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Lanre Malaolu

@lanremalaolu

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Process.

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I remember looking up at this, thinking, regardless of whether I/we get the win... this moment was enough.

To see something which, hand on my heart, I didn’t think I could finish writing (for so many reasons), up in lights in Piccadilly Circus… and to be there with the cast — Nnabiko Ejimofor, Oliver Alvin-Wilson & Tendai Humphrey Sitima — knowing the journey they went on, knowing their hearts, and how they shared them on that stage each and every night with integrity, trust, egoless love…

This moment was enough.

It reminded me of what I’ll believe till my last creative act: people and process are the most important thing.

I don't aim for the stage. I don’t aim for the outcome.
If the process isn’t honoured, and the people aren’t seen, then why the fuck are we doing this and who's it really for? How can we make work about people, about truth, if we don’t honour people’s truth in the making?

Every space, every venue I step into, I hold that. From how the work is made to how it’s shared, every part of the journey matters. I shake up the way things have been done, the status quo, only in service of the work. Of truth.

Lastly, I think 13 year old Lanre, who grew up on a council estate in Hackney (the hood), would be looking up at this thinking.... “Rah… that’s kinda mad you know!”

Thank you to everyone who supported the nom, and importantly, the show.

Onwards.

(All nominees were screened on Piccadilly Lights a few weeks back after the Nominees' lunch. Shout out to @olivierawards for that 🙏🏿) by @lanremalaolu

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2 years ago

I remember saying in an interview a few weeks back that if we can share even just 5% of the energy, connection, and solidarity that I, the cast, and creative team experienced in rehearsals, on stage, I'd be happy. Positive reviews are great, but this show is so much more than the sum of them. What these men offer every night on stage is so sacred. We're on until June 1st... 🌊🌊🌊

Cc: @guardian @theblack.project @afridiziaktheatrenews @bernardineevaristo

📷 Camilla Greenwell by @lanremalaolu

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2 years ago

📷 @camilla_greenwell by @lanremalaolu

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3 months ago

Being born and bred in East London, I know first hand the impact and importance The Voice newspaper has had in the community, and beyond it. So it was an honour to be asked to write a feature for them about Found.

Full article link in stories 🙏🏿 by @lanremalaolu

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6 months ago

Since 'Now, I See'... life has been roaring through me. I've been living, reflecting and writing through every moment of it. And in that space, something started calling me back.

Back to where it all began.

2008. A boy from a council estate in Hackney had a dream of making and performing a piece at Breakin' Convention - main stage of Sadler's Wells. It wasn't until years later that it happened. It was the first time I truly realised I could see something, move toward it, and watch it become real. Breakin' Convention x Sadler's Wells not only platformed the work, they championed the difference. The unorthodox. The Way.

Safe to say, a lot has happened since then. But I knew that when the time and the piece were right, I wanted to come back. Not just to Breakin' Convention... but back to the stage.

10 years since I was last there... things have aligned.

One of life's roars from last year poured into my body and onto the page, and I'm bringing this piece to the world's biggest hip hop theatre festival this year. One night only.

Performing it alongside my brother, the brilliant Nnabiko Ejimofor.

Found.
Breakin' Convention, Sadler's Wells.
Sunday 3rd May.

Tickets always sell out. Details in slides, link in bio.

Peace 🖤

📷: Camilla Greenwell by @lanremalaolu

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6 months ago

The decisions I've made this year, both in personal life and career, are hands down some of the hardest decisions I've made in my life.

Hard in their scale, but also because the space between the "yes" and the "no" was so flippin slim. The repercussions of the "yes" wouldn't have rippled into my life until months, perhaps years later.

I've learned discernment isn't just about making gut-led decisions, but clearing space outside and within, to really feel what is fear-based noise vs. gut-felt truth.

It's not about making the "right" decision, but choosing Me, from a place of deep clarity and integrity.

Integrity for myself, integrity for my heart, integrity for the work.

Moving from that core foundation of truth. And then, letting any grief, sadness, regret... move through. Not clinging. Not avoiding. Letting it move, in all its messy glory, all the way through—

And then... exhale.

Onwards.

🎥 Me, moving in the mountains of Cairngorms, Scotland. August, 25. Healing. by @lanremalaolu

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10 months ago

Same feet, different ground.

📸 Camilla Greenwell by @lanremalaolu

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a year ago

Exclusive clip from WHERE I CAN SEE THEM (2022), a short film exploring the emotional weight of stop and search on Black men, told through movement and real-life testimony by @jaydeedyerofficial.

Premiered first on "The Lead", and out now on YouTube, search: "Where I Can See Them"

Brother Jaydee, the bravery, honesty and heart you brought is a gift to this film and I hope to everyone who sees it.

Cast & creative team - thank you for your incredible work bringing this story to life.

Huge thanks to @nmozz and The Lead for the feature and interview, currently on their platform.

Credits in comments 🙏🏿 by @lanremalaolu

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a year ago

Things, thoughts - lately...

1. Through dark times, through light. My Moroccan brother has been there. Brotherhood beyond blood is a beautiful thing. (📷: Nigeria, 2024)

2. My sister. A beacon of resilience, joy, and a dash of buck-wild energy 🖤

2. Day 1's - Foundations: @danielkaluuya @jaredgarfield @blendandboutique @wholoveshosa @louiekeen

3. Healing a bone in my hand & a muscle in my chest > writing the fuck out of both.

4. Empathy re-imagined, or... a remembering.

6. One soft step at a time... by @lanremalaolu

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a year ago

@olivierawards 2025.

Greatful for the nomination.

Onwards 🙏🏿 by @lanremalaolu

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2 years ago

Nominated for an Olivier Award(!)... A special shoutout to my incredible cast and creative team. To achieve what we did, how we did… ❤️💫
@olivierawards by @lanremalaolu

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2 years ago

THE CONVERSATION (2020).

This film was born out of conversations I've had, and millions of others have had - one sometimes met with defensiveness or silent hostility masked by strained smiles. I wanted to explore this through the lens of a romantic relationship, which brings a whole new layer of nuance and challenges.

The process of making this film was a JOURNEY. Covid was creeping up, and the technicalities of achieving what I was going for with the 11-minute one-take shot with the amount of movement and physical sequences was a madness. But with a Dope team of performers, artists & support from @uncertainkngdm, we got there.

Grateful to every soul involved, and have to give a special shout out to lead performer, Onyemachi Ejimofor. We ran the one-take movement sequence multiple times on the day, within a very limited window of time, and each take he pulled out an incredibly nuanced performance from a deep and true place.

Search "The Conversation" on YouTube/Vimeo for full film. Peace by @lanremalaolu

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2 years ago