Honorary Graduates 2024: Kathy Bourne
Kathy Bourne, Executive Director and joint-CEO of Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT), has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts by the University of Chichester.
Kathy jointly took the helm of the CFT in 2019, with 30 years of theatre experience behind her. As Associate and Festival Producer at CFT between 2006 and 2015, she managed over 75 shows with many transfers to the West End, as well as CFT productions on tour.
On receiving the honorary degree, Kathy said: “I did not start out on this journey to receive something like this. It is a glorious surprise when all you’re really doing is your job.
“There’s something so special about graduating here, with this cohort, fellow industry colleagues of the future. And I love this city having lived here for over 20 years. The city sits at the heart of everything we do at Chichester Festival Theatre.”
In her many years in the industry, she has worked for a huge range of theatre organisations, including the Dublin Theatre Festival, Spy Monkey, Tamasha Theatre Company, Jonathan Church Productions, and Tiger Aspect.
The theatre stalwart is recognised as a ‘wonderful collaborator and communicator’ in the industry and was recently elected President of UK Theatre: a testament to her tireless advocacy of the cultural and social value of drama and theatre in the UK today.
Kathy’s work to drive the future of theatre has been notable, and includes launching the CFT’s apprenticeship scheme, offering young people formal training in theatre, as well developing a vibrant and cross-generational repertoire of activities by the CFT with the local community at its heart.
Kathy added: “The older you get the more you’re looking at the people coming up behind you, and the opportunity to see this morning the people coming into the industry, knowing they have a passion for the arts, I hope to be able to impart a bit of knowledge.
“I feel privileged to be working in a profession that I have a real passion for, I always wanted to work in the theatre. Making sure you do something you really love is really important.
“Don’t take it too seriously – it should be fun! And do not believe that when you head off from university that the first thing you do is where you are going to end up. The worst thing you can do is judge yourselves against your peers, everyone is different and works at a different pace.
“The last thing I would say is I have always felt the arts have the power to change lives. Being involved in the arts can teach you so many skills, from communication to team building, through to shared experiences you get when you sit in the auditorium, there is a real place for it.
“It is the best industry to work in.”
