Tamasha co-founders win the 'First Women' Award
23rd June 2010

Tamasha’s co-founders Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith were announced as winners of the prestigious First Women Award (Tourism and Leisure category) at a ceremony on 23rd June in London. The win represents "icing on the cake" for the two artistic directors who this year celebrate Tamasha's 21st anniversary. During that time Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith have brought contemporary work of Asian influence to the British stage and strived to transform theatre to create a space where British Asian talent takes centre-stage.

Still to come during its 21st birthday year, the company presents 'The House of Bilquis Bibi', their reworking of Lorca’s classic play relocated to Pakistan, starring Indian star Ila Arun and The Kumar’s at No. 42’s Indira Joshi in an all-female cast of nine (at Hampstead Theatre from 22 July and touring).

‘Being recognised by the First Women Award is a great highlight of our busy 21st Birthday year. It is a huge reward which adds to the satisfaction we achieve from developing theatre-makers of the future and bringing Asian stories to the stage” Sudha Bhuchar and Kristine Landon-Smith

Now in their sixth year, the First Women Awards recognise women at the top of their professions, leading the way for the next generation. Also celebrated in the Tourism and Leisure category were nominees, Deborah Bull (Chief Executive, Royal Opera House) and Sue Prince, owner of Beechenhill Farm.

The ceremony, at the London Marriott, Grosvenor Square, was attended by more than 450 guests including Home Secretary The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Minister of State for Security Baroness Neville-Jones, Helen Alexander CBE - president of the CBI, Fru Hazlitt - former CEO of GCap media plc and soon to be ITV’s managing director of commercial and online, Professor Susan Vinnicombe - Director of the International Centre for Women Leaders at Cranfield University, Sarah Walter - director of fashion at River Island, Rita Clifton - CEO of Interbrand and royal biographer Penny Junor.

'First Women' 2010 Award Winners

• Annabel Karmel MBE (Media) – entrepreneur, brand icon and best-selling author of books on nutrition and cooking for young children.
• Sally Bailey (Retail and Consumer) - chief executive of lifestyle retailer White Stuff, which has a portfolio of 60-plus UK stores and is about to launch internationally.
• Michelle Rushbrook (Manufacturing) - probably the most senior woman in the UK defence sector, who negotiates contracts all over the globe as head of commercial at BAE Systems.
• Johanna Dow (Business Services) - finance director of Business Stream, Scotland’s largest water supplier.
• Angela Strank (Science and Technology) - geologist and technology vice president at BP.
• Marion King (Finance) - CEO of international payments transaction specialist VocaLink.
• Michelle McDowell (Property) - chair of civil and structural engineering at BDP, the largest interdisciplinary practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists in Europe.
• Kristine Landon-Smith and Sudha Bhuchar (Tourism & Leisure) - joint artistic directors of London-based theatre company Tamasha.
• The Olympic Delivery Authority was also awarded the First Women Business of the Year Award in recognition of its commitment to supporting and promoting a truly diverse workforce.