Natalie Ibu is the artistic director and CEO of tiata fahodzi. Previously she was the Creative Producer for In Good Company, launching the regional artist development programme in the East Midlands for Derby Theatre, Embrace Arts Leicester and Create Mansfield. As a freelancer she has worked with Openworks Theatre, Maison Foo, Fifth Word and Spilt Milk Dance. Previous roles include Programme Manager at the Roundhouse, Creative Producer for Only Connect, Associate Director (Warehouse) for HighTide Festival Productions. Since graduating with a First Class Honours degree in 2004, she has completed residencies at the Royal Court, New York Theatre Workshop, the National Theatre Studio, Royal Shakespeare Company, Citizens’ Theatre and Contact. She has been awarded bursaries from Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme, the Federation of Scottish Theatre, Scottish Arts Council and Arts Council East Midlands. Awards include Dewar Arts Award for Exceptional Artists Under 30, Time Warner Ignite 2, IdeasTap Innovator’s Award and the Lilian Baylis Award for Theatrical Excellence. She is a trustee of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme, HOME Manchester and she is a South East Area Council Member for Arts Council England. For the tiata fahodzi, her directing credits include good dog, bricks and pieces, i know all the secrets in my world, tiata delights 15, here and mango. As director, credits include readings and productions by Arinzé Kene, Nathan Bryon, Charlene James, Nick Payne, Luke Barnes, Rachel De-lahay, Kenny Emson, Steve Hevey, Hywel John, Stewart Melton, Jesse Briton, Marcelo Dos Santos, Jonathan Brittain, Penelope Skinner, Sabrina Mahfouz, Ella Hickson, Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, Laura Lomas and Tom Wells at a variety of venues including Paines Plough’s Roundabout, Watford Palace Theatre, Riverside Studios, Young Vic, Lyric, Southwark Playhouse, Southbank Centre, The Old Vic Tunnels, Theatre503, The Gate, Latitude, HighTide, BAC, Oran Mor, Traverse, Royal Court, OVNV at The Old Vic, Waterloo East and The Vineyard Theatre in New York, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Citizens’, The Arches, Contact and Nottingham Playhouse as well as national tours of regional theatres.