Award-winning actor and director, Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE has been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees for British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT). Formally taking up the role with immediate effect, Josette succeeds Simon Millson OBE, who steps down from his role as Chair following seven years of service.
Josette first encountered BYMT at a Leeds Conservatoire and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama event exploring how musical theatre can influence opera. Following this, she was a guest speaker at the BYMT and Arts Council-hosted Represent event in January 2026 at The Other Palace.
Josette talked about broadening cultural references and allowing global majority writers and composers “to bring their full cultural musical linguistic and narrative identities into the room and into the story”. She galvanised the artists there to connect, share resources and keep creating musical theatre that “drives story, drives community, and holds and keeps whole histories that we cannot encapsulate”.
Josette joined the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama as Principal and CEO in 2021. As a director, her previous roles have included Head of Acting at Stockholm University of the Arts, Sweden, Founder and Artistic Director of PUSH, a Black-led theatre festival with the Young Vic Theatre, and Artistic Director for The National Touring Swedish Deaf Theatre ensemble Tyst Teater, where her work focused on fostering the understanding, respect and potential of sign language arts and the artistic, linguistic and cultural rights of the deaf. As an actor, she has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Manchester Royal Exchange.
She was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Rafiki in the West End production of The Lion King and she starred in the internationally acclaimed production Nina: A Story about Me and Nina Simone.
Emily Gray, BYMT Creative Director: “We are thrilled to welcome such a passionate advocate of the musical theatre form and its power to tell transformative stories and change perspectives. When we first spoke, Josette and I quickly agreed that students at school age need to be actively introduced to theatre if the future of our sector is going to be diverse, relevant and representative. Josette believes in opportunity for all young people and we couldn’t wish for a more proactive, vibrant and wise Chair to lead BYMT into its next phase of engaging young people and artists in making new work, full of risk, invention, meaning and mischief.”
Josette-Bushell Mingo OBE: “Musical theatre occupies a unique place within our cultural landscape and I know it demands collaboration, discipline, imagination and courage. For young people, these skills are a portal to not only creative excellence but equally, if not more so, confidence, belonging and personal discovery. I have had the good fortune to meet and work with BYMT and witness first-hand their commitment to access, excellence and opportunity. At the heart of my work has always been a belief in the transformative power of the arts and potential of young people. BYMT embodies that every day and I am honoured to help champion its vision and ambition as Chair.”
Young Company Panel Member: “I’m very excited to hear that Josette Bushell-Mingo has been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees for BYMT. She brings a wealth of experience as Principal of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and practical insights as a director and actor in the West End in shows like The Lion King, which will be a great asset for BYMT. I believe she is a great fit because of her work with diverse groups which supports BYMT’s commitment to championing diverse theatre makers.”
Josette joins BYMT’s board alongside current trustees, Rachel Cox, Elaine Grant, Roger Jones, Lexine Lee, Rebecca Nice, Sarah Share, Aniela Shuckburgh, Phil Siddle (NASUWT representative), Francesca Unsworth, and Jackson Used.
