SIMON PHILLIPS

Simon was Artistic Director of the State Theatre Company of South Australia from 1990 to 1993 and  Artistic Director of the Melbourne Theatre Company  from 2000 to 2011.

His directing credits range from new works to contemporary and Shakespearean classics to musicals to opera.  He has directed works by most of the great contemporary writers: Albee  (A DELICATE BALANCE), Beckett (HAPPY DAYS), Brecht (ARTURO UI), Churchill (CLOUD NINE/SERIOUS MONEY), Hare (THE BLUE ROOM), McDonagh (THE PILLOWMAN), Orton (WHAT THE BUTLERSAW/ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE), Shepherd (BURIED CHILD/A LIE OF THE MIND), and Stoppard (ARCADIA/ROCK’N’ROLL). He has also directed the premieres of many new works by leading Australian writers, including David Williamson, Stephen Sewell, Hannie Rayson and Joanna Murray-Smith. (Their fourth collaboration, SONGS FOR NOBODIES, is currently touring Australia.) Among his many classical productions THE TEMPEST, JULIUS CAESAR, A COMEDY OF ERRORS and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST all toured nationally in Australia.

Simon’s musical credits in Australia include AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, LOVE NEVER DIES, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (which also had seasons in New Zealand, Canada, Italy, Brazil, on the West End and Broadway), THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, URINETOWN THE MUSICAL, COMPANY, THE THREEPENNY OPERA, CABARET and HIGH SOCIETY (Australia and the  UK.)

Simon’s opera credits include: LA BOHEME, FALSTAFF, L’ELISIR D’AMORE andLULU  for Opera Australia, THE MAGIC FLUTE and DON GIOVANNI  for Opera New Zealand and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and BILLY BUDD  for Hamburg State Opera.

Simon numerous awards include: Green Room Awards for COMPANY (2001)PROOF (2002), LULU (2004), PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (2008),AUGUST OSAGE  COUNTY (2009), RICHARD III (2010); Helpmann Awards forTWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE FISH (2003), INHERITANCE (2004), TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (2006) and RICHARD III(2010).

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