Left to Right: Debo Adebayo, Kully Thiarai. Two images edited together. Adebayo stands against a spray-painted wall with his arms crossed. He wears a navy bomber jacket, and has short, dark brown hair, moustache and beard. Thiarai is an Asian woman. She stands outside and is smiling at the camera. She has short, black/grey hair. She wears a black coat, white turtleneck jumper, pink scarf, and gold, hoop earrings.

(L to R) Debo Adebayo, Kully Thiarai

Changing Faces

New appointments at Paines Plough

Robin Cantrill-Fenwick
2 min read

KULLY THIARAI is joining touring theatre company Paines Plough as Chair of the Board, alongside DEBO ADEBAYO as Deputy Artistic Director.

Outgoing chair KIM GRANT is stepping down following nine years on the board, with just over four years as chair.

Thiarai is Creative Director and CEO of LEEDS 2023 and currently a Trustee of The Art Foundation and Artistic Advisor to Slung Low. She previously served as Artistic Director and Chief Executive of National Theatre Wales.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Paines Plough as their incoming Chair following in the footsteps of the wonderful Kim Grant,” Thiarai said. 

“Supporting, nurturing and advocating for artists and particularly new writing has always been a vital and important need and one I have always passionately supported.”

Joining Thiarai as newly-appointed trustees are former Executive Producer of Film4 LAUREN DARK and policy lead for NHS England FARHA QUADRI.

Adebayo is currently Lead Producer for Bethnal Green’s theatre Tamasha, and has formerly worked with Tangle Theatre Company and The Red Room. He also does independent consultancy work for Talawa, Utopia Theatre and Collective Artistes.

Adebayo is replacing CHARLOTTE BENNETT for the next year, and will work closely alongside joint Artistic Director KATIE POSNER. 

“Making the transition from producing into artistic direction for a company that is such a leading light in platforming new, socially relevant stories, is an incredibly exciting challenge,” Adebayo commented.