babirye bukilwa

(they/them)

babirye is an actor and writer for stage, audio and screen who was born and raised in pre-gentrified Bethnal Green.

They have participated in numerous writing programmes with the likes of the BBC, Royal Court Theatre, Graeae and Soho Theatre, becoming an Associate Artist at the latter in early 2021. In this time, they developed their play The New Kingdom of Kitara which won the Highly Commended prize for the Tony Craze Award 2021.

babirye's other work for the stage includes their first full-length play, ...blackbird hour, (shortlisted for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting in 2019, the inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020, and the Alfred Fagon Award 2020) and its prequel …cake. Presented at Theatre Peckham in 2021, ...cake was universally acclaimed and played to sold-out audiences following 4- and 5-star reviews– with the play becoming a finalist for the 2021 Off WestEnd Award (Offies) for Best Production and making the shortlist for the Alfred Fagon Award 2021. In 2022, babirye was commissioned to write micro-plays YUMMY (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and 616-Dawn (tiata fahodzi/ Lyric Hammersmith/ Bristol Old Vic/ Watford Pump House Theatre), whilst foraying into directing with Rianna Simons’ White Girls Gang at NDT Broadgate.

They had previously co-directed their play The Master's House with Chris Sonnex for the National Youth Theatre in 2021, and developed a short film based on it. An adaptation of this is currently in development with Talawa Theatre Company to be broadcast on Radio 4 in 2024, directed by malakaï sargeant. babirye is currently under commission for full-length plays with The Yard and Royal Court; leading London theatres that champion innovative new writing. babirye is currently being supported by the Peggy Ramsay Foundation, Clean Break and Soho Theatre.