Thara Popoola

Writer


TELEVISION & STAGE

Thara has been nominated for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative in Television in the 2024, NAACP Image Awards. A graduate of the 2021 4Screenwriting scheme, she has been a guest writer on multiple series including SEX EDUCATION (Eleven/Netflix), QUEENIE (Lionsgate/C4), MED SCHOOL (Studio Lambert/Netflix), CRONGTON KNIGHTS (BBC), BLACK OPS (BBC Studios/BBC), DREAMING WHILST BLACK (A24/BBC).  Her original project AWAKENING is in paid development with Warp/C4 and COMFORT VS HARM is under option to Double Dutch Productions; she has several other original projects in development with producers.  Thara was a finalist in the 2020 Zeppotron Make a Scene bursary; her original short JOBLESS, was filmed in April 2023 for Zeppotron/BBC and she is now writing the pilot script for a half hour series. Short film CROWN was screened at the 2021 London short film festival and was selected to be included as part of the BBC Festival of Funny (March 2021).  See the film here.

Thara started writing poetry, more recently venturing into playwriting and screenwriting.  Her first short play NOT ALL BLACK GIRLS KNOW HOW TO EAT was performed at Spotlight Studios; POEMS FROM MY BROTHER was performed at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.

Thara’s background is in Law and she has experience working in both the legal and financial sector.  Her writing typically explores topics of mental health, faith, culture and family and she is passionate about telling stories about black people that aren’t just about race.