Northern Stage appoints Natalie Ibu as Artistic Director
Northern Stage today announced the appointment of Natalie Ibu as their
new Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive. Natalie, currently Artistic
Director and Chief Executive of tiata fahodzi, will take up the role in
November 2020. She succeeds Lorne Campbell, who joined National Theatre of
Wales in March.
 |
| Natalie Ibu Photo: Mathieu Ajan |
Prior to joining tiata fahodzi, her career includes time spent as
Creative Producer at In Good Company, Derby Theatre; Programme Manager,
Roundhouse; Resident Assistant Director, Royal Court and Assistant Director
Glasgow Citizens Theatre.
Natalie is devoted to artist development with a strong record in
nurturing new talent, evidenced in her roles as consortium lead of the Artistic
Director Leadership Programme and Trustee of the Regional Theatre Young Director
Scheme. She has a history of working with youth theatre and is passionate
about working with local communities to ensure that work can be created in
collaboration, to reflect the lived experience, hopes and ideas of the widest
society. Natalie is a Fellow of the International Society of Performing Arts
(ISPA).
Chair of Northern Stage’s Board Simon Elliott said, “The time the panel spent reviewing nearly 60 applications and
meeting many candidates in interview showed us all the high quality of the sector,
both nationally and regionally. Natalie emerged as the most compelling
candidate from a high calibre field because we saw her as visionary, know that
she understands and embraces the social responsibilities of theatre and is
committed to developing talent. Her track record is excellent and with
her creative leadership I am confident she will enable us to ensure Northern
Stage can be the theatre the region needs now and in the years to
come.
“Appointing an
Artistic Director at this time is absolutely necessary. We have an
obligation to all the communities of Newcastle and the North East to create,
develop and curate the most exciting, engaging and relevant theatre, so that
when audiences, staff, theatre makers and participants feel safe, we can be
there. Natalie, working alongside Joint Chief Executive Kate Denby and
with the entire team, will imagine and realise that future.
“And last but
not least, I want to acknowledge the brilliant work by Kate who has had to be
our sole Chief Executive in this most challenging period – and the whole
Northern Stage Staff and the freelance community we work with for all they have
done in the last 5 months. I know that as Natalie takes up the role of
Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive, she will work collaboratively to
create the possibilities of a better tomorrow.”
Natalie Ibu said, “As a 17 year old Black Scottish working class girl, I
decided I wanted to be an Artistic Director because I longed to work in
community – with a team, with artists, with a place and with audiences.
Northern Stage is exemplary at this with its commitment to its local and
regional community – from Wednesday shared dinners with its neighbours in Byker
to the way it shares its building with local artists through the Spare Room
programme. I am looking forward to working with the people and places
across Tyne and Wear and beyond — where grit joins charm, where a spectrum of
celebrations meet at the weekend and where the global is becoming our local –
to make loudly relevant work that feels essential to helping us understand who
we are, who we’ll be and who we want to be. I know first-hand the
game-changing impact a venue like Northern Stage can have on individuals —
artists and audiences alike - and it’s an absolute privilege to join this
organisation as it continues to emerge as a beacon in these complex
times.
Northern Stage’s Executive Director Kate Denby said, "I'm thrilled to welcome Natalie to Northern
Stage as our new Artistic Director. Natalie and I had the opportunity to work
together several years ago, and I've followed her career in the years since.
I'm very excited to now build a partnership as we lead Northern Stage
into the future."
The tiata fahodzi Board of
Trustees said, “The
Board of Trustees and everyone at tiata fahodzi would like to congratulate
Natalie on her new role and thank her for the inspiring work she has done as
Artistic Director of our organisation over the past six years. From
spearheading a new approach to audience engagement with the innovative
Friendship Model, to championing inclusive imagery with The
Stage photo campaign, Natalie has demonstrated time and again that her
creative vision knows no bounds. At the heart of tiata fahodzi is our mission
to help create a richer, more multiple mainstream theatre culture and as
Artistic Director Natalie has pushed that agenda forward with thought-provoking
productions and ground-breaking initiatives that will benefit the sector for
years to come. We have no doubt Natalie will take the same unwavering drive and
passion with her to Northern Stage and wish her the very best.”
