Renu Arora | Press CV
Award-winning artist
BBC | RSC | RLF | ACE | Apple Music
Press-reviewed • Public-facing • Alight with legacy
Renu Arora is a critically acclaimed, award-winning, disabled British South Asian artist with a 20-year career spanning theatre, music, and writing. A classically trained actor and singer (Postgraduate Diploma in Acting – Musical Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama), she creates original, soul-rooted work that weaves voice, story, and survival. She has worked as a mainstream actor across major theatres in the UK. Her original projects have been commissioned by Arts Council England, the Royal Literary Fund, and national theatres—streamed internationally and featured widely across the BBC. She starred as Madame LaVaughn in the RSC’s The Magician’s Elephant, earning glowing reviews in The Guardian, The Arts Desk, What’s On Live, and Birmingham Live.
Select Media Features & Appearances
BBC Sideways (Radio 4 Primetime – full episode feature + series trailer)
BBC Arts Commissioning Round (Radio 4) – Shortlisted with direct producer pitch
BBC Essex (5x) – A trilogy of original pandemic-era pieces (written, composed, and performed by Arora), broadcast alongside interviews about her NDE and creative recovery. Includes special features for World Trauma Day and Diwali. One piece, ‘When the Curtain Came Down’, received such powerful audience response that it was rebroadcast the following evening.
BBC Asian Network – Long form trauma feature
BBC Radio Wales (age 17 – Early Artist Spotlight)
BBC London – Feature on Arts Council–funded project
BBC London Live + BBC Sunny & Shay (2x – Live performance and interview)
BBC Sounds (multi-feature)
RSC Interval Drinks Podcast – Full Artist Episode
Guardian feature (RSC / The Magician’s Elephant)
Featured in 14+ podcasts (Spotify, Apple [incl. RSC Interval Drinks], IANDS, RLF, identity/arts platforms)
Critical Reviews
“We will find it hard to forget the wonderful Renu Arora.” — Birmingham Live
“The cast are exemplary—not least Renu Arora.” — What’s On Live
“There’s poignancy too, from Renu Arora.” — The Arts Desk
Publications (Featured In / Reviewed By)
The Guardian, The Times, WhatsOnStage, The Arts Desk, Broadway World, Theatre Weekly, London World, Birmingham Live
Awards & Recognition
‘Most Empowered and Courageous Artist’ – Indians of the World, NRI Institute (2022)
Shortlisted – BBC Arts Commissioning Round (Radio 4)
Shortlisted – Unlimited
Shortlisted – BBC Culture in Quarantine
Commissions & Projects
Single release (song): Liferaft Into Tomorrow by Renu Arora (released on 8-year anniversary of Renu’s accident on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music)
Arts Council England:
Women of Hope – Verbatim music theatre exploring domestic violence
The Burgundy Book – Concept album based on accident and NDE
Covid Emergency Grant
(Upcoming) Digitally Immersive Musical adaptation of The Burgundy Book (Arts Depot Residency; ACE application in process)
Mosaic Bursary – Verbatim music theatre project around Partition
Royal Literary Fund – 3 commissioned pieces + recorded interview (Lifelong Profiled Writer)
Rani Moorthy – Vocal soundtrack for ‘Whose Sari Now’ (National Tour)
Notable Collaborators
Erica Whyman – Award-winning Director, former Acting Artistic Director of the RSC (Director: The Burgundy Book album + immersive musical adaptation)
Sita Brahmachari – Waterstones Book Prize–winning author (Dramaturg: The Burgundy Book album + immersive musical adaptation)
Marc Teitler – Award-winning Composer–Lyricist (The Magician’s Elephant, The Red Shoes, RSC) (Music Consultant: The Burgundy Book album + immersive musical adaptation)
Board Roles
Equity Charitable Trust – Board Member
Venues Worked With
RSC
Southbank Centre
Theatre Royal Stratford East
Arcola Theatre
Soho Theatre
Bristol Old Vic
Leicester Curve
Arts Depot (Live Residency)
South Asian Theatre Collaborations
Tamasha
Tara Arts
Kali Theatre