Anne-Louise works professionally as a director, writer and dramaturg. Her work has premiered in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Mexico City, New York, Auckland, Warsaw, Mannheim, Perth, Mumbai, and Basel. She is the current Artistic Director at Melbourne Theatre Company.
Anne-Louise directed AVALANCHE a new work by Julia Leigh produced by the Barbican London.
In 2018 she was Artistic Director of the Lyric Ensemble at the Lyric Hammersmith, directed a new production of her acclaimed MEDEA for Theater Basel, directed a new feminist adaptation of Ibsen’s AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE for Belvoir, Sydney, and her production of Sarah Kane’s BLASTED at the Malthouse theatre was nominated for four green room awards including Best Director.
In 2017 Anne-Louise directed SEVENTEEN for The Lyric Hammersmith, MINNIE & LIRAZ for Melbourne Theatre Company, MERCHANT OF VENICE for Bell Shakespeare and TESTAMENT OF MARY for Malthouse Theatre.
Anne-Louise was Resident Director at Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney from 2013-2015. In 2011, Anne-Louise held the positions of Associate Artist for Belvoir, Director in Residence at the Malthouse Theatre Company in Melbourne and from 2010-2013 Anne-Louise was Artistic Director of the acclaimed independent theatre company, The Hayloft Project.
Recently for Belvoir Street Theatre Anne-Louise has directed JASPER JONES, SEVENTEEN and STORIES I WANT TO TELL YOU IN PERSON; she directed and co-wrote ELEKTRA/ORESTES, A CHRISTMAS CAROL,NORA and MEDEA. Sarks was also assistant director on THE WILD DUCK and dramaturg on THYESTES. In 2015 Anne-Louise directed a new production of hers and co-writer Kate Mulvaney’s modern day imagining of MEDEA at The Gate Theatre in London.
MEDEA won five 2013 Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Direction, Best Mainstage Production and Best New Australian Work. It was also awarded an AWGIE for Best Stage Play and in 2013 was nominated for four prestigious Helpmann Awards including Best Direction, Best New Australian Work and Best Play.
Anne-Louise’s other theatre credits include THE FIERY MAZE (Malthouse Theatre Company and Sydney Festival); THE SEED (Melbourne Theatre Company); THE NEST, YURI WELLS and BY THEIR OWN HAND (The Hayloft Project). She has also worked as dramaturg for post presents post: Zoë Coombs Marr, Mish Grigor and Natalie Rose on OEDIPUS SCHMOEDIPUS (Belvoir and Melbourne Arts House) and ICH NIBBER DIBBER (Sydney Festival).
