Indhu Rubasingham is set to make history as the first Asian and woman director and joint chief executive of the UK's National Theatre. Currently serving as the artistic director of the Kiln Theatre since 2012, Rubasingham will assume the role in spring 2025, succeeding Rufus Norris upon the conclusion of his second term. In a co-leadership model, she will share the position of joint chief executive with Kate Varah.
Hailing from Sheffield with Sri Lankan heritage, Rubasingham will be the seventh director since the National Theatre's establishment by Sir Laurence Olivier in 1963. Breaking away from a tradition of "posh white men" at the helm, she has been widely regarded as the industry favourite to take over from Norris.
With a rich history of staging plays at the National over the past 25 years, including recent works like "Kerry Jackson" and "The Father and the Assassin" in the preceding year, Rubasingham brings a wealth of experience and creativity to her new role at the helm of the National Theatre.
Rubasingham's noteworthy productions at the Kiln Theatre include the adaptation of Zadie Smith's "The Wife of Willesden," a modern take on Chaucer's The Wife of Bath's Tale. She has also directed acclaimed plays like the Olivier Award-winning "Red Velvet" and "Handbagged," both of which had successful transfers to the West End and the United States.
Upon her appointment, 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."
The anticipation of Rubasingham's appointment had been building since Norris revealed his departure. Notably, her announcement of leaving London's Kiln Theatre, closely followed his own departure announcement in the summer.
