Founding Artistic Director Amy Letman to step down from Transform

Today, Transform announces that founding Artistic Director and CEO Amy Letman will step down from Transform at the end of 2026, after 12 years at the helm.

Amy led Transform during its former life as a Leeds Playhouse based programme, before establishing it as an independent organisation in 2015. Since then, she has led Transform to deliver six ambitious international festivals, engaging hundreds of artists and tens of thousands of audiences.

The Transform team and board celebrate and thank Amy for her vision, fearless leadership and determination in bringing Transform to life, creating Leeds’ very own international performance festival. We’re looking ahead to our next chapter with an incredible 12 years under our belt.

Transform’s Executive Producer Ema Boswood and Interim Executive Director Mark Hollander are working closely with the board to explore succession models as part of the organisation’s exciting future.

Amy Letman said:

‘12 years ago, I left my then producing role at Leeds Playhouse with a mission to build an international festival for Leeds. I dreamt of creating an ambitious festival that would unfold across the city, bring extraordinary international performance to the North, and offer a platform for ambitious artists and intrepid audiences. Six festivals on, I feel immensely proud to have been able to make this vision a reality.

From bringing awe-inspiring artists from across the globe to Leeds stages, producing epic productions in some of the most iconic sites in the city, and collaborating with hundreds of young people and communities, leading Transform has been a thrilling adventure.

I was in my mid-twenties when I started Transform. The climate is so different now, and I’ve inevitably changed and grown in this time. After all these years, it’s become clear to me that I’m really ready for a change and to discover what’s next for me. I also want to pass the baton – to give Transform the opportunity to embark on a new chapter, with new leadership.

I’m leaving Transform with a fantastic team, incredible board and established partners, alongside exciting plans for the next festival in October 2027. I’m stepping away with huge gratitude and respect for the many people and partners I’ve been able to work with over these years and who have been so pivotal to what I’ve been able to achieve, and with an unwavering belief in the power of international festivals in our cities.’

Transform Chair Jane Bhoyroo, on behalf of the board, said:

‘On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees and staff team, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Amy Letman for her exceptional leadership and to celebrate all she has achieved as the founding director of Transform over the last 12 years.

Amy has guided Transform’s team with inspirational vision, artistic rigour, and an unwavering commitment to pushing creative boundaries. Under her stewardship, Transform has realised six incredible biennial international performance festivals and joined Arts Council England’s National Portfolio in 2023. Amy has brought remarkable new commissions to Leeds, taking place at both established venues and extraordinary locations. Her Transform programmes have connected with hundreds of artists and young people, and reached thousands of audiences, including an astonishing 12,000 people last year.

Amy’s dedication to discovering the work of brilliant artists locally and from across the world, alongside championing diversity within the programme, has fundamentally shaped who we are and who we serve. While we are sad to see Amy depart, we fully support her decision to pursue new creative endeavours and she leaves behind a strong team to take us forward with.’

Amy’s ambition and dedication to Transform have firmly put Leeds on the map as an international centre for performance and will inspire our work for years to come. We thank her as she leaves behind an exceptional legacy of artistic excellence and profound impact on all those who have experienced Transform’s work.’

Transform is currently developing the programme for our next festival in October 2027, which will be announced next year.

About Amy Letman

Amy Letman has a 15-year track record developing and delivering ambitious multi-disciplinary cultural experiences in the North of England and beyond. Leading Transform during its former life as a Leeds Playhouse based programme, she established it as an independent organisation in 2015.

Memorable programming over the years includes UK premieres by Back to Back Theatre, Miet Warlop, Cherish Menzo, Tianzhuo Chen, Jaha Khoo and coletivA ocupação, amongst many others. Amy has commissioned multiple artists and overseen co-productions with MEXA, Quarantine, APHIDS and Javaad Alipoor which toured globally. During her time at Transform, she has secured ambitious partnerships with venues across the city and presented work in a TV studio, Leeds Train Station, a multi-storey car park and across community centres, warehouses, churches and clubs.

Amy has prioritised the development of an equitable, forward-thinking festival model placing particular focus on young people’s leadership and agency. Leading the company as CEO, Amy oversaw Transform securing NPO status and regular funding from Leeds City Council, and secured significant investment from trusts and foundations and international embassies. During her time at Transform, Amy also played a key role in developing the Arts Council England supported Horizon international Showcase at the Edinburgh Festivals and established new networks including Creative Europe project Festivals of the Future and Imagining Futures with Goethe Institute. She has also co-chaired the UK Festival Directors Network.