Temba Theatre Company named after the Zulu word for 'hope' or 'trust' founded in 1972 by actors Alton Kumalo and Oscar James was the first black British theatre Company. The initial aims of the London based company were to produce new black writing from the UK and South Africa. Temba actively promoted new, established, British and international black writing as well as producing interpretations of Western classics informed by the black experience. In 1984 Alby James took over as artistic director and sought to create new audiences by looking beyond the uniquely black experience.