Natasha Williams

Artistic/Managing Co-Director

Natasha Williams, a native of Moscow, Russia, received her education and training in Kiev, Ukraine. After graduating from Kiev National Linguistic University and completing her degree in linguistics and education she taught ESL at various schools and maintained a successful private tutoring practice. She was involved in theatre since college and started her acting and directing career at Kiev Globus Theatre. She developed an innovative system that introduced theatre techniques into the teaching process, founded and operated the bi-lingual Corner Theatre, where she wrote, directed and produced numerous shows. She also served as Ukrainian Coordinator for "US-USSR Initiatives”, a San-Francisco based non-profit organization focused on developing mutual understanding between citizens of both countries. In this capacity she organized and facilitated numerous meetings, tours, concerts including a performance in Kiev by   John Denver on peace tour with Jerry Jampolsky, Nadya Artamonova and Rainbow Vought music duo performance at the Kiev Stadium with 17,000 in attendance (covered by Lexington Channel27)

Before leaving the USSR, she was employed by Kiev State Theatre on Podol.  In her capacity of  National and International Tour Director, Ms. Williams conducted assessments of cultural needs of diverse  metropolitan and rural communities in the country of origin as well as the international settings resulting in development of destination specific programming for the touring theatre. She volunteered in Chernobyl after the nuclear disaster and in Armenia after the earthquake of 1988.

After moving to the US to join her husband she opened and operated, together with him, Natasha’s Bistro and Bar, LLC, a Lexington downtown arts and entertainment restaurant, that over the years  has become  a true community  meeting place and  Lexington’s cultural icon. Its round the year daily programming covers music, theatre and literary arts; local and national performers; mainstream and fringe cultural offerings; and continues to generate income for the artists (102K in 2010 alone and about 650K paid in artistic fees over a period of 10 years). In his nomination letter for the Governors Award in the Arts 2012 (business), Tom Martin, Chief Editor of “Business Lexington” wrote: “Natasha’s Bistro and Bar deserves the Governor’s Award as a living example of viable and sustainable integration of business and arts, a partnership with obvious economic and cultural benefits to both, and to community at large…”

Because of her accent and the difference in Russian and American theatre training Ms. Williams had been hesitant to get involved with Lexington Theatre until after the expansion of her business downtown, when actors working their "day jobs" at her restaurant suggested  producing and performing  plays at Natasha's. The theatre grew, operating on a cooperative basis with Ms. Williams acting in a capacity of the producer and a liaison between the theatre and the business. After working with Ryan Case on "Copenhagen", her American acting and directorial debut, she and     Mr. Case decided to incorporate the theatre as The Balagula Theatre Company in 2007. Since then, Ms. Williams has been serving in the capacity of the Balagula Theatre's Artistic and Managing Co-Director. Her American directing and acting credits include: “Copenhagen” by Michael Frayn , “The Pillowman ”by Martin McDonagh, “The Mystery of Irma Vep - A Penny Dreadful” by Charles Ludlum (with Barry Williams), “Some Things You Need to Know Before the World Ends (A Final Evening with the Illuminati)” by Levi Lee and Larry Larson ,  “Not I” by Samuel Beckett (Awards: KTA 2009, SETC 2010), “The Bald Soprano” by Eugene Ionesco,  “Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You In The Closet And I’m Feeling So Sad” by Arthur Kopit, “Forget Herostratus!” by Grogori Gorin, “Marx in Soho” by Howard Zinn, “The Woman in Black” by Stephen Mallatratt from the novel of Susan Hill. 

Ms. Williams received the Kentucky Theatre Association “Best Director Award” in 2009 and was featured by National Public Radio Weekend Edition, Sunday August 2, 2009 In the U.S. Heartland, Drama With A Different Flavor. Under her and Mr. Case’s direction The Balagula Theatre Company has produced 27 full length and 42 short plays, received numerous state and regional awards and has enjoyed vast media coverage.