Indhu Rubasingham Appointed Director of the National Theatre

The National Theatre has announced the appointment of Indhu Rubasingham as the next Director and Joint Chief Executive of The National Theatre.
 
Indhu will work alongside Executive Director Kate Varah who also becomes Joint Chief Executive in a co-leadership model.
 
Indhu will succeed current Director and Chief Executive Rufus Norris, who will leave The National Theatre in Spring 2025 when his second term ends.
 
Indhu has been Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre since 2012. Notable collaborations during her tenure, include with Zadie Smith on White Teeth, and most recently The Wife of Willesden which transferred to BAM in New York earlier this year, and with Ayad Aktar on The Invisible Hand which was twice Olivier Award nominated. Other directing credits include the multi award-winning Red Velvet and Handbagged, When The Crows Visit, A Wolf In Snakeskin Shoes, Multitudes, The House That Will Not Stand, and Paper Dolls. Highlights of her programming include Florian Zeller trilogy – The Father, The Mother and The Son; and Ryan Calais Cameron’s Retrograde.
 
During her tenure new writing became a mainstay of the mission, bringing voices into the mainstream. She oversaw a major £9m capital campaign, reopening the brand new building in 2018 as Kiln Theatre.
 
She has worked regularly at The National Theatre in all three South Bank auditoriums, directing productions including The Waiting Room, The Ramayana, The Motherf*cker With the Hat, The Great Wave, Ugly Lies the Bone, Kerry Jackson and most recently the critically acclaimed sell out production of Anupama Chandrasekhar’s The Father and the Assassin which returned to the Olivier theatre earlier this year.
 
Indhu will join The National Theatre as Director Designate from Spring 2024.
 
Speaking about her appointment Indhu Rubasingham said, ‘It’s a huge honour to be appointed Director of The National Theatre – for me, this is the best job in the world. The National has played an important part in my life - from tentative steps as a teenage theatregoer, to later as a theatre-maker, and to have the opportunity to play a role in its history is an incredible privilege and responsibility. Theatre has a transformative power – the ability to bring people together through shared experience and storytelling, and nowhere more so than the National. I’ve been fortunate to have directed on The National Theatre’s stages and to have witnessed firsthand the commitment, collaboration, brilliance and pride of those who bring the magic to the building, both on stage and off. There’s nowhere like it, and it will be a joy to be a part of this iconic building’s next chapter, leading the company alongside Kate. I am thrilled to be following in the footsteps of Rufus, and I look forward to working closely with him from next year as I plan my first season’
 
Sir Damon Buffini, Chair of The National Theatre Board said, ‘The Board are thrilled to appoint Indhu as The National Theatre’s next Director and Joint Chief Executive. Having run Kiln Theatre for over a decade Indhu has a proven record of strong leadership and artistic success, alongside a commitment to bringing theatre to diverse audiences and broadening access to creative education. Throughout the recruitment process Indhu demonstrated to the panel her clear vision for The National Theatre’s next chapter, displaying her passion and commitment to bring the world to The National Theatre and to take The National Theatre to the world.
 
On behalf of my panel Co-Chair, fellow Trustee Simon Warshaw, I’d like to offer my thanks to the Board and the succession panel for their dedication and support during this recruitment process. We were extremely lucky to meet with an exceptionally impressive field of candidates who were all strong contenders for the role. Throughout the thorough process it was clear to us all that Indhu possesses the skills and vision, alongside those of our brilliant Executive Director and joint CEO Kate, to confidently lead The National Theatre into our next chapter.’
 
Executive Director Kate Varah said, ‘I am thrilled that Indhu will be The National Theatre’s next Director, someone I deeply admire as an artist and as a leader. Importantly, I believe we share the same values and aspirations for this incomparable theatre. I look forward to starting a new chapter leading together, working with the best artists and colleagues to make theatre that entertains and inspires audiences across the world.’
 
Director and Chief Executive Rufus Norris said, ‘Indhu is an exceptional artist who I respect and admire hugely, and I am so pleased that she will become the next Director when I step down in 2025. She has run Kiln Theatre expertly for over a decade and I know this experience will be invaluable as she moves to the NT – a place she knows well, having directed successfully in each of the three theatres. Together with Kate and the brilliant, dedicated team here, I know that the National will continue to thrive and remain at the heart of British cultural life. I look forward to working closely with Indhu over my last year as Director.’
 
The recruitment process began earlier this year following Rufus’s decision to step down as Director in Spring 2025 at the end of his second term. The National worked with external recruitment consultants Saxton Bampfylde as well as appointing a succession panel which included members of The National Theatre Board and independent, leading creative professionals.
 
Sir Damon Buffini and NT Board member Simon Warshaw co-chaired the succession panel which included: Sheila Atim, Dominic Cooke, Vikki Heywood, Vicki Mortimer and Farrah Storr. Neil Darlison (Arts Council England) observed the process.

Photo Credit: Antonio Olmos