Tara Arts Appoints New Executive Director

Tara Arts has announced the appointment of Laurie Miller-Zutshi as its new Executive Director. A local Wandsworth resident, Laurie will formally take up the post in July.

Laurie has been Creative Producer of leading regional arts development organisation SeaChange Arts since 2008, responsible for the development and delivery of the country's leading international circus and street arts festival. She has also been responsible for the programming and running of the Drill House in Great Yarmouth, the UK's only creation and development centre for contemporary circus and street arts, since the building's relaunch in 2016; produced the Deloitte Ignite festival at the Royal Opera House; and produced and programmed the 3-year In Here Festival in partnership with Battersea Arts Centre, touring contemporary theatre to areas of low engagement in non-traditional theatre spaces.

Tara's Artistic Director Jatinder Verma says: "I am thrilled at the prospect of working with Laurie at this significant moment in Tara's history, when we seek to develop the new Tara Theatre after its extensive renovation. Laurie brings a wonderful range of experiences which I am convinced will contribute to exciting times at Tara."

Laurie Miller-Zutshi says: "I am delighted to be joining the team at Tara Arts at such an exciting time in the organisation's development, where the new Tara Theatre offers an opportunity to expand the company's ambition, reach and impact. I am looking forward to playing a key role in shaping the organisation's development alongside Jatinder."

Tara's former Executive Producer Jonathan Kennedy stepped down in March to focus on freelance projects, which will include an ongoing relationship with Tara as Associate Producer.

Tara Arts are established as one of the UK's foremost creators of cross-cultural theatre. Their work, which consists of both new writing and reimagined classics, seeks to make imaginative connections across communities, to help foster a global sensibility from their own locality. The company was founded in 1977 by Artistic Director Jatinder Verma, along with Sunil Saggar, Ovais Kadri, Praveen Bahl & Vijay Shaunak. Tara Theatre, opened in September 2016, has been awarded Project Design of the Year at the London Construction Awards, and has been nominated for both Theatre Building of the year and Sustainability in The Stage awards 2017.

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