Josette Bushell-Mingo facts for kids

Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE (born 16 February 1964) is an English actress and director who lives in Sweden. She was born in London and has worked in Sweden for many years. In February 2021, she was chosen to be the new Principal of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She is the first person of African descent and the first woman since 1942 to have this important job.

Before this, she was the artistic director for the National Touring Swedish Deaf Theatre for 13 years. In 2019, she became the Head of the theatre department at the Stockholm University of the Arts.

Early Life and Education

Josette Bushell-Mingo was born in 1964 in Lewisham, London. Her parents were from Guyana. Her father was a bus driver, and her mother was a nurse. Josette grew up in Plaistow and has three sisters.

When she was 17, she got into Barking College. There, she studied Drama, Theatre Design, and Performing Arts. After college, she chose to join the Kaboodle Theatre Company. She later acted with famous groups like the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.

Theatre Career

Josette Bushell-Mingo has had a long and successful career in theatre. She has acted in and directed many plays.

Acting Roles

In 1999, she played Solveig in Peer Gynt at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. She returned in 2005 to play Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra. Both plays were directed by Braham Murray.

She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award in 1999. This was for her role as Rafiki in the London show of The Lion King. She has also worked with many other theatre companies.

Directing Work

From 2005 to 2018, Josette was the Artistic Director for the National Touring Swedish Deaf Theatre called TystTeater. In 2008, their play The Odyssey, which used Swedish Sign Language, was highly praised in Scandinavia.

After leaving TystTeater, she became the Head of Acting at the Stockholm University of the Arts. She was the first woman to hold this position.

Special Projects

In 2001, Josette started the Push Arts Festival with the Young Vic Theatre. This festival helps Black artists and leaders in the theatre world. She received an OBE in 2006 for her work with Push.

In 2010, she helped start TRYCK, a group for Black actors in Sweden. In 2016, she wrote and performed a show called Nina - A Story About Me and Nina Simone. This show was inspired by the singer and activist Nina Simone. It was performed at the Unity Theatre and later at the Young Vic Theatre and Traverse Theatre.

Other Work

Josette Bushell-Mingo has also been involved in other areas of the arts. She was the Chairwoman for CinemAfrica and a board member for the Swedish Film Institute. She has also taught at many theatre schools around the world.

While she mostly works in theatre, Josette has also appeared in some Swedish TV shows and films. These include the show Nudlar och 08:or (1997) and the film While We Live (2015).

Personal Life

Josette Bushell-Mingo has lived in Sweden for almost 20 years. She is married to a Swedish producer named Stefan Karsberg. They have two sons, Ruben and Joshua. Josette can speak Swedish sign language very well.

Awards and Recognition

Josette Bushell-Mingo has received many awards for her work in theatre.

• In 1992, she was named Player of the Year by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
• In 1993, she won Best Actress at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.
• In 2006, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to theatre.
• In 2012 and 2013, she received awards for promoting Swedish Sign Language.
• In 2021, she was awarded H. M. The King's Medal in gold from Sweden for her important contributions to Swedish performing arts.

Stage Credits

Here are some of the plays Josette Bushell-Mingo has directed or acted in:

Directing Credits

Acting Credits

See also

In Spanish: Josette Bushell-Mingo para niños