Constantine Costi is a director, writer working across opera, film, and theatre.
His most recent work includes NEW PERSPECTIVES (Australian Brandenberg Orchestra), SWEENY TODD (NIDA) and MELBOURNE, CHEREMUSHKI (Victorian Opera). He also created and directed LONG LOST LOVES (AND GREY SUEDE GLOVES) for Musica Viva which toured nationally.
Constantine has also directed KARAKORUM starring David Wenham (Australian Brandenburg Orchestra); the award-winning production of BITTERSWEET OBSESSIONS, and MESSIAH which played to standing ovations and sell-out seasons in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane; Puccini’s SUOR ANGELICA (Opera Projects Sydney); and IL TABARRO at Alfie’s Sydney. Other productions include Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour LA TRAVIATA for Opera Australia, as well as Verdi’s REQUIEM for Ensemble Apex and Phoenix Central Park, and a Kurt Weill Double Bill for The Old Fitz Theatre of MAHAGONNY SONGSPIEL and THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS.
In 2020 he directed the feature film A DELICATE FIRE for Pinchgut Opera based on the madrigals of Barbara Strozzi, wrote the libretto of a new Australian opera CASSANDRA for Victorian Opera by composer Simon Bruckard, directed MONOCHROMATIC; a video series of piano portraits for Phoenix Central Park, and directed an online DON GIOVANNI production for the Shanghai Opera with Maestro Xu Zhong.
Constantine has directed revivals of Harry Kupfer’s OTELLO (OA), IL VIAGGIO A REIMS (Dutch National Opera, OA and Royal Danish Opera), Sir David Mc Vicar’s Vienna State Opera production of FALSTAFF (National Centre of Performing Arts, Beijing); and LA TRAVIATA (OA).
He also assistant directed productions of RING CYCLE (Chen Shi-Zheng) and WOZZECK (Salzburg Festival, OA, Canadian Opera Company, Metropolitan Opera); HUNDE GOTTES (Schauspielhaus Vienna); and THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO (OA). Constantine has also worked with director Chen Shi-Zheng as assistant director of Puccini’s TURANDOT (OA, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour), as well as co-directing WERTHER with director Elijah Moshinsky (OA).
Other work includes directing and co-creating the world premiere of jazz musical THE OVERCOAT (Belvoir’s 25A); co-writing the immersive theatre experience VISITING HOURS (Vivid Festival); and directing THE SPACE BETWEEN THE FUEL AND THE FIRE (NIDA).
Constantine is the recipient of The Berlin New Music Opera Award with The Opera Foundation for Young Australians where he worked with Komische Oper Berlin’s directing team on the premiere of Tchaikovsky’s EUGENE ONEGIN directed by Barrie Kosky.
Other directing credits include: THE HYPOCHONDRIAC, THE SHEWING-UP OF BLANCO POSNET (NIDA); YOUNG ARTISTS’ PROGRAM SHOWCASE (Opera Australia); Thomas Arne’s THE SAILOR’S RETURN (Nagambie Lakes Opera Festival); THE MASTER AND MARGARITA after Bulgakov (Aboriginal Centre of the Performing Arts); ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST by Dario Fo (Zenith Theatre); and THE CANTERBURY TALES by Chaucer (George Georgiou Inc). Constantine has previously been a member of the Belvoir Artists’ Workshop and was affiliate director with Griffin Theatre.
Constantine’s screen credits include: music videos, I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE HIDING (Hedge Fund) AND INTO MY ARMS (Bloods) for Triple J Unearthed; and the short films FERGUSON AND DAISY AND URSULA and DONNY.
Constantine is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Directing and holds a Bachelor of Communications (Media Arts and Production) from the University of Technology, Sydney. He was co-artistic director of Red Line Productions at the Old Fitz 2021-2022.
