Abdul Shayek

Artistic Director & Joint CEO @Tara Theatre

London Borough of Wandsworth, GB

Tara Theatre is a world-renowned arts organisation - we are the UK’s longest established Asian, Black and ethnically diverse theatre company, and the only one with its own theatre building. For four decades Tara Theatre has been a pioneer of cross-cultural practice in the UK, championing South Asian performers, writers, directors and musicians, and touring extensively both nationally and internationally. We are the beating creative heart of our communities, and we make politically charged, innovative theatre which creates ripples from the hyper-local to the global. We embed ourselves in local communities, identifying new narratives, new ideas and new artists.In August 2020 Abdul Shayek was appointed Artistic Director, beginning a bold new chapter for Tara at a moment of unprecedented global change marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, the climate emergency and the Black Lives Matter movement. This led to an unequivocal consensus that our work remains more urgent than ever.Every year we deliver a three-fold, yet fluid, programme of shows, emerging talent work and community engagement initiatives for adults and young people. Each year, Tara Theatre welcomes over people (45% from Asian, Black and ethnically diverse backgrounds) and works with 400 artists (80% from Asian, Black and ethnically diverse backgrounds). We provide educational opportunities for 500 participants - even more when touring. Over the next three years we plan to grow our delivery to welcome 10,500 audience members, 800 community participants, and 500 emerging artists annually.

Epping Forest College

A Levels, Psychology, Media Studies and Theatre Studies

University of East London School of Arts and Digital Industries

Bachelor’s Degree, International Theatre Studies