Can Keisha Thompson make weird work at Contact Theatre?

She has paused commissioning and wants to change the theatre's culture. We meet a young artistic director trying to forge her own path

Dear Millers — welcome to our members-only Tuesday edition, in which we meet one of the rising stars of Manchester’s cultural scene: Keisha Thompson.

Last year, the 32-year-old was appointed as the creative director of Contact Theatre. When she visited The Mill’s office for an interview recently, she was buzzing with energy and new ideas. But what does she want to do with Contact? And what’s it like taking over a theatre when the sector is going through a major funding crisis? “I am tired of the rhetoric of, let's do this big dazzling show that interests the mainstream so we can prop up this weird niche stuff,” she told us. “The weird niche stuff has value and people should want to see that work as well."

This edition goes out to 1,867 Mill members — including very longtime Millers who have been on our list since the very beginning and newbies who joined up this week. Thanks to all of you, and if you have a friend or colleague who you think might enjoy this email, please do forward it…