Gbolahan Obisesan is a British Nigerian writer and director. He was the Artistic Director and Joint CEO at Brixton House theatre. He has served as a Genesis Fellow and Associate Director at the Young Vic.

Early life

Obisesan was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK when he was 9 years old.^[1][2] He grew up in Bermondsey and New Cross.^[2] He attended Southwark College, where he earned a Distinction in Communication & Visual Design in 2000. He later completed a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Visual Studies at London Guildhall University and was involved with the National Youth Theatre.^[3]

Career

Obisesan has served as a writer, actor and director.^[4] He won the Jerwood Directors Award from the Young Vic for Sus in 2010.^[4] In 2011 Obisesan's play Mad About the Boy won the Fringe First for best play.^[5] It was published by Nick Hern Books.^[6] He directed four plays for epic 66 books at the Bush Theatre.^[7] It went on to tour the Unicorn Theatre, Royal Court Theatre and Bush Theatre.^[5] He was the only British writer for Rufus Norris's Feast at the Royal Court Theatre in 2013.^[8] Obisesan adapted Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman for the Bristol Old Vic in 2013.^[9] The production was taken to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was described as "theatre made by young people, about young people, for everybody".^[9] He wrote and directed How Nigeria Became: A Story, and A Spear That Didn't Work, which ran at the Unicorn Theatre in 2014.^[10] The play commemorated the centenary of Nigeria and was nominated as one of the Best Productions for Young People in the OffWestEnd Theatre Awards.^[10][11] He was made the Young Vic Genesis Fellow in 2015.^[12][13]

In 2016 Obisesan directed Charlene James's Cuttin'it, which premiered at the Young Vic before touring to Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, Crucible Theatre and London's Yard Theatre^[14][15] In 2017 it was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Affiliate Theatre.^[16] His latest production, The Fishermen is an adaption of the novel by Chigozie Obioma.^[17] It debuted at HOME theatre in Manchester, UK, in 2018.^[18]

Obisesan was made artistic director at the Brixton House (formerly Ovalhouse) theatre in January 2020 and left in January 2023.^[19][20][21] In the wake of the George Floyd murder and the associated protests, Obisesan called for British theatre to become more inclusive.^[22] At the time, less than 5% of London theatre employees were black and minority ethnic, whilst the population of London are 40%.^[22] In an interview with The Guardian, Obisesan said, “perpetuating whiteness across institutions and organisations can no longer be the norm,”.^[23]

References