I've been in three RSC productions, two of them national tours. I've seen more of the UK, through those tours than I have from any other activity; leisure or otherwise.

I'm a Londoner. This year, more than any other, I've found myself referring to myself as a Londoner. I can't remember labelling myself so much (well not since adolescence). In the ten years between the tours I have changed and so has the UK. How I see myself in relation to the UK I haven't been calibrated as yet, but sometimes people, events and even theatrical productions force you to try.

This summer so much seemed to shift in the country at a time when I was in a production whose whole purpose was to celebrate Shakespeare and his part in the fabric of who we are as a nation.

The nation is fragmented. If you're an ethnic minority I would argue you're more likely to have lived the results of that fragmentation.

Knowing yourself; who you are, what you believe in, where your boundaries lie becomes more important when the ground beneath your feet shifts.

The Dream production is a landmark in my life for many reasons; the national context helps me to understand how and why.

Black History Month - October 2016

Join us in celebrating past performance and looking to the future of diversity in theatre. Follow our stories on our Black History Month blog and share your comments using #blackhistory