A proud Noongar man, Ian Michael is an award-winning director, writer, and actor, and a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
He is currently Resident Director at Sydney Theatre Company, where he made his directorial debut with CONSTELLATIONS (2023), and later directing STOLEN (2024) and PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK (2025).
In 2026, Ian will direct the world premiere of BENNELONG IN LONDON for Sydney Theatre Company, alongside the world premiere of MUM CLUB for Griffin Theatre Company. His 2025 sold-out production of SISTREN, which premiered as part of Griffin Lookout, was met with widespread critical acclaim and earned him the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Direction of an Independent Production. The work went on to a sold-out remount season at Griffin Theatre Company in 2026.
In 2025, Ian directed the world premiere of BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY at Belvoir St Theatre, and TROY at Malthouse Theatre. Both PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK and SISTREN were named among The Guardian’s 20 best shows of 2025.
As an Associate Director, Ian has worked with directors including Kip Williams on DRACULA (2024–2026), THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (2020–2025), and STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE (2022-2023); Damien Ryan on AN ILIAD (2026); Zindzi Okenyo on SWEAT; Tom Creed on THE PRESIDENT (2024); Imara Savage on THE SEAGULL (2023); and Shari Sebbens on THE 7 STAGES OF GRIEVING (2021).
For Black Swan State Theatre Company, Ian directed THE BLEEDING TREE (2023), following his directorial debut of the same work at The Blue Room Theatre in 2021, for which he received multiple awards. His additional credits include Associate Director on THE CHERRY ORCHARD, and Assistant Director on SKYLAB with Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company.
As a writer, his credits include YORK (with Chris Isaacs) for Black Swan State Theatre Company; ANOTHER DAY IN THE COLONY (Critical Stages/Paines Plough); and HART (with Seanna van Helten). He was Resident Artist at Black Swan State Theatre Company from 2018–2020, later serving as Artistic Associate and Curator of the MAALI FESTIVAL (2021), and was a Besen Family Artist at Malthouse Theatre in 2017.
Ian also works as a script consultant, most notably on OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD for the Lyric Hammersmith in 2024.
Ian has received extensive recognition for his work, including thirteen Sydney Theatre Award nominations in 2025 across PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY, and SISTREN; eight nominations in 2024 for STOLEN; and six nominations in 2023 for CONSTELLATIONS, including Best Direction of a Mainstage Play and Best Production.
At the 2022 PAWA Awards, Ian won Outstanding Direction of an Independent Production and Best Independent Production for THE BLEEDING TREE, alongside The Blue Room Theatre Awards for Best Director and Members Choice. His work has also been recognised by the CHASS Australia Prizes (YORK), Green Room Awards, Melbourne Fringe Awards, and Adelaide Fringe Awards (HART).