
In 2026, Touko co-directed the world premiere of Ryan Calais Cameron's play The Afronauts at the Royal Court Theatre's Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, closing the venue's 70th anniversary season.[9]
Directing credits
[edit]Selected theatre productions
[edit]| Year | Title | Playwright / Adapter | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Fair Play | Tyrell Williams | Bush Theatre |
| 2021 | Malindadzimu | Chris Chikana | Hampstead Theatre |
| 2022 | The Clinic | Dipo Baruwa-Etti | Almeida Theatre |
| 2023 | School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play | Jocelyn Bioh | Lyric Hammersmith |
| 2023–2024 | The Boy at the Back of the Class | Nick Ahad | UK Tour / Rose Theatre Kingston |
| 2024 | G | Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller | Royal Court Theatre |
| 2024–2025 | Marie and Rosetta | George Brant | Rose Theatre Kingston / Chichester Festival Theatre |
| 2025 | Liberation | Ntombizodwa Nyoni | Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester |
| 2025 | Jaja's African Hair Braiding | Jocelyn Bioh | Lyric Hammersmith |
| 2026 | Marie and Rosetta (West End Transfer) | George Brant | @sohoplace |
| 2026 | The Afronauts | Ryan Calais Cameron (co-directed with Ryan Calais Cameron) | Royal Court Theatre |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | The Stage Debut Awards | Best Director | Malindadzimu | Won |
| 2026 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Family Show | The Boy at the Back of the Class | Won |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Monique Touko Biography". Bristol Old Vic. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
- 1 2 "The Stage Debut Awards 2022 winners announced". The Stage. 2022-09-18. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
- 1 2 "Olivier Awards Winners 2026". Official London Theatre. 2026-04-12. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
- ↑ Wyver, Kate (2021-12-13). "Fair Play review – gripping run around the track of women's athletics". The Guardian. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
- ↑ Akbar, Arifa (2021-09-24). "Malindadzimu review – a poignant quest to confront Africa's past". The Guardian. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
- ↑ "The Clinic review – tension builds in tense political drama". The Guardian. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
- ↑ "School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play review". Theatre Weekly. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
- ↑ "Theatre reviews roundup: Marie & Rosetta with Beverley Knight". Theatre Reviews. 2026-03-08. Retrieved 2026-10-02.
- ↑ "Royal Court Theatre 70th Anniversary Season Announcement". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 2026-10-02.