Imogen Kinchin Fellowship names first eight cultural leaders
Eight theatre and arts leaders from Plymouth to Lincoln will make up the first cohort of the Imogen Kinchin Fellowship for 2026-27. The eight names were announced on 7 October 2026. WhatsOnStage
The fellowship is a funded 12-month leadership programme set up in memory of producer and executive director Imogen Kinchin. Kinchin died in March 2024 aged 44. It is designed to support people moving into leadership roles in culture.
Each fellow receives a £3,000 bursary, one-to-one mentoring and access to a wider network of cultural leaders. The programme plans to support between six and eight emerging leaders each year. No upper age limit applies.
The inaugural fellows work across theatre, dance, outreach and artist development. They are Aisha Zia, artistic director and co-chief executive of Kali Theatre; Alessandra Hồng Duyên Zavagno, outreach and partnerships producer at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre; Beccy D’Souza, artist development producer at Nottingham Playhouse; and Ben Alexander Anderson, creative and executive director of Lincoln Arts Centre and the Barbican creative hub at the University of Lincoln.
The other four are Connor Allen, founder and chief executive of LOYALTY Arts; Franny Rafferty, senior producer at Theatre Royal Plymouth; Kat Joyce, co-artistic director and co-chief executive of Tangled Feet; and Vanessa Maria Mirza, artist, curator and founder-director of Dance Bridges.
Eight mentors. Eight fellows. The mentors named for the first year are Emma Brünjes, Jo Danvers, Georgia Gatti, Glenn Graham, James Grieve, Nia Janis, Nicholai La Barrie and James Mackenzie-Blackman.
The fellowship is delivered in partnership with Theatre Royal Plymouth, the National Theatre, Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, Playful Productions, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and New Adventures. It launched on 24 September with an inaugural supper at Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings.
What makes this stand out is the spread. For audiences, this means the people shaping future seasons, tours and community programmes come from regional houses and London stages alike, from new writing and young people’s theatre to dance and outdoor work.
