Shaun Rennie is an acclaimed director working across Australian premieres of new works to revivals of treasured musicals. He has received three Sydney Theatre Award nominations for Best Director, and twice won the Broadway World Award for Best Direction. Shaun practices across all sectors of the theatre industry, including opera and musical theatre. He has collaborated with celebrated directors including; Simon Phillips, Damiano Michialetto and Davide Livermore.
Shaun is currently serving as Associate Director at Opera Australia where is recently directed GUYS AND DOLLS on Sydney Harbour. Other recent projects include SWITZERLAND (Ensemble Theatre), the world premiere of THE LOVERS (Bell Shakespeare) and the sold-out 25th Anniversary production of RENT at the Sydney Opera House in 2021, which went onto have a national tour.
For Opera Australia, Shaun has directed THE NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA (2023), OPERA UP LATE FOR WORLD PRIDE, GIANNA SCHICCHI, GREATEST OPERA HITS and MAD SCENES with Jessica Pratt. He has also served as Revival Director for LA BOHEME (2022–2023) and AIDA, and Assistant Director for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on Sydney Harbour, THE TALES OF HOFFMANN and IL TROVATORE.
Shaun’s work in theatre also include premieres of JESS AND JOE FOREVER (Belvoir’s 25A), Tennessee Williams’ BABY DOLL (Ensemble Theatre), and I AM MY OWN WIFE (Redline). Other notable credits include THE VIEW UPSTAIRS (Hayes Theatre), THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE (Darlinghurst Theatre), SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER (Ensemble Theatre), TREVOR (Outhouse), CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD (Sydney Philharmonia) and ONLY HEAVEN KNOWS, which received nine Sydney Theatre Award nominations.
Shaun is currently the Australian Associate Director of the acclaimed Regent’s Park production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Shaun’s production of RENT will return to the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House, and he will finish 2025 in Lyon, France, reviving Damiano Michieletto’s award-winning production of THE TALES OF HOFFMANN for Opéra Lyon.
