The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama announces Principal

JOSETTE BUSHELL-MINGO OBE is joining The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as its new Principal. Currently, the Head of Acting at Stockholm University of the Arts, she is an award-winning actor and director whose 40-year career has included performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Manchester Royal Exchange.

As a director she was Founder and Artistic Director of PUSH, a Black-led theatre festival with the Young Vic Theatre, for which she was awarded an OBE for services to the arts, a Judy Cramer Award for Innovation, and the Southbank Cultural Diversity Award. She was also Artistic Director for The National Touring Swedish Deaf Theatre ensemble Tyst Teater for 13 years.

Bushell-Mingo will be the first person of African descent appointed as Principal at Central, as well as the first woman to be appointed to the role since 1942 and the third woman appointed Principal in the school’s history. She will commence in post prior to the start of the 2021/22 academic year.