Founder/Company Director:
Sylvia Darkwa-Ohemeng
I am a Rose Bruford graduate and received my Ba Hons in Stage Management. I am a trustee for the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and on the Board of Governors for Rose Bruford.
I first discovered stage management with a company called Dreamarts when I was sixteen years old. It was a performing arts youth organisation that had a summer programme called street-to-stage which was held at the Cochrane Theatre near St. Martins (used to be in Holborn, moved to Kings Cross), which happened every summer in August. We ran all departments within the play with guidance from professionals, running lighting to writing to directing to choreography etc.
I joined when I was fifteen and played the alto saxophone in the band of the production and decided to come back the following year, where a company stage manager thought I would be good on the stage management team and trained me to be the deputy stage manager.
It was such an amazing experience for me that I came back for three years and then was guided by the artistic director of the theatre, Dierdre Malynn to go to drama school and pursue it as a lifelong career.
I now have over ten years experience and have been working on productions such as;
Estate Walls, Take a Deep Breath and Breathe, Grandfathers, The 33% Festival Creative Youth Department at Oval House,
24hour plays Old Vic: New Voices,
NineRooms Old Vic Tunnels,
The Lyric Lounge, Future Fest, Eclipse (NTC) The Lyric Hammersmith,
Grandfathers(NTC), When Women Wee Soho Theatre,
A Guide to Second Date Sex, Strong Arm (Young Vic New Voices) Edinburgh Festival: Underbelly Venue,
Ada Ada Ada Proximus Lounge (Brussels),
Brainstorm Temporary Space,
Putting Words in Your Mouth ,Hive City Legacy Roundhouse,
Take-Over Season, Storylab Tricycle Theatre,
NYT Playing Up Season Arcola,
Halfbreed India Tour, Soho Theatre,
Boys Vaults Festival,
Hijabi Monologues, Dismantle The Bush Theatre,
Nine Night (Dorfman), Pericles (Olivier) National Theatre,
Barbershop Chronicles USA and Canada Tour, Fuel Theatre
Richard II The Globe Theatre: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse,
My White Best Friend and other stories The Bunker Theatre,
Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner Royal Court Upstairs/Downstairs Theatre,
Amsterdam Orange Tree Theatre,
Fairview Young Vic,
Rockets and Blue Lights Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre/National Theatre: Dorfman,
Typical (Filming) Soho Theatre
My White Best Friend (And other letters left unsaid) Royal Court Theatre, via live Zoom,
Live Newspaper: Edition 2 Royal Court Theatre.
I am currently the Assistant Company Manager at Tina - The Tina Turner Musical!
Read my blog as to why I created Backstage Niche and my journey towards it.