babirye bukilwa

(they/them)

babirye is an actor, model, poet and writer born and raised in pre-gentrified Bethnal Green. Their work seeks to amplify the Black British working-class Queer experience, and often explores how mental health impacts relationships and behaviour. Their first play, ...BLACKBIRD HOUR, was shortlisted for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2019, the inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020, and the Alfred Fagon Award 2020, and goes on UK tour with Vital Xposure in Spring 2025. Its prequel, …CAKE, was presented at Theatre Peckham in 2021 to universal 4 and 5 star reviews, and was nominated for an Off WestEnd Award for Best Production of 2021 and for the Alfred Fagon Award 2021. They co-directed their play THE MASTER’S HOUSE with Chris Sonnex for the National Youth Theatre in 2021. It was subsequently shortlisted for the George Devine Award 2022, developed into a short film, and then into a radio play with Talawa/BBC R4, and was broadcast in early 2024. They are currently under commission to the Royal Court Theatre, the Yard Theatre, and to Soho Theatre/Clean Break with support of the Peggy Ramsay Foundation/Film 4. They have been commissioned to write and direct a new short film with Bluebird Pictures, and are developing another original short with a view to writing it as a feature.