LETS GET TAN TO DRAMA SCHOOL

Hi, I’m Tanyaradzwa, I’m a 30-year-old South East Londoner, performer, educator, foodie, and lover of interludes (yes, I still know all the words to the interludes from the Destiny’s Child 'Survivor' album my Uncle Howard gifted me when I was 7 & 'Crawled Out Of The Sea' by Laura Marling was the aisle song at my wedding - another excellent interlude… Bring back the interludes!)

After a life full of detours, devotion, and deep healing, I’ve just been accepted to study an MA in Acting at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama and I need your help to make it there.

I’ve dedicated most of my life to theatre, not just performing, but feeding the children of the world the drama darling! I’ve led youth theatres in my community (London Bubble, Lewisham Youth Theatre, Theatre Peckham). I've helped young people across the country to find their voice and take up space. I believe that every role within the theatre is important. So much so that I became Head of Backstage at Theatre Peckham - I freakin' love props! But it’s not been a straight road. In 2014, I had my first psychotic episode and was diagnosed with psychosis. After several hospitalisations, I was finally diagnosed with Type 1 Bipolar Disorder in 2023. I’ve been sectioned three times. I’ve had five episodes in total. The last one nearly made me give up everything.

Teaching became too hard. It’s tough to tell young people to be bold and take up space when you dont want to exist anymore.

I've tried different paths, I’ve always loved food. I found a kind of peace in butchery. My mum runs a successful West Indian takeaway called Cool Breeze. We’ve had it since I was 3. I call her my little sister because I didn’t have any younger siblings growing up, and that shop was always there. My friends and I always had a job or a hot plate of food when our EMA hadn't come through yet. We’ve spent years serving food and love to our community. I even thought I might take over the shop one day, but deep down I always knew - my heart belonged to the stage. So, I made the leap. I applied for drama school. And I got in. Slay.

What I’m raising funds for:

This is a one year, full-time course, and I won’t be able to work while I study. I’m doing what I can: I’ve become a Zumba instructor (ZumbaClaat), I’ve launched a cured meats business with my husband (The Black Chicken) and I’m applying for SFE and every grant and scholarship under the sun. But the numbers are big:

- Tuition fees: £25,110

- Living costs (rent, food, travel): around £15,000

- Deadline: I start in September 2025

That’s why I’ve set a fundraising goal of £40,000. Every single pound will go toward helping me study, survive, and step back into the world of performance with the training and confidence I need to thrive.

Why I’m asking:

Because I believe this course will give me the structure, tools and network to turn the thing I love into something sustainable, something I can share with others again. I get to geek out about something I'm really passionate about.

I want to return to teaching young people with new energy and real-world understanding. I want to perform again. I need to perform again.

I hope you’ll consider helping me make this happen, whether by donating or sharing this page. Thank you so much for reading my story.

With big love and even bigger dreams,

Tanyaradzwa