Jo Martin
35, producer

Biggest hit Shoot 2 Win, at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, London, 2002.
Coming up Filming a new black sitcom for BBC1, due out later this year.
Theatre is 'Life. It's about sharing this life force with a wider audience.'
Theatre isn't 'Balanced. We need so many more black writers and producers to tip the scales. Theatre also needs to be younger, that's the only way to keep it going.'
Inspiration 'The Hull Truck [theatre company], which was run by John Godber - I saw them when I was 12 or 13, when I went to the Edinburgh festival with my youth theatre.'

Denise Wong
44, producer

Biggest hit Co-produced The Little Match Girl, Oxford House arts centre, London, December 2002.
Coming up Summer show with Streets Alive theatre company, venues across London, this August.
Theatre is 'Access for all, opportunity and growth.'
Theatre isn't 'Exclusivity. Dyed-in-the-wool, the same.'
Inspiration 'The work of Robert Lepage, and everyday things.'

Sudha Bhuchar
40, producer

Biggest hit East Is East, opened at Birmimgham Rep in 1996 before touring the country, transferring to the Royal Court and then being reworked into a film.
Coming up Strictly Dandia, co-written with Kristine Landon-Smith, at the Edinburgh festival.
Theatre is 'Being connected, feeling like you've got into the skin of someone; it's pleasure.'
Theatre isn't 'Being drummed into, being assaulted. I hate messagey, didactic pieces.'
Inspiration 'I draw inspiration from everyday life. Characters are abso-lutely drawn from life: putting the minutiae of people's existence on stage inspires me.'

Josette Bushell-Mingo
39, producer/director

Biggest hit Push festival 2001; Simply Heavenly at the Young Vic, March 2003.
Coming up Mother Courage at the Nottingham Playhouse, spring 2004. Push festival, September 2004.
Theatre is 'For everyone. Regardless.'
Theatre isn't 'Theatre isn't at the moment! Time to change that!'
Inspiration Martin Luther King. Most of the communities that travelled to England in the 1960s; and real people who have done unreal things against the odds and all expectations.