Omnibus Theatre marks the beginning of the New Year by announcing the appointment of Fiona Mactaggart as the new Chair of the award-winning independent theatre in Clapham, South London. Mactaggart will take up the position this month and former chair George Owen MBE, will step up to become honorary president.  

Mactaggart, former parliamentarian and the current Chair of The Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights, will steer the 110 seat venue’s predominantly all female-team, led by artistic director Marie McCarthy.

Mactaggart said: “I am so excited to be leading the board. Omnibus Theatre is ambitious and is producing excellent work and importantly serving the most disadvantaged children in our community through a programme of activities in school half terms. For a young theatre it has already achieved a lot under the brilliant leadership of Marie McCarthy. I hope we can achieve even more in the coming years.”

Marie McCarthy, added: “Fiona is inspirational. Her knowledge, wisdom, vast experience and belief in empowering women aligns completely with who we are and what we are trying to achieve. Omnibus Theatre begins an important new chapter and I’m thrilled to have her as part of our team.”

Mactaggart’s appointment comes shortly after Dame Judi Dench’s patronage of the theatre, announced in November this year. Dench joins fellow patrons including Sir Micheal Gambon, Sir Richard Eyre, Matthew Warchus, and Maggi Hambling CBE. Omnibus Theatre opened in 2013 and is a multi-award-winning venue. The theatre, which receives no guaranteed funding, has hosted over 2,500 performances and events, produced six critically acclaimed productions and has just been shortlisted for The Stage Fringe Theatre of the Year award 2019.