Hannah Kumari

Hannah is a writer and former actor from Warwickshire, now based in London. Her work considers themes of mixed heritage identity, addiction and the intersection between class and race, often through the lens of football.

Hannah’s most recent play Sophia, about the life of Suffragette Sophia Duleep Singh, was commissioned by Eastern Angles Theatre Company and toured to over 30 venues across East Anglia between March and May 2025. She has written a new English libretto for OperaUpClose’s production of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi which will tour the UK in March 2026 to venues including Blackpool Grand and The Minerva, Chichester.

Hannah was commissioned to write the teleplay for a special episode of new YouTube series Armour, focused on Black female football manager Lorna, who will be played by Alexandra Burke. Hannah also wrote the Sky Arts-funded short Devi which was broadcast on the channel in May 2023. 

Hannah’s acclaimed one woman show ENG-ER-LAND, which she wrote and performed, toured to over 30 venues between February 2022 and August 2023. Inspired by Hannah’s experiences as a teenage football fan of mixed heritage growing up in the late 90s, she appeared on Sky Sports, BBC Newsnight, TalkSport, BBC Sportshour and numerous podcasts to talk about the show. ENG-ER-LAND was nominated for Best Stage Production at the 2022 Asian Media Awards.

Hannah is currently developing a brand new opera inspired by the history of Arsenal FC in Woolwich with BAFTA-winning opera director PJ Harris, after the pair founded new arts charity coalign in 2023. Displaced is scheduled to premiere in 2026.

A lifelong football fan, Hannah also manages the Fans for Diversity campaign at The Football Supporters’ Association.