Bush Theatre boss joins revamped Brighton Dome board

Bush Theatre’s artistic director and co-chief executive, TAIO LAWSON, has joined the board of Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival (BDBF), alongside a new chair and three other trustees.

A slate of fresh appointments sees BDBF recruit figures from the world of business, heritage, theatre and film, all beginning their term this month.

MARTIN HUDSON, who works in the speciality insurance industry, is to lead the West Sussex organisation’s board, taking over from its chair of six years, DANNY HOMAN.

Lawson, meanwhile, joins along with fellow trustees casting director SHAHEEN BAIG, responsible for selecting actors for productions including Netflix hit Adolescence, and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s head of digital and broadcast, JULIA WALTER.

LUIS ALMONACID becomes the board’s latest young trustee. Born and raised in Brighton, Almonacid currently works at Somerset House, and is a graduate of the Brighton-based music school, Create Music.

LUCY DAVIES, BDBF chief executive, called the recruitment process “enriching and inspiring”.

“I am thrilled that the board has appointed such a skilled, generous and rigorous chair in Martin and that we will benefit from the brilliant minds of Taio, Shaheen, Julia and Luis,” Davies said.

“A board of trustees is the critical community that sustains, drives and supports the ambition and culture of an organisation and it is a privilege to work alongside such a strong, dynamic and visionary board. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to Danny Homan for being the most visionary chair these past six years.”

Hudson added: “I am delighted to be joining such a cultural, forward thinking and exciting institution. I look forward to working with new and existing trustees, the executive and wider team to further the reach and impact of this very special organisation.”