Each year we invite established professionals, subject experts, artists and creatives from across the UK to form part of the independent Jury that will select this year’s Shortlisted Artists and Fellow.
We are thrilled to share that the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Theatre Jury Members are:
Tosin Cole
Tosin was born in Florida but moved to London as a child. He is of dual US and UK nationality.
Tosin took up acting at a young age, and regularly attended the Intermission Youth Theatre group which was formative in his desire to become a professional actor.
Tosin’s first professional role was in the BBC series THE CUT, which was one of the first ‘online only’ TV series that the BBC produced. Since then Tosin has gone on to appear in a variety of TV projects including THE SECRETS, a BBC TV series created and directed by Dominic Savage, and was a regular in BBC’S DR WHO.
Tosin has appeared in several feature films including STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS in the role of Lieutenant Bastian, BURNING SANDS, a movie for Netflix directed by Gerard McMurray in which he played the leading role of Frank, UNLOCKED directed by Michael Apted in which he played Amjad and EAR FOR EYE directed by debbie tucker green.
Tosin has worked extensively in theatre. He appeared in THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO at The Almedia, STOP at the Trafalgar Studios and EAR FOR EYE at the Royal Court. In 2023 he was the lead in the two-hander romantic work, SHIFTERS, which premiered at The Bush Theatre before transferring to London’s West End in 2024. It received widespread critical acclaim.
In 2022 Tosin was seen in AMC’s limited series, 61ST STREET in which he played Moses. He was also seen in the LeBron James produced reboot of the feature, HOUSE PARTY in the lead role. Finally, TILL, directed by Chinonye Chukwu in which he played Medgar Evers. Tosin can currently be seen playing the lead role of Michael, in SUPACELL for Netflix.
Prior to the release of SUPACELL, Tosin played Tyrone Downie in the feature, BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE.
In 2024 Tosin shot 3 BAGS FULL (Kyle Balda) in a leading role alongside Emma Thompson, Hugh Jackman, and Nicholas Galatzine. Tosin is currently shooting the feature, CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE for Paramount in which he plays Tzian.
Tosin lives in London. Outside his acting his interests include basketball and trainers.
Francesca Moody MBE
Francesca Moody MBE is an Olivier award-winning Theatre Producer. She is best known as the original producer of the multi-award winning, ‘Fleabag’ by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and ‘Baby Reindeer’ by Richard Gadd.
In 2020, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Francesca led and coordinated the Fleabag for Charity campaign, streaming Fleabag NT Live on Amazon and Soho Theatre on Demand, raising over £1,000,000 for charities supporting those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. With Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Olivia Colman, Francesca later established the Theatre Community Fund, raising a further £1,000,000 to support theatrical artists and professionals whose livelihoods and creative futures have been threatened in the wake of Covid-19.
Francesca is also the former Producer of British new writing theatre company Paines Plough, where she produced and developed plays by leading UK playwrights including Dennis Kelly, Duncan Macmillan, James Graham and Kae Tempest. She was also the Executive Producer at curious directive.
Francesca has received an Olivier Award, ten Fringe First Awards and three Off West End Awards for her productions. She is interim Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees for Theatre Royal Stratford East, a Trustee of the Royal Theatrical Fund and an Honorary Associate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. In 2022 she was awarded an MBE for services to Charitable Fundraising for the Arts in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours.
Rufus Norris
Rufus Norris was Director and CEO of the National Theatre from 2015-2025. Prior to that he was Associate Director at the National and Young Vic Theatres, and has directed theatre and film in London, New York, across the UK and internationally.
While Director of the National Theatre, Rufus oversaw more than 170 productions at the theatre’s South Bank venue, directing 13 himself. During his tenure he drove forward key commitments to staging new work, increasing representation on and off stage, making theatre more sustainable and increasing the National Theatre’s nationwide and global presence.
He has been the recipient of numerous theatre and film awards, two honorary doctorates, and was Knighted for Services to Theatre in 2025. Since leaving the NT he has taken a step back to rejuvenate and start building projects for the future. He is married to Tanya Ronder, and they have two sons.
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The Arts Foundation Futures Awards support the UK’s most promising artists and creatives at a pivotal moment in their careers with £20,000 unconditional Fellowships.
The Theatre Award Shortlist will be revealed in January 2026, and the recipient of the £20,000 Fellowship will be announced at a live Award Ceremony in February 2026, with all Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.
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