Indhu Rubasingham 

Indhu Rubasingham became Director of the National Theatre in spring 2025.

She has worked regularly at the National Theatre in all three South Bank auditoriums, directing productions including The Waiting Room, The Ramayana, The Motherfucker with the Hat, The Great Wave, Ugly Lies the Bone, Kerry Jackson and most recently the critically acclaimed sell out production of Anupama Chandrasekhar’s The Father and the Assassin.

Indhu Rubasingham works closely with Co-Chief Executive and Executive Director Kate Varah (who joined the NT in 2022) to spearhead the National Theatre’s national and international impact on stages, in cinemas, classrooms, community spaces, and online.

In April 2025, Rubasingham announced her first artistic programme. Setting the stage for this exciting next chapter, reimagined classic stories meet fresh, contemporary voices. Central to the work is a celebration of writers sharing stories that reflect our nation and the wider world, and the international spirit of the programme will transport audiences across continents offering new perspectives that resonate with global audiences. In essence, to bring the world to the NT and to take the NT to the World.

Bacchae, Rubasingham’s inaugural production as Director of the National Theatre, opened in September 2025 – a modern retelling of the ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides, brought to life by Nima Taleghani through rhythm, music and movement. She will also direct a forthcoming adaptation of The Jungle Book, adapted by Anupama Chandrasekhar from the stories of Rudyard Kipling.

Before joining the National Theatre, Rubasingham was Artistic Director of the Kiln Theatre (formerly the Tricycle Theatre) from 2012 to 2023, where she led a major capital redevelopment and championed unheard voices being part of the mainstream with a bold programme. Her mission was to create theatre for all, with a local heart and international reach.

In 2017, Rubasingham was awarded an MBE for services to theatre in the New Year’s Honours List and an honorary doctorate from the University of Hull.