Our Story
Sitting outside a rehearsal room as we prepped ourselves to perform in a production of Richard III, the conversation turned to Tanzania (Brian’s home). An invitation later and we had somehow decided to take a play to Tanzania. That same evening, Jamie began writing the play and 3 months later we had our first show in Tanzania, an incredible feat for a new company like ours. Another two years later and we were back with our new production, Kutafuta Uhuru for a longer, more extensive tour of Tanzania.
There is a lot in the world to fix, but as we found on our trip to Tanzania, theatre is a powerful tool for education and change and now we are using our skills learnt in Tanzania and applying them wherever the company is working. We firmly believe that through a broad education by empowering today’s children, who are tomorrow’s world and cultural leaders learn valuable lessons about looking after each other and the world they live in.
By inviting us into your school not only are you enabling these ideals to reach your children, but you will be helping towards the wider reach of Fortune and Friends, and the possibility of changing the lives of more young people.
Our Team
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Brian Chandrabose
CO - FOUNDER
Brian Chandrabose graduated from Oxford Brookes in English and Drama. Since then he has devoted himself to acting, being involved in numerous Shakespearean productions, including the 5-star transferred run of Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida at the Rose Playhouse, The Merchant of Venice, at Peckham’s Bussey Building and many more. When Brian is not teaching Rio Ferdinand Swahili, running the company, or acting, he is producing and editing videos as a part of his own video production company.
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James (Littlewood) Watson
CO - FOUNDER
Jamie Littlewood is an actor director working in London; who most recently appeared opposite Tyger Drew Honey in Laura Wade’s POSH, 2019. He has toured extensively within the UK as well as other countries around the world, a notable highlight being a tour of Much A Do About Nothing over the summer of 2018. Jamie is currently finishing his MA in African Studies with Swahili at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and is writing his dissertation on the use of Swahili and English in the Tanzanian Educational sector.