The Tricycle’s first Asian female director has been awarded an MBE for services to theatre.

Indhu Rubasingham, artistic director of the Tricycle Theatre, on Kilburn High Road, has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours.

Since her appointment in 2012, the theatre has received an Olivier Award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre’ for its production of Moira Buffini’s Handbagged.

The play about the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Margaret Thatcher transferred from the Tricycle to the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End and went on National Tour under her directorship.

Born in Sheffield to Tamil parents from Sri Lanka, Ms Rubasingham was educated at Nottingham Girls’ High School after which she studied drama at Hull University. She has directed plays at the Royal Court Theatre, been an Associate Director at The Gate, the Birmingham Rep and the Young Vic, as well as regularly working at the Tricycle.

She came under fire in August 2014 for refusing to host the UK Jewish Film Festival (UKJFF) unless organisers reneged on its part funding from the Israeli government.

Ms Rubasingham said she wished to remain ‘politically neutral’ at a time of conflict in Israel and Gaza and the shortfall would be met by the theatre.

But her decision upset and offended members of the Jewish community, many of whom were big supporters of the theatre. The Tricycle reversed its decision, issuing a joint statement with the UKJFF later in August and publicly apologised.