Cast & Creative

Kip Williams is an award-winning director of theatre and opera and is the current Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Sydney Theatre Company, a role he has held since November 2016. His appointment at age 30 made him the youngest Artistic Director in the company’s history.

Williams has directed for many of Australia’s leading theatre companies and festivals, including Sydney Theatre Company (STC), Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC), Malthouse Theatre, Adelaide Festival, Perth Festival, and Melbourne’s RISING Festival, as well as New Zealand’s Auckland Arts Festival.

In 2012, Williams made his mainstage theatre debut at the Sydney Opera House directing Australian screen legend Jack Thompson in UNDER MILK WOOD. He has since gone on to direct over 20 productions for STC, including a multi-award winning cinema-theatre hybrid production of SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER, lauded interpretations of Shakespeare including ROMEO & JULIET and THE TEMPEST starring Richard Roxburgh, a retelling of LORD OF THE FLIES starring Mia Wasikowska, Daniel Monks and Yerin Ha, and collaborations with actor Hugo Weaving in THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI, MACBETH, and CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Williams has regularly directed new writing, including the 7-hour epic THE HARP IN THE SOUTH by Kate Mulvany, for which he won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Director and Best Production.

Williams’ work is noted for its stunning visuals and groundbreaking formal experimentation. He has been nominated a record six consecutive times for the Helpmann Award for Best Director, Australia’s top theatre prize, and in 2015 became the youngest director to win the award, for SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER. He has twice won Melbourne’s Green Room Award for both Best Director and Best Production, first in 2016 for his adaptation of Strindberg’s MISS JULIE (MTC) and next in 2023 for his celebrated adaption of THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (STC). He has won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Director a record three times, for THE HARP IN THE SOUTH (2018), THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (2021), and most recently for his adaptation of STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE (2022, STC).

Williams’ work in opera has been much lauded, including acclaimed productions for Victorian Opera, Sydney Chamber Opera (SCO), Carriageworks, Dark MOFO, and the Biennale of Sydney. His radical production for the SCO of Fausto Romitelli’s composition AN INDEX OF METALS was the first-ever theatrical staging of the piece.

A graduate of both Sydney University and Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Williams served as a Board Member for NIDA from 2016-2023.

Marg Horwell is a Set and Costume Designer for a wide range of live performance including Opera, Theatre, Dance and Immersive Performance Spaces. She has won nine Green Room Awards and three Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Stage Design for THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY.

For Sydney Theatre Company Marg has also designed HOW TO RULE THE WORLD, and designed costumes for LORD OF THE FLIES and THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI.

Marg’s design credits include: SALOME for English National Opera. AVALANCHE; A LOVE STORY for The Barbican. THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO and THE SOPRANOS for Opera Queensland. BECAUSE THE NIGHT, BLASTED, MELANCHOLIA, BLISS, CARAVAN, THE TESTAMENT OF MARY, THE REAL AND IMAGINED HISTORY OF THE ELEPHANT MAN, REVOLT SHE SAID REVOLT AGAIN, EDWARD II, I AM A MIRACLE, THE GOOD PERSON OF SZECHUAN and THE HISTRIONIC for Malthouse. THE TRUTH, SEXUAL MISCONDUCT OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES, THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA, LILITH THE JUNGLE GIRL (with Sisters Grimm), BIRDLAND, I CALL MY BROTHERS, PEDDLING, COCK, CONSTELLATIONS and MARLIN for Melbourne Theatre Company. HAPPY END and LORELEI for Victorian Opera. LEVIATHAN for Circa. NORA and LA TRAVIATA (with Sisters Grimm) for Belvoir. COMMON GROUND for Chunky Move.

Nick Schlieper has designed for all the major performing companies in Australia and works regularly internationally. He’s received seven Sydney Critic’s Awards (two for set design and five for lighting design), six Green Room and five national Helpmann Awards. His numerous productions for Sydney Theatre Company include JEKYLL AND HYDE, HARP IN THE SOUTH, CHIMERICA, ST JOAN, ARTURO UI, WAR OF THE ROSES; and set and lighting for ENDGAME, FACE TO FACE and BAAL. HEDDA GABLER, STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, UNCLE VANYA and THE MAIDS also travelled to New York and GROSS UND KLEIN to Paris, London and Vienna. For Melbourne Theatre Company, AS YOU LIKE IT, TWELFTH NIGHT, MACBETH, RICHARD III, HAMLET; and set and lighting for PHOTOGRAPH 51, NORTH BY NORTHWEST (also in Bath and Toronto) and DEATH AND THE MAIDEN. He has lit many productions for Opera Australia, Bangarra, and Belvoir St and was Lighting and Associate Set Designer for the first Australian production of THE RING CYCLE in Adelaide. Internationally Nick’s work has been seen at the Salzburg Festival, Hamburg State Opera, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Barbican and in Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Vienna, and The National Theatre of Norway. Musicals include PRISCILLA in Australia, Broadway and the West End and LOVE NEVER DIES in Hamburg, Tokyo and Australia.

Clemence is a director, composer and sound designer for theatre and opera.

Since graduating from NIDA, Clemence has directed, composed and designed sound for both independent and main stages in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, St Petersburg and Edinburgh.

Clemence received Sydney Theatre Award nominations for Best Sound Design for THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, Best Original Score for A CHEERY SOUL (Sydney Theatre Company), and Best Sound Design of an Independent Production for THE WOLVES (Red Line Productions). She won the APRA AMCOS Art Music Award for Best Live Performance for COMMUTE. She was also a recipient of The Gloria’s Fellowship of 2022.

As a director, Clemence’s work includes: BREAKING GLASS (COMMUTE, THE INVISIBLE BIRD) for Sydney Chamber Opera; CHORUS for Red Line Productions, FINDR, a new musical which premiered at Eternity Theatre; CHAMBER POT OPERA (creator, sold out seasons in Sydney, Adelaide, Edinburgh Fringe; and St Petersburg’s Summer Festival of Arts, Access Point, one of the largest site-specific art events in Europe, and Sydney Opera House); UNFINISHED WORKS (Seymour Centre); THE CHERRY ORCHARD (New Theatre); and TRANSIENCE (KXT). Clemence was Associate Director for Dean Bryant on FUN HOME with Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company. Her assistant director roles include: for Imara Savage on SAINT JOAN (Sydney Theatre Company) and LA PASSION DE SIMONE (Sydney Chamber Opera/ Sydney Festival); and for director Patrick Nolan on NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND (Sydney Chamber Opera).

As composer and sound designer, Clemence’s work includes: for Sydney Theatre Company, THE TENANT OF WINDFELL HALL, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, GRAND HORIZONS, BLITHE SPIRIT, THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, BANGING DENMARK, LETHAL INDIFFERENCE (composer and sound designer), STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE, PLAYING BEATIE BOW, A CHEERY SOUL (composer); for Melbourne Theatre Company, TORCH THE PLACE, HEISENBERG, ARBUS AND WEST; for Bell Shakespeare, ROMEO AND JULIET; for Belvoir, THE WOLVES; for Ensemble Theatre, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE; for Red Line Productions, PAPER DOLL, CHORUS, WIND IN THE UNDERGROUND; for New Theatre, CHAPEL PERILOUS; for Old 505, LITTLE BORDERS; for KXT, A GIRL IS A HALF-FORMED THING; for fortyfivedownstairs, FALLEN; and for Griffin’s Batch Festival, BLUEBERRY PLAY.

Clemence holds a Master of Fine Arts (Directing) at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and a Bachelor of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium, majoring in classical voice. While she was studying, she was Director of Verge, Australia’s largest student-run arts festival.

Clemence regularly develops and stages readings of new work including: Neil Levi’s KIN at Sydney Theatre Company for the Patrick White Award; Tee O’Neil’s GR8 SKIN at Festival Fetale; and Tasnim Hossain’s 44 HOMES at Australian Theatre for Young People. Clemence is currently developing two new operas.

David is an award-winning composer, video and sound designer for theatre, dance, opera, installation and film.

David’s recent theatre credits include the role of video designer for the ground-breaking productions of STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE, and THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY for Sydney Theatre Company for which he won a Sydney Theatre Award for best Stage Design of a Mainstage Production (with Marg Horwell). David was video designer for Sydney Chamber Opera’s BREAKING GLASS and Musica Viva’s national tour of WINTER’S JOURNEY.

Other work for Sydney Theatre Company includes: sound design for PLAYING BEATIE BOW, video and sound design for A CHEERY SOUL and THE WHARF REVUE (from 2009-2018); and video design for JULIUS CAESAR, MURIEL’S WEDDING: THE MUSICAL, THE HANGING, THE EFFECT and THE LONG WAY HOME. For Griffin, David was Sound Designer for GREEN PARK for which he won a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Sound Design of a Mainstage Production; Composer and Sound Designer for SUPERHEROES; and Composer, Sound and Video Designer for FIRST LOVE IS THE REVOLUTION for which he was nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award. For Bell Shakespeare, David was the Sound Designer for THE LOVERS. For Belvoir, he was Composer and Sound Designer for SCENES FROM THE CLIMATE ERA, Sound Designer for INTO THE WOODS, Video Designer for BLUE, Sound Designer on AT WHAT COST? and Co-Sound Designer for PACKER AND SONS. David designed video and sound for Soft Tread’s national tour of THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL including for State Theatre Company of South Australia. For the Sydney Opera House, David was the Sound Designer for RENT. For Bangarra Dance Company, David was Video Designer for SANDSONG, SPIRIT and KNOWLEDGE GROUND. For Monkey Baa Theatre, David was Video Designer for POSSUM MAGIC and THE PEASANT PRINCE and Sound Designer for JOSEPHINE WANTS TO DANCE.

Other credits include: for Seymour Centre, Composer, Sound and Video Designer for MUSEUM OF MODERN LOVE, Composer and Sound Designer for MADE TO MEASURE; for Darlinghurst Theatre Co, Composer and Sound Designer for MAGGIE STONE; for NIDA, Composer and Sound Designer for SALEM and ANOTHER COUNTRY; for Hayes Theatre Co, Sound and Video Designer for MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, Sound Designer for DUBBO CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING, THE RISE AND DISGUISE OF ELIZABETH R., CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and SPRING AWAKENING (ATYP).

David is a National Institute of Dramatic Art graduate and now teaches at NIDA.

Eryn Jean Norvill is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), she has also studied at L’Ecole Philippe Gaulier in France and The Groundlings School in Los Angeles. Selected credits include: A Zeldin Company and an International co-production: THE CONFESSIONS. Sydney Theatre Company: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, THREE SISTERS, ALL MY SONS, KING LEAR, SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER, CYRANO DE BERGERAC, ROMEO AND JULIET. Malthouse Theatre Company: MELANCHOLIA, THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR. Belvoir: THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR. Melbourne Theatre Company: HAMLET, TOP GIRLS. Griffin Theatre Company: THE BOYS. Western Australian Symphony Orchestra: FIDELIO. Performing Lines: Anthem. As writer and performer: A TINY CHORUS (2009) and NICHE (2017). As dramaturg: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (STC), LORD OF THE FLIES (STC). Awards: Sydney Theatre Awards for THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (2021), SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER (2015), THE BOYS (2012), TRUCKSTOP (2012). Green Room Awards for THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (2022), THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR (2014), TOP GIRLS (2012) and Melbourne Fringe Festival People’s Choice Award: A TINY CHORUS (2009). Eryn Jean has been the recipient of Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award (2022), Marten Bequest Theatre Scholarship (2015), the Gloria Payten Travelling Scholarship (2015) and the Richard Pratt Artistic Fellowship (2006). Eryn Jean is a co-founder of Safe Theatres Australia, developing sustainable and inclusive practices that enable positive cultural change in the Arts in Australia. She is a proud member of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance in Australia.

Sydney Theatre Company: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. As Director: DO NOT GO GENTLE…, THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT, BLITHE SPIRIT, TRIPLE X (with QT), DEATH OF A SALESMAN, THE DEEP BLUE SEA, THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE, HOW TO RULE THE WORLD, BLACK IS THE NEW WHITE (plus tours), AUSTRALIAN GRAFFITI, POWER PLAYS, BOYS WILL BE BOYS. As Dramaturg: THE GOLDEN AGE. Other Theatre: As Director: Belvoir: FANGIRLS (with QT, ATYP and Brisbane Festival, 2021 Australian Tour, 2022 SOH season). QT: HEDDA, SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE, SWITZERLAND. ARTHUR: CUT SNAKE, BRIGHT WORLD (with Theatreworks), RETURN TO EARTH (with Griffin Independent), THE MYTH PROJECT: TWIN (with MTC NEON), THE MIDLANDS (with Mudlark), THE SEA PROJECT (with Griffin Independent, Mudlark), DIRTYLAND (with The Spare Room). MILKCRATE: THIS HOUSE IS MINE. Walkley Foundation: STORYOLOGY AFTER DARK. Outback Theatre: BENEATH AN OXBOW LAKE (with ATYP and Griffith Regional Theatre). Positions: Sydney Theatre Company: Associate Director (current), Richard Wherrett Fellow. Queensland Theatre: Associate Artistic Director. Griffin Theatre Company: Resident Director, Affiliate Director. Awards: Sydney Theatre Awards 2019 Best Direction of a Mainstage Production for THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE, 2019 Best Production of a Mainstage Musical for FANGIRLS. Matilda Awards 2019 Best Musical for FANGIRLS, Matilda Awards 2016 Best Mainstage Production for SWITZERLAND. Recipient of a 2015 Glorias Fellowship and 2016 Mike Walsh Fellowship. Training: NIDA.

Ian is a Wilman Noongar man. Sydney Theatre Company: As Associate Director: STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE. As Assistant Director: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, THE 7 STAGES OF GRIEVING. As Actor: THE TEMPEST (as Understudy), CITY OF GOLD (with Black Swan State Theatre Company). Other Theatre: As Actor: Black Swan State Theatre Company: CLOUDSTREET, OUR TOWN, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN. Malthouse Theatre: CLOUDSTREET, BLAK CABARET. Yirra Yaakin: THE NOONGAR SHAKESPEARE PROJECT. Melbourne Theatre Company: THE KID. She Said Theatre: HART. Ilbijerri Theatre Company: FLASHBLAKS, NORTHWEST OF NOWHERE. Sydney Festival: Yellamundie First Peoples Playwriting Festival. As Director: Blue Room Theatre: THE BLEEDING TREE. NIDA: ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT MOULD. As Assistant Director: Black Swan State Theatre Company: THE CHERRY ORCHARD, SKYLAB (with YirraYakin). Film: WIRNITJ, WHERE ARE THE WARRIORS. Positions: Richard Wherrett Fellow: Sydney Theatre Company (2022), Curator at Black Swan: Maali Festival, Artistic Associate at Black Swan (current). Resident Artist at Black Swan (2018-2020), Besen Family Artist Program: Malthouse Theatre (2017). Awards: 2022 Sydney Theatre Theatre Awards Best Performer in a Supporting Role (Nominated), 2021 Pawa Awards Best Independent Production, 2021 PAWA Awards: Outstanding Direction of an Independent Production. 2021 The Blue Room Awards: Award for Direction, Members Choice (THE BLEEDING TREE) 2019 and 2017 PAWA Awards: Best Actor (Nominated). 2019 CHASS Australia Prize for a Future Leader. 2019 Western Australian of the Year (Finalist). 2016 Best Emerging Artist Adelaide Fringe (HART). 2016 Best Production (Independent) Green Room Awards (Nominated – HART). 2013 and 2015 Most Outstanding Indigenous Performer Melbourne Fringe (HART and LAIKA AND WILLS).

Michael Cassel Group is a leading live entertainment company formed to produce and present the world’s high-quality hit musicals and theatrical productions, live entertainment experiences, marquee events and concert attractions. In January 2024, Michael Cassel Group will produce the West End premiere of Sydney Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY starring Sarah Snook. Productions include the first international tour of the world’s #1 musical, THE LION KING, the Australian premieres of the award-winning productions HAMILTON, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, & JULIET, and MARY POPPINS. Current Broadway, US Touring and West End credits include co-producer of MJ: THE MUSICAL, INTO THE WOODS and PRETTY WOMAN.

Previous productions include co-lead producer of ALMOST FAMOUS and co-producer of INTO THE WOODS on Broadway, GET UP, STAND UP! THE BOB MARLEY MUSICAL on the West End and BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, LES MISÉRABLES, KINKY BOOTS, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN and PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT in Australia. Concert tours and major events include THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO, CELESTE BARBER, NOT NOW, NOT EVER: LIVE ON STAGE WITH JULIA GILLARD, TINA ARENA, DARREN CRISS and LEA SALONGA, along with the opening celebration of the ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP 2020 which was televised internationally.

In addition to the group’s expanding theatrical interests, the company represents former Australian Prime Minister, The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, journalist and broadcaster Liz Hayes, former Olympian and global sporting administrator Lord Sebastian Coe CH, KBE, Strictly You by Sonia Kruger, best-selling author Sarah di Lorenzo, Better Homes and Gardens personalities Charlie Albone and Juliet Love and beloved Australian television presenter Sami Lukis. TixTrack Australasia, a partnership between TixTrack Inc and Michael Cassel Group, provides SaaS ticketing solutions for live entertainment and cultural organisations in Australia and New Zealand including the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Queensland Museum, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Auckland Art Gallery, Bundanon Art Museum and Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art.

Michael Cassel Group is headquartered in Sydney, with offices in New York, Singapore and Melbourne.

Kindred Partners are a production and general management company committed to developing, producing and investing in world-class plays, musicals and immersive experiences. Founded in 2021 by Adam Kenwright, he is joined by Diane Borger, Senior Producer; Amanda Murray, General Manager; Jordan Taylor, Associate General Manager; Erin Murphy, Development Producer; Adam Hocke, Executive Assistant; Sarah Edwards for Short Street Finance; and Emma Hall, Consulting Producer.

Projects include: the official Take That musical GREATEST DAYS; TWO STRANGERS a new musical by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, directed by Tim Jackson, premiering at the Kiln Theatre in November 2023; Consultant Executive Producers of MAMMA MIA! THE PARTY; General Managers of ELF THE MUSICAL and WINTER LIGHT TRAILS, SWEDEN; a new musical based on the Netflix sensation CALL MY AGENT!; COVEN a new musical by Rebecca Brewer, Daisy Chute and Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, directed by Miranda Cromwell; a new musical from Elvis Costello; a new musical featuring the music of Macy Gray; a new production in development with Anoushka Lucas and Lynette Linton; and a new musical featuring the music and creative genius of Prince.