Abdul Shayek

Artistic Director and Joint CEO

It is with immense sadness that we are announcing the death of Abdul Shayek, beloved Artistic Director and Joint CEO of Tara Theatre, aged 39. We are heartbroken to share this news on behalf of his family. Abdul died at home unexpectedly, of natural causes.

Abdul’s family and Tara Theatre respectfully request privacy and space to come to terms with our devastating loss.

Abdul Shayek was previously the founding Artistic Director & CEO of Fio, an international theatre company based in Cardiff. Before this he was an Associate at the National Theatre of Wales.

A member of the British Council’s Arts and Creative Economy Advisory Group, Vice Chair of the National Alliance of Arts in the Criminal Justice System, as well as a trustee of mid-Wales dance company Impelo. Abdul was a Clore Cultural Leadership Fellow (2013-14), during which he spent time at Film4 and M&C Saatchi. He is a visiting lecturer at the University of East London and has guest lectured at a host of other institutions.

As a director and theatre maker Abdul’s work is rooted in creating innovative participatory experiences, projects and productions and identifying and developing artists and new audiences. He has worked on TV documentaries, on operas (new and classics) with both ENO and WNO. Staged contemporary classics and adapted novels for stage.  While leading Tara Theatre, he has created an audio walking project in response to the pandemic which toured UK festivals, theatres and civic spaces in 2022; commissioned 12 new monologues with national and international writers; created a site-specific gig theatre piece in 2021 as well as a VR experience in 2022 for Bangladesh 50.