Providing a tangible insight into leadership at governance level in multiple leading theatre in the UK.


Our award-winning ADF Board Shadowing Programme is a first of its kind initiative, taking place in arts organisations across the UK. This unique programme offers our ADF Members the exclusive opportunity to shadow a consortium of up to 6 theatre and live performance boards. The programme won ADF the Innovation Award for The Stage Awards 2020.
The programme is designed to demystify the roles and responsibilities of the board, broker relationships with aspiring trustees and create an even playing field for near-future opportunities. We are pleased to be running the 2022 programme in partnership with Without Walls and Dance Umbrella, which will finish in Nov 2023.

Meet the Shadowers
We are pleased to have four members for the 2022 programme.

Apply for a shadowing placement in 2023
Information will be available from August 2022. Applications open Sep 2022.
The programme is exclusive to members.

Become a Host Organisation
Theatre, dance, opera and festival venues and companies are welcome to sign up as a host. Signup from June 2022 for our 2023 programme.

Past partners
View the hosting organisations from past iterations of the programme.

Impact
See which shadowers have gone on to become trustees and Chairs.