The National Theatre has announced that Indhu Rubasingham will become its next director and joint chief executive.
Rubasingham, who has been artistic director at the Kiln Theatre in north London since 2012, will join the theatre as director designate from the spring.
She will succeed Rufus Norris, who will step down as director and chief executive in the spring of 2025, at the end of his second term and after 10 years in post.
Rubasingham will work with the National Theatre’s executive director and joint chief executive Kate Varah in a co-leadership model.
At the Kiln, Rubasingham collaborated with notable writers such as Zadie Smith and Ayad Aktar and focused on bringing new voices into the mainstream.
She has also worked regularly at the National Theatre in all three of its South Bank auditoriums, most recently having directed a sold out production of Anupama Chandrasekhar’s The Father and the Assassin at the Olivier theatre earlier this year.
Rubasingham said the appointment was a “huge honour”, adding: “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.
“I’ve been fortunate to have directed on the National Theatre’s stages and to have witnessed firsthand the commitment, collaboration, brilliance and pride of those who bring the magic to the building, both on stage and off. There’s nowhere like it, and it will be a joy to be a part of this iconic building’s next chapter.”
Varah added: “I am thrilled that Indhu will be the National Theatre’s next director, someone I deeply admire as an artist and as a leader. Importantly, I believe we share the same values and aspirations for this incomparable theatre.”
Sir Damon Buffini, chair of the National Theatre, said that Rubasingham had a “proven record of strong leadership and artistic success, alongside a commitment to bringing theatre to diverse audiences and broadening access to creative education”.
He added that the recruitment panel met with an “exceptionally impressive” field of candidates, and said: “Throughout the process it was clear to us all that Indhu possesses the skills and vision, alongside those of our brilliant executive director and joint chief executive, to confidently lead the National Theatre into our next chapter.”