Fiona English, Executive Director of the King’s Head Theatre (KHT), Islington will step down from her post at the end of 2021, after five years working for the charity.  

Recruitment is now underway for an Executive Director and a Producer to join the Senior Management team alongside new Artistic Directors Hannah Price and Mark Ravenhill.

Fiona English said, “After five years I feel now is the right time to step aside and leave someone else to take the reins alongside the new Artistic Directors of the King’s Head Theatre. I have adored helping to create a space that is more welcoming, inclusive and boundary pushing than ever before, and could not be more excited for the future of the venue in the hands of Hannah and Mark. I am so grateful to all the funders, the Board and the team that has helped ensure the venue not only survive the pandemic but that we have an exciting future for the team to step into at Islington Square.”  

During Fiona’s time as Executive Director the King’s Head Theatre secured funding from the GLA’s Good Growth Fund, Foyle Foundation and Oak Foundation as well as significant investment from DCMS through the Culture Recovery Fund during the pandemic. The charity has raised more than £2m during her time in post, when Fiona implemented a 5 year business plan, led on a rebrand and a new website, saw hundreds of productions through the building and worked with the trustees to ensure there were no staff team redundancies during the pandemic. Fiona helped the King’s Head Theatre have its most successful fundraising event to date, raising close to £100k on one evening, produced new opera in the West End and championed policies that would make the venue a healthy, happy place to work including being awarded Healthy Workplace accreditation from the GLA. 

Chair of Trustees James Seabright added, "The King's Head Theatre has not had an Executive Director role prior to Fiona's tenure, and I speak on behalf of the whole board when I say that her vision, leadership and guidance over the past five years have set the charity on a strong path to succeeding in its aims of moving to a new home as well as solidifying its place in the local community as a key cultural asset to be cherished and supported. We will miss Fiona but wish her well for her future plans. I look forward to recruiting her successor at this exciting time for the charity."