Left to right: headshots of Joni Emery, Josette Bushell-Mingo, Sarah-Jane Dent

Left to right: Joni Emery, Josette Bushell-Mingo, Sarah-Jane Dent

Photo: Cam Harle Photography and AKTA Photography

Changing Faces

Clean Break welcomes new Co-Chairs

Arts Professional
2 min read

JOSETTE BUSHELL-MINGO and SARAH-JANE DENT have been appointed Co-Chairs of the Board of the women’s theatre company Clean Break.

The company, which uses theatre to help women who have experienced or are at risk of entering the criminal justice system, also welcomes new trustee JONI EMERY. 

The new Co-Chairs succeed ALISON FRATER and ALEX ROWSE, with Rowse remaining on the board.

An actor and director, Bushell-Mingo is the Principal of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD). As a director, she was the Founder and Artistic Director of PUSH, a Black-led theatre festival with the Young Vic Theatre, and she has performed with the RSC, the National Theatre and the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.

Bushell-Mingo has served on the board of the Swedish Film Institute, as Chair for CinemAfrica, and as Patron of the Unity Theatre, Liverpool.  

Dent has appeared in several Clean Break productions as well as at the Donmar Warehouse and the Vaults Festival. 

During her 14-year legal career, Emery has worked in the criminal justice voluntary sector with the charity User Voice and infrastructure organisation CLINKS. 

Clean Break’s leadership team, ERIN GAVAGHAN and ANNA HERRMANN said they were "thrilled" to welcome the trio "at this pivotal moment where we deepen our resolve to achieve greater equity, diversity and lived experience representation at every level of the organisation."