Natasha Gordon

Natasha Gordon

MBE
Born
Natasha Delia Letitia Gordon

1976 (age 49–50)
London, England
Occupation
  • Actor
  • playwright
EducationHoly Family Catholic School
Alma materGuildhall School of Music and Drama
Notable worksNine Night (2018)

Natasha Delia Letitia Gordon[1] MBE (born 1976)[2] is a British playwright of Jamaican heritage. In 2018, after a career as an actor, she made her debut as a playwright with the play Nine Night, becoming the first black British female playwright to have a play staged in the West End.[3] Nine Night was also nominated for Best New Comedy at the 2019 Olivier Awards, making Gordon the first Black British Female Playwright to be nominated.

Early life and education

Natasha Gordon was born in North London in 1976 to parents who were both migrants from Jamaica.[4] Her grandparents had arrived in London from Jamaica by boat as part of the so-called Windrush generation in the late 1950s. Her mother joined them in 1963, where she found work, a Jamaican-born husband, and a comforting West Indian community.[4]

Gordon grew up in the Leyton and Walthamstow areas and was a pupil at Holy Family Catholic School.[5] She has credited her drama teacher at school for her love of acting and performing on stage.[6][5] Gordon studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999.[7][8] She had auditioned three times before being accepted onto the course.[6]

Career

Acting

As an actor, Gordon's stage credits include Red Velvet (Tricycle Theatre), The Low Road and Clubland (Royal Court Theatre), Mules (Young Vic) and As You Like It (Royal Shakespeare Company). Her film and TV credits include Dough, Line of Duty, Class and Danny and the Human Zoo.[9]

Writing

Initially trained as an actor, Gordon started writing later in her career in response to the lack of opportunity offered to actresses of colour, especially as they get older and especially in lead roles.[10][6] She has spoken about feeling a sense of responsibility to “create work for Black actors and for female actors” as a playwright.[11] Nine Night is Gordon’s debut play, which premiered in 2018 at the National Theatre and won her several accolades.

Gordon was appointed to be an Associate of the National Theatre in 2023, where she is also under commission.[12] In 2024, she was a finalist in the Hermitage Major Theater Award, earning her a residency and fellowship at Hermitage, as well as a cash prize of US$1,500.[13] In 2025, she was announced as one of six writers in residence at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she has been commissioned to write a new play.[14]

Nine Night

Main article: Nine Night

Gordon's debut play, Nine Night, premiered at London's National Theatre in April 2018[15] and received critical acclaim.[16] It later transferred to London's Trafalgar Studios on 1 December, marking a historic moment as Gordon became the first black British female playwright to have a play in the West End.[17][18] In a profile by The Guardian newspaper, Gordon explained that the "nine night" ritual of gathering to eat, drink and share stories helped her connect with her family's past and served as inspiration for her first play. She also mentioned the deportation threats faced by many of the Windrush generation as a catalyst for her to delve deeper into her grandparents' challenges.[4] The success of the play led to Gordon winning the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright in 2018.[19]

In 2019, The Guardian writers ranked Nine Night the 17th best theatre show since 2000.[20]

Recognitions

In 2019, Gordon was recognised in The Stage 100 list, which recognises 100 most influential people in the theatre and performing arts sector in the UK in a given year.[8] She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to drama.[21] In 2021, she was made a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, her alma mater.[7]

Personal life

Gordon's partner is Tom Anderson, who is also an actor. She has two children.

Gordon has spoken about the lack of racial diversity in the theatre industry in the UK. On becoming the first Black female playwright to have her work staged in the West End in 2018, Gordon said, "It didn’t occur to me that it hadn’t happened before; I felt sad and angry that that is the case".[11] Gordon sees her achievement as a way to pave the way and "push the door open even wider" for other Black British theatre makers.[6]

In 2018, Gordon was a contributor to the book Mother Country: Real Stories of the Windrush Children, edited by journalist Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff.[22]

Acting credits

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue/Production company Refs
2001 Clubland (by Roy Williams) Sandra Royal Court Theatre [23]
2001-2002 Aladdin Princess Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith; Told by an Idiot production [24]
2002 Skin Deep (by Richard Vincent) Dr Amanda Holland Warehouse Theatre [25][26]
2002 Inside Out (by Tanika Gupta) Diana Arcola Theatre; Clean Break production [27]
2003 As You Like It Phebe Swan Theatre and Eisenhower Theater; Royal Shakespeare Company production [28][29]
Cymbeline Helen Swan Theatre; Royal Shakespeare Company production [30]
2003-2004 The Tamer Tamed Country Wife Swan Theatre, Queen's Theatre, Eisenhower Theater; Royal Shakespeare Company production [31][32][33]
2010 - 2012 Speechless Jennifer Gibbons Sherman Cymru and Shared Experience production; Traverse Theatre, Bute Theatre (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama), and UK tour [34][35][36][37]
2012-2014 Red Velvet Connie Tricycle Theatre, St. Ann's Warehouse [38][39][40]
2013 The Low Road Old One-eyed Tizzy Royal Court Theatre [41]
2016 LUCE Harriet Southwark Playhouse [42]
2018 Nine Night Lorraine Trafalgar Theatre [11]

Film and television

Title Year Role Network/Channel Note
The Bill 1994 Annie Sims ITV Series 10, Episode 41
2000 Amy Okin Series 16, Episode 35
Holby City 2004 Gayle Horton BBC One Series 6, Episode 34
Little Miss Jocelyn 2006 BBC 2 episodes
EastEnders 2007 Natasha Powell BBC One 2 episodes
2016 Kay Breeze 1 episode[43]
Doctors 2006 Karen Dennis BBC One Series 7, Episode 166
2007 Nimi Jones Series 9, Episode 131
2016 Ella Ward Series 17, Episode 166
10 Days to War 2008 Receptionist BBC Two Episode 3
Law & Order UK 2010 Andrea Poole ITV Series 4, Episode 2
Danny and the Human Zoo 2015 Pearl BBC One Television film
Dough 2015 Safa Habimama N/a Feature film
You, Me and the Apocalypse 2015 Higgs Sky One Series 1, Episode 1
Line of Duty 2016 PS Karen Marley BBC Two Series 3, Episode 1
Class 2016 Vivian Adeola BBC Three 3 episodes

Writing credits

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Refs
2010 Stage Awards for Acting Excellence Best Actress Speechless Nominated [44]
2018 The Stage Debut Awards Best Writer Nine Night Nominated [45]
Standard Theatre Awards Most Promising Playwright Won [46]
Critics’ Circle Theatre Award Most Promising Playwright Won [47]
2019 Olivier Award Best New Comedy Nominated [48]
2024 Hermitage Major Theater Award N/a Finalist [13]

References

  1. ^ "New Year Honour's list revealed". Barnet Borough Times. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  2. ^ Kleeman, Tasha (9 December 2018). "On my radar: Natasha Gordon's cultural highlights". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  3. ^ Rogers, Jami (19 June 2018). "Nine Night's West End transfer is a first for black theatre in Britain". The Stage. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Rhodes, Giulia (5 May 2018). "Grandma's traditional Jamaican wake brought me closer to the Windrush generation". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Natasha in Clubland". News Shopper. 28 June 2001. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d "SheCan Interview: As Nine Night transfers to the West End we talk to Natasha Gordon Playwright/Actress - Alt A Review". alt-africa.com. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  7. ^ a b "Natasha Gordon (BA Acting)". Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  8. ^ a b "Guildhall alumni & honorary fellows named in The Stage 100". Guildhall School of Music and Drama. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  9. ^ Able, Sane and. "Natasha Gordon - The Agency". The Agency. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  10. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (20 November 2018). "Natasha Gordon: 'We should celebrate when we have six black British female playwrights in one year in the West End'". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  11. ^ a b c Crompton, Sarah (4 December 2018). "Natasha Gordon interview: 'I didn't experience prejudice in Britain until I went into the middle-class world of theatre'". The Independent. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  12. ^ "National Theatre Associates". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  13. ^ a b "Chris Bush Announced as The 2024 Hermitage Major Theater Award Recipient". Theatre Weekly. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  14. ^ "RSC Announces new Playwrights in Residence". www.whatsonlive.co.uk. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  15. ^ "Nine Night | National Theatre". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  16. ^ Billington, Michael (1 May 2018). "Nine Night review – joy and grief as generations collide at Jamaican wake". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  17. ^ Body, Jamie (19 June 2018). "National Theatre's Nine Night announces West End transfer". The Stage. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  18. ^ Shenton, Mark (25 July 2018). "There are still glass ceilings for diverse theatremakers". The Stage. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  19. ^ Thompson, Jessie (19 November 2018). "Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 - The Winners". Evening Standard. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  20. ^ Billington, Michael; Soloski, Alexis; Love, Catherine; Fisher, Mark; Wiegand, Chris (17 September 2019). "The 50 best theatre shows of the 21st century". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  21. ^ "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N18.
  22. ^ Kopotsha, Jazmin. "What It's Really Like To Be A Child Of The Windrush Generation". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  23. ^ "Clubland". Black Plays Archive. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  24. ^ Taylor, Paul (12 December 2001). "Aladdin, Lyric Hammersmith, London". The Independent. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  25. ^ Nelson, Paul. "indielondon.co.uk - theatre - Skin Deep, Warehouse Theatre, Croydon, review". indielondon.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  26. ^ van Emst, Christine (8 May 2002). "A Skin Deep secret". Your Local Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  27. ^ Gardner, Lyn (20 November 2002). "Inside Out". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  28. ^ Orme, Steve. "Theatre review: As You Like It at Swan, Stratford". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  29. ^ Marks, Peter (25 April 2003). "From Royal Shakespeare, A Hard-to-Love 'As You Like It'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  30. ^ McDonald, Russ (2003). "Reviewed Work: Cymbeline by Royal Shakespeare Company, Dominic Cook". Shakespeare Bulletin. 21 (4): 62–65 – via JSTOR.
  31. ^ Hopkins, Chris. "Review of The Tamer Tamed". Early Modern Literary Studies. 9 (2). Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  32. ^ Harris, Paul (30 December 2003). "The Taming of the Shrew / The Tamer Tamed". Variety. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  33. ^ Loveridge, Lizzie (28 January 2004). "The Tamer Tamed, a CurtainUp London review". www.curtainup.com. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  34. ^ Gardner, Lyn (8 August 2010). "Speechless". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  35. ^ "Speechless, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama". South Wales Argus. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  36. ^ "Speechless, Arcola - review". The Standard. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  37. ^ Teale, Polly (10 April 2012). "Gender bias on stage - Shared Experience Theatre Company". The Standard. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  38. ^ "Red Velvet, Tricycle Theatre". Everything Theatre. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  39. ^ "Cast returns for Red Velvet | Official London Theatre". officiallondontheatre.com. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  40. ^ "Red Velvet at St. Ann's Warehouse: The Moor Comes to Brooklyn". HuffPost. 1 April 2014. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  41. ^ Fisher, Philip (23 March 2013). "Theatre review: The Low Road at Royal Court Theatre Downstairs". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  42. ^ Loxton, Howard (9 March 2016). "Theatre review: Luce from Fuse Theatre at Southwark Playhouse (The Little)". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  43. ^ "BBC One - EastEnders 2013 - 2017, 2016, 01/01/2016 Part 1". BBC. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  44. ^ "Amnesty for Roadkill, Stage Acting Nominations". WhatsOnStage.com. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  45. ^ Longman, Will (25 September 2018). "Aidan Turner wins best West End debut at The Stage Debut Awards 2018". London Theatre. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  46. ^ Thompson, Jessie (19 November 2018). "Find out the winners of this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards". The Standard. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  47. ^ "2018 Results | Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". 29 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  48. ^ Thomas, Sophie (8 April 2019). "Olivier Awards 2019: Full list of winners". London Theatre. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
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