ADF Team
Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway
Founder & Managing Director
Founder & Managing Director of Artistic Directors of the Future, author of the first monologue book for Black Actors from Black British Plays and former manager of the Royal National Theatre’s: Black Play Archive, Simeilia’s passion for increasing diversity within the arts has always been reflected in her work.
Having worked in managerial and artistic positions at various reputable mainstream theatres over the last ten years, feeling disgruntled by the lack of diverse leaders she decided to set up Artistic Directors of the Future to provide new pathways and more equal opportunities for aspiring BAME leaders to succeed.
Simeilia joined forces with Narrow Paths Films and Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2013 to produce ‘Voices from the Black Row’, a short film documentary about the lack of education of Black British plays. In 2015, with the support of Bloomsbury Publishing, she began to write a second anthology entitled Audition Speeches for Black, South Asian and Middle Eastern Actors inspired by British and International contemporary plays. More recently, Simeilia became the co-producer for the international project, Black Lives, Black Words, steering London's response to issues pertaining to the Black Lives Matters movement at the Bush Theatre, London.
Founder & Managing Director
Having worked in managerial and artistic positions at various reputable mainstream theatres over the last ten years, feeling disgruntled by the lack of diverse leaders she decided to set up Artistic Directors of the Future to provide new pathways and more equal opportunities for aspiring BAME leaders to succeed.
Simeilia joined forces with Narrow Paths Films and Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2013 to produce ‘Voices from the Black Row’, a short film documentary about the lack of education of Black British plays. In 2015, with the support of Bloomsbury Publishing, she began to write a second anthology entitled Audition Speeches for Black, South Asian and Middle Eastern Actors inspired by British and International contemporary plays. More recently, Simeilia became the co-producer for the international project, Black Lives, Black Words, steering London's response to issues pertaining to the Black Lives Matters movement at the Bush Theatre, London.
April Brown
Research & Development Consultant
April Brown is helping to develop the ADF programme while undertaking an MA in Arts and Cultural Management from the department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries at King’s College London. Since graduating with a degree in Music & Arts Management in 2010, she has been working for a number of creative organisations executing youth arts and community engagement projects.
Passionate about arts and social change, she is a fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs and was selected to take part in theUpRising youth leadership programme in 2013. April has drawn upon her experience in project management, research and facilitation to encourage constructive relationships between arts & culture and diverse communities.
She is currently part of the London International Festival of Theatre ( LIFT ) 2016 producing team and writes for gal-dem.com, a creative online magazine written by BAME female students for all to explore.
Research & Development Consultant
Passionate about arts and social change, she is a fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs and was selected to take part in theUpRising youth leadership programme in 2013. April has drawn upon her experience in project management, research and facilitation to encourage constructive relationships between arts & culture and diverse communities.
She is currently part of the London International Festival of Theatre ( LIFT ) 2016 producing team and writes for gal-dem.com, a creative online magazine written by BAME female students for all to explore.
ADF Board of Directors
Advisory board
Bush Theatre, London
Iron Shoes, London
Following the footsteps
