Freelancer and Kiln Theatre associate director Amit Sharma is to step up to take over as artistic director and CEO of the North East London theatre from December.
He said, “over the last 18 months, I've got to know first-hand how truly iconic the Kiln Theatre is. To become the next Artistic Director and CEO is such a huge honour and to follow Indhu, who has always been a huge inspiration to me, is beyond my wildest dreams. I want to thank Sita and the Board for offering me this opportunity, and I'm incredibly excited at the prospect of working with them and forging the future that lies ahead.
"The Kiln is a theatre right at the heart of its community—a beacon for the people of Brent, bringing audiences to the borough from across London, the UK and internationally. There’s a magic that happens on that stage, and I look forward to working with the brilliant team there to bring that to audiences as we embrace this new phase together. I am absolutely buzzing for this next chapter.”
Sharma was selected from some 40 applicants. He is an international award-winning theatre and television director and formerly deputy artistic director of Birmingham Rep, associate artistic director at the Royal Exchange, Manchester and associate director at Graeae Theatre Company.
His credits include the sell-out run of Retrograde at the Kiln; The Solid Life of Sugar Water (Graeae Theatre Company / Theatre Royal Plymouth co-production) and The Boy With Two Hearts (also Wales Millennium Centre) both at the National Theatre, and co-direction of Prometheus Awakes, part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. He also co-directed the award-winning BBC and NETFLIX television drama Then Barbara Met Alan (Best Single Drama, 2023 Broadcast Awards).
Outgoing artistic director and CEO Indhu Rubasingham said, “I am very excited about the appointment of Amit Sharma as the new Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre. He is a person and an artist I greatly admire and respect. His integrity, values and talent are immense. I could not be happier about this appointment and have no doubt he will lead Kiln Theatre in this next chapter, both brilliantly and to further heights.”