British Tamil Indhu Rubasingham takes the helm at National theatre

British Tamil Indhu Rubasingham has been appointed the artistic director of the National Theatre. The landmark London venue will get its first female director in its 60-year history.

Indhu has been at the London Kiln Theatre (formerly the Tricycle) for over a decade and will replace the National’s current director Rufus Norris in 2025.

Speaking to the BBC, Rubasingham said it would be “a joy to be a part of this iconic building’s next chapter”.

“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.

“Theatre has a transformative power – the ability to bring people together through shared experience and storytelling, and nowhere more so than the National.”

Born in Sheffield and with Sri-Lankan Tamil heritage, she will be the seventh director since the National was founded by Sir Laurence Olivier in 1963.