Stella Kanu

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LONDON INTERNATIONAL
FESTIVAL OF THEATRE (LIFT)

Stella Kanu has worked in the theatre, festival, and cultural sector for over 20 years. She founded The Pivotal Place, a coaching practice for creative leaders, in 2005. She is currently Executive Director at LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre) leading the strategic strands of the business and executive producing of the biennial festival.

She sits on several strategic and governing bodies including, All Parliamentary Group for Theatre, London Mayoral appointee to Arts Council London Area Council, and has been Trustee at New Writing South, Co-Chair of Arts Council England’s Race Advisory Group (RAG) and Chair at Eclipse Theatre.

She is a sought-after panellist, speaker and writer, having contributed to TV, radio, national publications, podcasts and online exploring topics such as inspirational leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, women and power and the future of theatre.

Stella created the concept for Black Womxn in Theatre and is Founder and co-curator of BWinT events, the #WeAreVisible & #AllOfUs movements and the iconic photoshoot of over 250 Black Womxn in Theatre at The Globe in 2019. During the global pandemic she co-created #HereToStay – a programme of support for ethnically diverse cultural workers who had lost their jobs. Stella is a Cultural Leadership International Powerbrokers Fellow (2008) and was named one of the Alfred Fagon Award 25 Black Theatre Champions (2021).