The creative director of Leeds 2023 on seeing ‘beyond the chapati pan’ of her working-class background and how British theatre reflects diversity now
Who were your influences and role models?
I had a great teacher from when I was 11, who looked out for me and helped me navigate some difficult times and remains a close friend. When I was 14, an electrician, working at my house, gave me my first ever book – apart from school texts. It was Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield and it started my love of story and encouraged me to read and explore the big wide world that was beyond the chapati pan. I also met some incredible people through my early theatre experiences, who opened doors for me and welcomed me into a world I was not at all familiar with.