The Other Room & Roshni Patel, Eversheds Sutherland

The Challenge

The Arts Organisation
The Other Room (TOR) is Cardiff’s first pub theatre, presenting new work and modern plays from 1950 onwards. The company works with actors, writers, designers and directors of international quality, to make brave, bold theatre.

The Development Need
They wanted to increase representation on the Board by recruiting trustees who are younger, with a range of lived experiences. Legal expertise was also sought as TOR was likely to have to relocate from its current premises.

The Adviser
Roshni Patel, Associate Solicitor at Eversheds Sutherland

The Development Need
Currently living in Essex, Roshni wanted to join the Board of an arts organisation as a way to feel connected to Wales, while growing her confidence and using her skills in a different way. She also wanted to have a positive impact on the arts both by sharing her skills and helping the sector be more diverse and representative.

The Results

For The Other Room:

• Expert legal advice and guidance during a period of great change, as the organisation considers a considerable relocation
• Increased representation at Board level
• A fresh perspective from a new trustee, living outside Wales

For Roshni:

• Increased understanding of governance and the role of a trustee
• Developed strategic thinking, improved advice-giving and decision-making in her work
• Huge amounts of enjoyment from engaging directly with an artform which is close to her heart, and knowing that she has made a contribution to Wales’ cultural sector

The Endorsement

Roshni has settled into the Board really well – she’s showing a real enthusiasm for us as a charity and a theatre and got to grips with things quickly at a moment of considerable change for us. In addition, her skill set as a solicitor suits us perfectly given where we are as an organisation – she’s proving to be an excellent sounding board for the Executive team at key stages. She has contributed to making a strong Board even stronger.

Gareth Lucey, Chair, The Other Room

In the time I have been working with TOR, the organisation has been in the midst of coming out of the pandemic and re-shaping and re-introducing itself to the world, and it’s been fantastic to be a part of that journey. As the organisation looks for new space and regains some sense of normality, our role as trustees has been to help guide TOR. I’ve learned a lot about governance and providing both objective and subjective advice where and when the time calls for it. I’ve also learned the importance of our roles as trustees to steer the organisation and think more holistically about the aims and objectives of the organisation when giving advice and making decisions. TOR’s Artistic Director has a brilliant vision for what the organisation can be and I hope we can help him achieve that in the work that we do.

Roshni Patel, Associate Solicitor, Eversheds Sutherland