Board-shadowing scheme announces London partners in mission to diversify theatre leadership

Complicité, Punchdrunk and English Touring Theatre have become the latest organisations to sign up to a board-shadowing programme aimed at diversifying theatre trustees.

Their involvement comes as the programme, run by development organisation Artistic Directors of the Future, expands to London for the first time, having launched in Yorkshire last year.

First cohort appointed in initiative to diversify theatre boards

ADF has partnered with Complicité, Punchdrunk and ETT for the second round of the board-shadowing scheme, in which eight ADF members will shadow board meetings at the three companies over a period of six months.

Outside the boardroom, they will also attend press nights, other internal meetings and open rehearsals, and meet staff and stakeholders.

The programme was established by ADF to redress a lack of diversity among theatre governance by brokering new relationships between aspiring trustees from culturally diverse backgrounds and existing board members at leading organisations.

ADF artistic director Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway said: “At ADF, we are committed to developing our initiatives and therefore, the second iteration of the programme presented a great opportunity to expand our board-shadowing programme to include non-venue-based organisations.

“We believe that this new addition will strengthen the relationship between our ADF members and theatre companies, as well as blossom new and exciting partnerships and opportunities within these organisations in the near future.”

The participating individuals will be appointed later this year.

Richard Twyman, ETT artistic director, added: “It’s essential that we find new pathways into leadership roles within the industry, and through their visionary work, ADF is opening up access to positions of influence that will change and invigorate the sector immeasurably in the years to come.”