“Kiln Theatre has revitalised the cultural life of Brent and brings world-class theatre at an affordable price to people from all walks of life.”
Zadie Smith
Kiln Theatre in Kilburn, North-West London is seeking to appoint a new Chair to the Board.
Presenting about six productions a year, Kiln Theatre, led by new Artistic Director, Amit Sharma, aims to produce or co-produce the majority of its shows, to maintain our reputation as an ambitious producing theatre that is both internationally renowned and deeply rooted in its local community.
The theatre sits in the heart of Kilburn in Brent, a unique and culturally diverse area of London where over 140 languages are spoken. It is a newly refurbished, welcoming and proudly local venue, with an internationally acclaimed programme of world and UK premieres. Their work presents the world through a variety of lenses, amplifying unheard / ignored voices into the mainstream, exploring and examining the threads of human connection that cross race, culture and identity.
Kiln believes that theatre is for all and want everyone to feel welcome and entitled to call the Kiln their own. We are committed to nurturing the talent of young people and providing a platform for their voices to be heard.
Recent productions include Ryan Calais Cameron’s Retrograde directed by Amit Sharma, Zadie Smith’s playwriting debut The Wife of Willesden directed by Indhu Rubasingham, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), which transfers to the Criterion Theatre in the West End in 2024 and Mlima’s Tale by Lynn Nottage.
Kiln consists of a small, dedicated mission-driven team which strives to create a place where stories are brought to life and imaginations are expanded.
“There’s something different about this theatre.
There’s a feeling of inclusion”
Audience member
At the heart of everything is the team at Kiln, and they are integral to the wider community of actors, playwrights, audiences, supporters, backstage, creatives and volunteers who bring their talents into the building. As the baton passes from Indhu Rubasingham to Amit Sharma’s leadership, we will continue to foster the passion and genuine care that all of these communities bring to the UK cultural landscape.
In addition to the main auditorium, Kiln Theatre also houses a 300-seat cinema which provides additional opportunities to connect and engage with local audiences.
Organisation and Governance
Kiln Theatre is a registered charity and is governed by its Board of Trustees, led by Chair, Sita McIntosh. Recently the terms of some long-serving members of the Board have come to an end, creating an opportunity to recruit some new Trustees. It has also led to the formalisation of Board sub-committees reporting to the Board and these comprise Finance, Risk & Remuneration; Fundraising and Nominations.
The Board meets formally 4 times a year. Other committees meet on a regular basis, in time to report back to the main Board.
Kiln Theatre employs 32 staff and is led by the Executive Team comprising the Artistic Director, Amit Sharma, who has been in post since December 2023 and and recently appointed Executive Director, Iain Goosey, who begins his role this month (May 2024).
Finances
Kiln Theatre is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation receiving a grant of £945,901 per annum to March 2027. It was one of only two London NPOs to get increased funding on the previous allocation. The theatre isn’t supported financially by Brent owing to arts and culture budget cuts. There is still a considerable gap between statutory funding and the cost of running the theatre – the salaries bill is £1.3m and the organisation is aiming to move towards a position where its turnover is between £3.5 and £4m. Fundraising contributes just under 30% of income currently, of which 55% comes from trust and foundation grants and 45% from individuals giving at all levels, from a £1 booking donation to a £70k gift.
Community Outreach
Creative Engagement has been at the heart of Kiln Theatre’s activities for many years. Its well-established programme aims to make the theatre accessible to people of all ages across Brent, using the power of performance to connect people, whatever their background, young and old. Its community outreach projects, including Minding the Gap, a drama workshop for young people newly arrived in the UK, demonstrate the importance that Kiln Theatre attaches to its community and to making a difference in a borough where over half its residents were born abroad, where 149 languages are spoken across the borough and where one third of residents live below the London Poverty Line.
Looking Ahead
With the new leadership team now confirmed, in the appointment of Amit Sharma as Artistic Director / CEO and Iain Goosey as Executive Director, the organisation is in a good place to drive forward its mission with a building that is accessible and fit for purpose; with the opportunity to engage a more diverse audience, with its commitment to the regeneration of Kilburn, with the aim of making the theatre a cultural beacon on the high street.
Looking ahead, key goals for Kiln Theatre in 2024 are:
- To sustain a high number of Kiln Theatre-produced shows, the majority being new writing.
- To invest in writers and other creatives from the widest range of background.
- To make theatre accessible to people of all ages in the local community through the Creative Engagement programme.
- To continue to widen the audience base, both through Creative Engagement and through the increased focus on audience development.
- To use our resources as effectively and efficiently as possible to ensure financial security and sustainability.
To deliver on these goals, the organisation needs to generate maximum revenues from both its commercial and fundraising activities. These are important priorities for the Executive Team and for the Board.
Summary
With its new programme, new building and growing profile, Kiln Theatre is at an exciting point in its history. It has key challenges to meet, including continuing to increase the diversity of its audiences, its accessibility for local audiences and ensuring its financial viability longer-term. But also has significant opportunities to grasp – the newly reopened building is a beautiful, welcoming place for artists and audiences alike. The change in artistic leadership is an opportunity to review and refresh our commitment to our audiences and our communities and create new national, international, and commercial potential partners. As the incomparable Sharon D. Clarke put it recently “this place was a special cocoon. Now she has grown and blossomed into a beautiful butterfly”.
For more information, please refer to https://kilntheatre.com/