Taio Lawson & Susie Mckenna Appointed Associate Directors At Kiln Theatre

Kiln Theatre today announces the appointment of Taio Lawson and Susie McKenna as Associate Directors. They take up their roles from 31 July 2019 and will support Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham in the delivery of the artistic programme and Kiln Theatre's wider output. Both part-time positions have been made possible through the generous support of theEsmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Rubasingham said today, "I am thrilled that Taio and Susie are joining us and am over the moon that two such wonderful directors will bring so much breadth, vision and expertise to Kiln Theatre and our team."

Taio Lawson commented, "I am incredibly proud to be joining the brilliant team here at Kiln Theatre. They, like me, are passionate about telling incredible stories across a wide and diverse range of perspectives - and to do it with class. I can't wait to get started!"

Susie McKenna said, "I'm honoured and excited to be joining the fantastic team at Kiln Theatre especially as now, more than ever, we need to tell stories that open windows to understanding each other better and this theatre never shies away from doing just that!

Taio Lawson was Resident Assistant Director at Sheffield Theatres (part of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme) where he directed hang. Also for Sheffield Theatres, Assistant Director credits include Love and Information, Frost/Nixon, The Wizard of Oz and Desire Under The Elms. As Director credits include How To Make Love To A Muslim Without Freaking Out(Rehearsed Reading, Bush Theatre), Face in a Jar (St Paul's Furzedown Church/Rhoda McGaw Theatre), What We Are, 90's Kid (ETC Theatre), Gutted 'n' Battered (UK/International Tour) and Sexy Buff Ting (Cockpit Theatre). As Assistant Director credits include Life of Galileo, Sizwe Banzi Is Dead (Young Vic), Oil, They Drink It in the Congo (Almeida Theatre), Octagon(Arcola Theatre) and Perseverance Drive (Bush Theatre). Lawson is also a patron for COMMON which is a non-profit arts organisation which exists to support the UK theatre industry in achieving greater socio-economic diversity, and make theatre more accessible to the working-class; whether they be artists, audiences or communities.

Susie McKenna is currently directing Blues in the Night at Kiln Theatre. She was Creative Director of Hackney Empire from 2010 - 2017, her directing credits for the company include Beau Jest, Sit and Shiver, Mandem on the Wall Live, Kat and Tameka Show, La Variété, Ha Ha Hackney and 21 pantomimes. Other credits include The Silver Sword (Belgrade Theatre/UK tour), Once on This Island (Birmingham Rep/Nottingham Playhouse), Oranges and Elephants (Hoxton Hall), A Midsummer Night's Madness (National Black Theatre of Harlem/Hackney Empire/Edinburgh Festival Fringe), Macbeth (Edinburgh Festival Fringe), A Christmas Carol (Arts Theatre). As an Actor her theatre credits include Cats (New London Theatre), Ragtime(Piccadilly Theatre), Chicago (Cambridge Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Hair, The Rocky Horror Show, Jesus Christ Superstar and In the Midnight Hour (UK tour); and for film, Jack & Sarah and Storm Damage.

www.KilnTheatre.com

Pictured: Susie McKenna, Indhu Rubasingham and Taio Lawson.

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