# Indhu Rubasingham

Indhu Rubasingham, MBE (/ˈɪnduː ˌruːbəˈsɪŋəm/; b. 1970), is a British theatre director and the current artistic director of the Kiln Theatre (formerly the Tricycle Theatre) in Kilburn, London. In December 2023, it was announced she would take over as Artistic Director of the National Theatre in 2025 from Rufus Norris.

## Early life

Born in Sheffield to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka in 1970, Rubasingham was educated at Nottingham Girls' High School, after which she studied drama at Hull University, where she received an honorary doctorate in 2017.

## Career
### Freelance directing

Soon after graduating from Hull University, Rubasingham received an Arts Council bursary to work as a trainee director at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, where she assisted director Mike Leigh. She then worked as a freelance theatre director for over fifteen years and during this time held posts as an associate director at the Gate Theatre, the Young Vic, and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
She has worked across the UK and internationally. Her focus has been predominantly directing new writing and developing exciting voices. Themes that often arise in her work explore and examine ideas around British identity and the threads of human connection that crosses race, culture and identity; telling stories from different perspectives and specificity that reveals the universality of the human spirit.
Rubasingham had a long involvement with the international department at the Royal Court Theatre when headed by Elyse Dodgson which allowed her to forge relationships with playwrights from Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Uganda and India. Indhu has also had a longstanding relationship with Sundance Theatre Lab (2011–2019), under the artistic directorship of Philip Himberg. She has directed radio plays for BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 3 and the BBC World Service.
She is a trustee for the Royal Opera House, Metroland (Brent), the George Devine Award and the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Previous trustee positions include Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, British Council Advisory Board and the Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme, for which Rubasingham is currently a patron. She is on the judging panel for the Channel 4 Playwriting Scheme and the Phil Fox Award for Playwriting. Since 2021, she has been on the judging panel of The Women's Prize for Playwriting, becoming Chair in 2023.
In 2017, Rubasingham was awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year Honours List.

### As artistic director

Indhu Rubasingham succeeded Nicolas Kent as artistic director of the Tricycle Theatre in 2012. In April 2018, after a capital renovation, the theatre's name was changed to the Kiln Theatre.
Rubasingham's mission for Kiln Theatre is to make theatre for all by making space for unheard/ignored voices to be part of the mainstream and be a local theatre with an international vision. The theatre sits in the Borough of Brent.
Rubasingham oversaw a £9 million major renovation of the building, which reopened in 2018. The revamped building includes an adaptable stage in the larger 292-seat theatre, better sightlines, new lighting facilities, a new café, improved disabled access and gender-neutral toilets.
Under her artistic leadership, the creative engagement programme aims to champion the imagination, aspiration and potential of the Brent community young and old.
During her time as artistic director, her production of Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti was transferred to the West End's Garrick Theatre and St Ann's Warehouse Theater in New York. Her production of Moira Buffini's Handbagged was transferred to the West End's Vaudeville Theatre prior to a UK tour before playing at 59e59 in New York and Washington, D.C.'s Round House Theatre. Her production of Zadie Smith's The Wife of Willesden has transferred to American Repertory Theatre, Harvard University and Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Rubasingham programmed Florian Zeller's ‘Family Trilogy,’ including The Son, which was transferred to the West End's Duke of York's Theatre in 2019; and The Father, which was transferred to the West End's Wyndham's Theatre in 2015 before being moved to the West End's Duke of York's Theatre in 2016. The Father was adapted for the 2020 film starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, directed by Zeller.
In August 2014, while she was artistic director, she was at the centre of an antisemitism controversy over the funding of the UK Jewish Film Festival, intended to have been held at the theatre. Rubasingham said it was "inappropriate" to host a festival part-funded by the Israeli embassy given "the current conflict in Israel and Gaza". She later claimed she had been subject to "vitriol from some elements of the Jewish community" and "people saying they are going to withdraw money". The theatre eventually reversed the decision and issued a public apology, allowing the festival to go ahead.

### Awards

* Best Director, The Father and the Assassin, Eastern Eye Arts, Culture & Theatre Awards (2023)
* Kiln Theatre ‘Best London Theatre’ The Stage Awards (2021)
* Best Director, White Teeth, ACTA – Eastern Eye's Arts Culture & Theatre Awards (2019)
* Tonic Awards (2017)
* Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, Handbagged (2014)
* The Arts & Culture Award, Asian Women of Achievement Awards (2012)
* Liberty Human Rights Award (2010)
* The Carlton Multi-Cultural Achievement Award for Performing Arts (2001)

## Productions

| Year | Play | Production | Notes |
| 2023 | The Wife of Willesden by Zadie Smith | Brooklyn Academy of Music | NY premiere |
| 2023 | The Wife of Willesden by Zadie Smith | American Repertory Theater, Harvard University | US premiere |
| 2022 | Kerry Jackson by April de Angelis | National Theatre | UK premiere |
| 2022 | The Wife of Willesden by Zadie Smith | Kiln Theatre | First major revival |
| 2022 | Handbagged by Moira Buffini | Kiln Theatre | First major revival |
| 2022 | The Father and the Assassin by Anupama Chandrasekhar | National Theatre | World premiere |
| 2021 | The Wife of Willesden by Zadie Smith | Kiln Theatre | World premiere |
| 2021 | The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar | Kiln Theatre | First major revival |
| 2021 | Girl on an Altar (Rehearsed Reading) by Marina Carr | Kiln Theatre | Live Stream. Co-directed with Susie McKenna |
| 2020 | The Invisible Hand (Rehearsed Reading) by Ayad Akhtar | Kiln Theatre | Live Stream |
| 2020 | Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu | Kiln Theatre | UK premiere |
| 2019 | When the Crows Visit by Anupama Chandrasekhar | Kiln Theatre | World Premiere |
| 2019 | Handbagged by Moira Buffini | 59E59 Theaters | New York Premiere, produced by Round House Theatre |
| 2019 | Wife by Samuel Adamson | Kiln Theatre | World Premiere |
| 2018 | White Teeth by Zadie Smith, adapted by Stephen Sharkey | Kiln Theatre | World Premiere |
| 2018 | Holy Sh!t by Alexis Zegerman | Kiln Theatre | World Premiere |
| 2018 | The Great Wave by Francis Turnly | National Theatre | World Premiere. A co-production with Kiln Theatre |
| 2017 | Ugly Lies the Bone by Lindsey Ferrentino | National Theatre | |
| 2016 | The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar | Tricycle Theatre | UK Premiere |
| 2015 | A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes by Marcus Gardley | Tricycle Theatre | |
| 2015 | The Motherfucker with the Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis | National Theatre | Winner of Best Play and nominated for Best Director at Evening Standard Theatre Awards. |
| 2015 | Multitudes by John Hollingworth | Tricycle Theatre | |
| 2014 | The House That Will Not Stand by Marcus Gardley | Tricycle Theatre | |
| 2013 | Handbagged by Moira Buffini | Tricycle Theatre | West End transfer, Vaudeville Theatre, in 2014 |
| 2012 | Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti | Tricycle Theatre | Winner Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre Laurence Olivier Awards. New York transfer, St. Ann's Warehouse, in 2014. UK tour in 2015. West End transfer, Garrick Theatre, in 2016 |
| 2012 | Belong by Bola Agbaje | Royal Court Theatre | |
| 2011 | Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones | Tricycle Theatre | |
| 2010 | Ruined by Lynn Nottage | Almeida Theatre | |
| 2010 | Women, Power and Politics by various authors including Moira Buffini and Rebecca Lenkiewicz | Tricycle Theatre | |
| 2010 | Disconnect by Anupama Chandrasekhar | Royal Court Theatre | |
| 2009 | Detaining Justice by Bola Agbaje | Tricycle Theatre | |
| 2009 | The Great Game (with Nicolas Kent ) | Tricycle Theatre | Also US Tour, finishing at The Pentagon, Washington. |
| 2008 | Wuthering Heights, adapted by April De Angelis from the novel by Emily Brontë | Birmingham Rep | |
| 2007 | Free Outgoing by Anupama Chandrasekhar | Traverse Theatre | |
| 2007 | Pure Gold by Michael Bhim | Soho Theatre | |
| 2007 | Heartbreak House by G.B. Shaw | Watford Palace Theatre | |
| 2007 | Free Outgoing by Anupama Chandrasekhar | Royal Court Theatre | |
| 2006 | Sugar Mummies by Tanika Gupta | Royal Court Theatre | |
| 2006 | Fabulation by Lynn Nottage | Tricycle Theatre | |
| 2005 | The Morris by Helen Blakeman | Liverpool Everyman | |
| 2004 | Anna in the Tropics by Nilo Cruz | Hampstead Theatre | |
| 2004 | Another America a new opera by Errolyn Wallen | Sadler's Wells | |
| 2003 | Yellowman by Dael Orlandersmith | Liverpool Everyman and Hampstead Theatre | |
| 2003 | Rhinoceros by Ionesco | UCDavis, California | |
| 2002 | The Misanthrope by Molière, in an adaptation by Martin Crimp | Minerva Theatre, Chichester | |
| 2002 | Bombay Dreams | Apollo Victoria | Associate Director |
| 2002 | Romeo and Juliet | Chichester Festival Theatre | |
| 2001 | Secret Rapture by David Hare | Minerva Theatre, Chichester | |
| 2001 | Clubland by Roy Williams | Royal Court Theatre | |
| 2001 | Ramayana | National Theatre | |
| 2000 | The Waiting Room by Tanika Gupta | National Theatre | |
| 2000 | Ramayana | Birmingham Rep | |
| 1999 | Time of Fire by Charles Mulekwa | Birmingham Rep | |
| 1999 | Lift Off by Roy Williams | Royal Court Theatre | |
| 1998 | The Crutch by Ruwanthie Dechickera | Royal Court Theatre (Upstairs) | |
| 1998 | Starstruck by Roy Williams | Tricycle Theatre | Received the John Whiting Award and an EMMAs Award. |
| 1998 | Kaahini by Maya Chowdhry | Birmingham Rep | |
| 1997 | A River Sutra by Gita Mehta adapted by Tanika Gupta | Three Mills Island Studios | Received Diverse Acts Award from LAB. |
| 1997 | Shakuntala by Kalidasa adapted by Peter Oswald | Gate Theatre | |
| 1996 | Storming Young Writers Festival | Royal Court Theatre (Upstairs) | |
| 1996 | Gulp Fiction by Trish Cooke | Theatre Royal Stratford East | |
| 1996 | No Boys' Cricket Club by Roy Williams | Theatre Royal Stratford East | |
| 1996 | Sugar Dollies by Klaus Chatten | Gate Theatre | |
| 1996 | A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen | Young Vic Studio | |
| 1994/1995 | D'yer Eat With Your Fingers?! | Theatre Royal Stratford East | |
| 1994 | Party Girls by Debbie Plentie | Theatre Royal Stratford East | |