In 1977, a group of young Wandsworth residents founded a theatre company in response to a racist murder. Fifty years on, Tara Theatre is approaching its most ambitious year yet.
As we turn 50 in 2027, we are creating new work, touring award-winning productions across the UK and building genuine pathways for the next generation of South Asian artists and leaders. Everything we do is rooted in the same belief that founded us: that South Asian stories are world-class, universal and essential, and that theatre is a force for change.
What’s coming
Our 50th year programme is the most ambitious we have ever produced. We will lead and produce a groundbreaking new production incorporating opera, dance and theatre, reclaiming stories traditionally told through a Eurocentric lens. A full stage production will be commissioned directly from our NOVA writer development pipeline, shaped by a callout for new plays exploring futurism and what British South Asian life looks like from here. We will also be touring new work and collaborating on new productions for younger audiences.
Who we are now
For the first time in our 50-year history, Tara Theatre is led entirely by South Asian women. Artistic Director and Joint-CEO Natasha Kathi-Chandra and Executive Director and Joint-CEO Alys Beider lead alongside Chair of the Board Sandeep Mahal MBE.
“Tara Theatre was founded as a courageous, public, creative act of resistance. Fifty years on, the reasons it was founded have not gone away — the fight has simply changed shape. South Asian theatre is world-class, universal and essential. We are here to expand the canon and make sure these stories are never lost again.” Natasha Kathi-Chandra
“We are building something for the long term — a more representative cultural workforce, a South Asian theatre canon, genuine pathways for artists at every stage of their careers. None of that happens by accident. It takes investment, infrastructure and a real commitment to change. That is what Tara Theatre has always stood for.” Alys Beider
Our home
Our theatre at 356 Garratt Lane has been our home since 1983. It is a permanent base in a precarious industry — a space to incubate ideas, experiment, learn and grow without the fear of failure, and to develop South Asian stories that might otherwise go untold. In 2016 it became Britain’s first purpose-built multicultural theatre and is still the only theatre building in the UK dedicated to work by South Asian and Global Majority artists.
Why it matters
The South Asian community is the largest minority group in the UK, 6.4% nationally and over 20% in London. Arts Council England support for global majority-led companies sits at just 2% of total national funding. Only 3% of national theatre audiences are Asian or British Asian. We have spent fifty years working to change that, and we are not finished.
Get involved
Our 50th year is for everyone. Whether you are a long-standing audience member, a young artist looking for your first opportunity, or someone who has never been to Tara Theatre before, 2027 is the year to be part of it. Keep an eye on this page for programme announcements, events and ways to get involved.