Keith Saha, Artistic Director/Co-CEO of 20 Stories High, will step down in December 2025 after an incredibly successful 19 years leading the company.
Keith co-founded 20 Stories High in 2006 to make theatre with working class, culturally diverse young people, emerging artists, and world-class professionals. Since then, the company has developed into a thriving, Arts Council England funded organisation making genuine impact under Keith’s 19-year leadership, alongside former Artistic Director and co-founder Julia Samuels, and current Co-CEO, Leanne Jones.
20 Stories High is known for making challenging, joyous and heartfelt theatre and arts projects with and for young people with the motto “everybody’s got a story to tell and their own way of telling it”. During his time, Keith has been a driving force in transforming theatre for young people—making it more inclusive, more accessible, and more connected. He has brought young people together on a national scale and consistently created groundbreaking, award-winning, and wildly imaginative work. Notably, he has pioneered the fusion of Hip-Hop Theatre and Puppetry, forging a bold new theatrical language that is both political and playful.
His work has taken place in many settings—from mid-scale and small-scale venues to community centres, living rooms, and even bus stops—always meeting audiences where they are. His bold creative practice has also included film, animation, and live music, expanding the boundaries of how stories can be told. At the heart of his work is a deep commitment to involving young people in the creative process, ensuring they see their worlds, voices, narratives, and art forms reflected back at them.
Selected highlights of Keith’s career at 20 Stories High, include Ghost Boy, winner of the Brian Way Award; Broke N Beat Collective with Theatre Rites, which won the Young People’s Choice Award at the On The Edge Festival; and She’s Leaving Home, created with Phelim McDermott and Improbable. His outdoor show Knocking On, made during the pandemic, earned him a Stage 100 title, and most recently, High Times and Dirty Monsters—a co-production with Graeae—received an Offies Award for its groundbreaking integrated creative access.
This September, 20 Stories High will begin the search for new creative leadership. The company is currently shaping what this could look like and will be approaching the process with their signature openness, boldness, and imagination. At the heart of this next chapter will be a continued commitment to making powerful, relevant work with and for culturally diverse, working-class, deaf disabled and neurodivergent young people.
Keith said “My time with 20 Stories High has been an absolute joy and privilege, and I will miss everyone greatly, but after a massive 19 years, I think now is the right time for me to make space for some fresh energy and creativity for our 20th year! So after two decades of making work with and for young people, I will now be turning my focus to a freelance career—creating new forms of theatre and live performance and art projects specifically for adult audiences and participants – a new adventure I’m really looking forward to.
I want to take this opportunity to say a HUGE shout out to all the young people, emerging and established artists I have had the privilege of collaborating with. Also, all the past and current members of the team at 20 Stories High team and board who over the years have helped shape the company into what it is today – with a special shout out to past and current associate directors Nathan Powell, Ameera Conrad and Paislie Reid and of course my partner and co founder Julia Samuels and our amazing exec producer Lucy Graham who started with us as a
student volunteer 10 years ago and of course current co-CEO Leanne Jones, who has who has pushed the company in so many brilliant directions.
I also want to give a shout out to my creative mentors who have helped guide me through a very non-traditional career path since the company’s inception, Benji Reid, John McGrath, Isobel Hawson, Lee Corner, Kully Thiarai and our dearly departed mentor and associate artist Philip Osment who was with 20 Stories High right from the beginning asking all the difficult questions around dramaturgy and rigour!
Making theatre with and for Global Majority and working-class audiences isn’t just important it’s vital. The world is in a challenging place, and the arts sector—like many others—is navigating uncertain terrain. But in my heart, I truly believe there’s hope, activism and a renewed energy out there. The recent “Youth Theatre Together” movement is a powerful testament to that, and I’m really excited to see what the next chapter holds for 20 Stories High with a new creative leadership.”
Catrina Hewitson, Chair of 20 Stories High Board:
“Keith is a unique, dynamic and creative force in the world. His groundbreaking work with 20 Stories High has brought irresistible and important stories to life and his heartfelt activism has been a spur to the work we do. It will be exciting to what he does next and all our thanks for 19 incredible years goes with him. He leaves a huge space, and we will take the time to see what new artistic talent and leadership can move into it.”
Manoka Mbolokele ex youth theatre member and board member:
“Keith is one of the great co-founders of our 20 Stores High community. His vision, creativity, and most importantly his hard work has created a safe space for the young, working-class people of Liverpool to express themselves through the arts. I am very honored, proud and blessed to have worked with him and now call him a dear friend. Keith is a leader in the arts with an ability to truly work with the stories and connect to audiences on a local and national scale through his brilliant storytelling and passion for the craft. His legacy will forever live on as long as 20 Stories High has a story to tell.”