Utopia Theatre launches trustee callout and plans to welcome first youth board members
Sheffield-based African theatre company Utopia Theatre is on the lookout for four trustees and is planning to welcome its first youth board members.
As an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, Utopia Theatre is delivering a programme of events and productions to share compelling stories of African diaspora and inspire the next generation of creatives to thrive in theatre performance and production.
Mojisola Kareem, CEO and Artistic Director, said:
"We’ve grown our staff team and expanded our reach in recent months, and as such we’re looking to specifically onboard new trustees with commercial experience or digital/technology skills to help shape our organisation’s governance. Utopia Theatre has changed significantly in our ten years to date and it’s an exciting time to come and join us. Those new trustees will help to take our work to the next level as we look to partner with businesses and enhance our digital offer and capabilities.
The really exciting prospect for us is that we’re looking to introduce youth voices to our Board for the first time, so that we are truly shaping our organisation for the theatre makers and performers of tomorrow."
The really exciting prospect for us is that we’re looking to introduce youth voices to our Board for the first time, so that we are truly shaping our organisation for the theatre makers and performers of tomorrow."
More than 20 young people now attend Utopia Theatre’s Youth Academy weekly, a year on from launching as the first of its kind in Sheffield. The theatre company now also hosts a range of community events in its dedicated Creative Hub and has just announced the co-production of Death and the King’s Horseman with Sheffield Theatres – set to be staged at The Crucible in February 2025.
Kareem added:
“The Youth Academy is a place where young people can learn and finesse performance skills and also develop their confidence. It’s really important that we hear their voice throughout our organisation and I’m really looking forward to being able to welcome youth members later this year.”
Utopia Theatre is keen to hear from applicants from any background and are particularly looking for trustees with strong connections to the community in Sheffield, experience in property development, safeguarding and wellbeing, film, television and recorded media, fundraising, accounting, financial and business management, commercial and business law, digital/technology and human resources.
Anybody looking for more information should visit the Utopia Theatre website or contact info@utopiatheatre.co.uk