The Young Vic has announced the appointment of five new trustees who will join its Board in September, bringing expertise from the worlds of music, theatre production, charity leadership, law and the judiciary.
Joining the board are Alex Burford, Managing Director of Warner Records UK; Sarah Edwards, Finance Director and Partner at Short Street Productions; Dermot Finch, Group Chief Operating Officer at The King’s Trust; Dame Victoria Sharp, President of the King’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice; and David Walker, Partner at international law firm Latham & Watkins.
The appointments come as long-serving trustees Nicky Dunn OBE, Fiona Shaw and Anna Williams retire after a decade of service to the organisation.
The Young Vic said the new trustees’ expertise would help support the theatre as it continues to deliver accessible and affordable productions, ambitious new work, reimagined classics and international storytelling.
Lucy Pattison, Executive Director of the Young Vic, said: “We are delighted to welcome new Trustees Alex, David, Dermot, Sarah and Victoria to the Young Vic in this new, exciting chapter for the organisation under the Artistic Direction of Nadia Fall. As we look to the future and continue to build our vision for the organisation, we are grateful for the energy, ideas and support of our Board under the thoughtful and consistent leadership of Glenn Earle.”
Glenn Earle, Chair of the Young Vic Board of Trustees, said: “I would like to thank our wonderful trustees Nicky Dunn, Fiona Shaw and Anna Williams for their tireless support of the Young Vic over the last ten years. Although we are wishing them a fond farewell from the Board they will always be part of the Young Vic family.
“With the appointments of Sarah, Alex, Dermot, Victoria and David to our Board of Trustees we welcome five exceptional individuals who bring unique perspectives, ideas and a broad range of experience. I look forward to working with them and our fellow Trustees as we plan for the future of our brilliant theatre.”
Among the new appointments, Burford brings more than 15 years of experience in the music industry, having worked with artists including Dua Lipa, Liam Gallagher and PinkPantheress. He also serves as a Non-Executive Director of Channel 4.
Edwards joins with extensive theatre industry experience through senior finance roles at Sonia Friedman Productions and Ambassador Theatre Group, and currently serves as a trustee of the National Youth Arts Trust.
Finch combines senior leadership experience in the charitable sector with a background in government, having previously worked for HM Treasury, the British Embassy in the United States and the Northern Ireland Office.
Walker has held senior leadership positions within international law firms and has also served on the board of social enterprise On Purpose, while supporting the work of type 1 diabetes charity Breakthrough T1D.
Sharp brings decades of experience in media and information law, having served as a High Court judge, Court of Appeal judge and President of the King’s Bench Division, as well as working with government on key aspects of the justice system.
The new trustees will join current board members Glenn Earle, Robert Easton, Kene Ejikeme, Farah Ramzan Golant CBE and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith MBE.
The announcement comes ahead of the opening of the Young Vic’s 2026/27 season, which begins next month with the world premiere of Thelma & Louise, running from 3 September to 24 October, with an opening night on 16 September.
More information can be found here.
