Lauren Nicole Whitter Wins Purpose-Driven Leader Award from Do It Now Now - 3rd July 2026
We are proud to share that Anansi Theatre Company’s Founder and Artistic Director, Lauren Nicole Whitter, has been awarded the Purpose-Driven Leader Award from Do It Now Now.
Do It Now Now is a social innovation organisation working to support Black and Global Majority-led social entrepreneurs, leaders, and organisations creating positive change.
Their work focuses on building more equitable access to support, funding, leadership development, and opportunities for communities and change makers across the UK.
The Purpose-Driven Leader Award recognises individuals who are leading with vision, intention, and a commitment to meaningful social impact.
Lauren’s recognition reflects her leadership, dedication, and continued work to create space for girls and women of colour through theatre, creativity, activism, and community-led arts programmes.
Accepting the award, Lauren said:
“I was totally inspired by the work and the impact this group of people are making. Being together with so many people committed to creating change felt incredibly empowering. I can’t believe I won this award — it really means a lot to me, and I’m so excited for what the future holds for Anansi Theatre Company.”
We are incredibly grateful to Do It Now Now for this recognition and proud to see Lauren’s leadership celebrated in this way.
Anansi Theatre Company Wins Arts, Culture & Heritage Award - July 2026
We are delighted to share that Anansi Theatre Company has been awarded the Arts, Culture & Heritage Award at the Derby Voluntary Sector Awards.
This recognition is a proud milestone for our organisation and a celebration of the communities, artists, participants, partners, and supporters who have been part of our journey.
Founded in 2021, Anansi was created with a simple but powerful vision: to create space. Space for communities to connect, for stories to be shared, and for girls and women of colour to feel seen, heard, and celebrated through creativity and the arts.
Since then, we have delivered creative programmes, theatre projects, wellbeing initiatives, workshops, and community events that place representation, empowerment, and cultural storytelling at their heart. Through our work, we continue to champion opportunities for girls and women of colour while creating meaningful connections across the wider community.
We are incredibly grateful to Community Action Derby for this recognition and honoured to be acknowledged alongside so many inspiring organisations making a difference across Derby.
This award belongs to everyone who has supported, collaborated with, participated in, and believed in our work over the past five years.
Thank you for being part of the journey. We are excited for what comes next.