ABOUT ME

Monique Touko is a London/Manchester based multidisciplinary artist- director, dramaturg and producer. 

Upcoming Shows:

UK Premiere of Marie and Rosetta - George Brant - Rose Theatre, Wolverhampton Grand, Chichester Festival Theatre 

Liberation - Zodwa Nyoni - Royal Exchange and Manchester International Festival 

Directing Credits: 

  • G- Tife Kusoro- Royal Court, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs

  • UK Premiere of Wedding Band: A Love Hate Story in Black and White- Alice Childress- Lyric Hammersmith 

  • The Boy At The Back of The Class, Based on the Novel by Onjali Q. Raúf, Stage Adaptation- Nick Ahad- National Tour

  • UK Premiere of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play- Jocelyn Bioh- Lyric Hammersmith 

  • We Need New Names, Based on the Novel by NoViolet Bulawayo, Stage Adaptation- Mufaro Makubika- National Tour 

  • Gone Too Far!- Bola Agbaje - Theatre Royal Stratford East 

  • The Clinic- Dipo Baruwa-Etti- Almeida Theatre 

  • Fair Play- Ella Road- Bush Theatre 

  • Malindadzimu- Mufuro Makubika- Hampstead Theatre Downstairs

THEMES/COMMONALITIES/AREAS OF EXPLORATION: 

  • Blackness, Africa, Diaspora

  • Othering, Migration, De-Colonisation

  • Gender, Class, Spirituality, Intersectionality

  • Coming of Age/ Youth, Family Dynamics, Friendship 

  • Drama, Comedy, Genre, Afro-Surrealism, Social Commentary

PRACTISE:

  • The Text

  • Research, Dramaturgy of Space

  • Character- Body and Mind, Movement and Sound

  • Space and Composition of Bodies 

  • Audience

She is the recipient of 2022 Stage Debut Award for Best Director. 

Her directing training includes Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme at Royal Exchange Manchester. 

At the Young Vic, her training has involved the Intro to Directing course led by Sacha Weres, Boris Karloff Trainee Assistant Directors Programme and the Jerwood Assistant Director Scheme. In 2022, Monique was selected to take part in the National Theatre’s annual Directing Course. 

Her assisting credits include Wishlist by Katherine Soper, directed by Matthew Xia at Royal Exchange Manchester and Royal Court, Yellowman by Dael Orlandersmith directed by Nancy Medina at Young Vic, China Plate’s On the Exhale by Martin Zimmerman directed by Christopher Haydon at Traverse Theatre, Cock by Mike Bartlett directed by Kate Hewitt at Chichester Festival Theatre, Shakespeare’s Richard II directed Lynette Linton and Adjoa Andoh at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Ibsen’s Rosmersholm adapted by Duncan Macmillan, directed by Ian Rickson at Duke of York Theatre and Lorca’s Blood Wedding adapted by Marina Carr directed by Yael Farber at Young Vic. 

Monique’s skill set includes: New Writing, International Work, Facilitation, Devising, Script Reading, Drama School Shows and Projects, Training Actors and Working with Young People. 

She is also part of The Ubunifu Space- A definitive guide to music and culture from the youth of Africa and the diaspora - the Ubunifu way. Monique is project manager for the Space and regular member of the UK reaction team on the youtube channel which has a global following of 320K+ subscribers and over 50 million views.