Marion Potts

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Marion Potts
Born1965 (age 5960)
OccupationTheatre director
NationalityAustralian
Education University of Sydney
National Institute of Dramatic Art
Spouse Ned Manning
Children2

Marion Potts is an Australian theatre director.

Early life and education

Potts developed an interest in the theatre when she went to see Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on a school excursion. [1]

Contents

While attending the University of Sydney, she joined the Sydney University Dramatic Society and contemplated a career in theatre after studying theatre symbiotics with an inspiring female academic. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in French and a Master of Philosophy in Performance Studies. She also studied directing at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). [2]

Career

Potts has directed productions for many of Australia's major theatre companies including Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Griffin Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare and Victorian Opera.

Potts was a Resident Director for the Sydney Theatre Company from 1995 to 1999. She was Bell Shakespeare’s Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of its development arm, Mind’s Eye, from 2005 to 2010. [3] She was Artistic Director of the Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne from 2010 to 2015. She became Director of Theatre with the Australia Council in 2015. [4] Marion was Executive Producer of Performing Lines from 2017 to 2024. [5]

She was also a founding directorate member of HotHouse Theatre and has been Chair of World Interplay, Townsville, a board member of Griffin Theatre Company, Windmill Theatre and Playworks, and Curator of the National Playwrights Conference. [6]

Awards and nominations

YearWithAwardCategoryResult
2006 The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? Helpmann Awards

Best Direction of a Play || style="background: #9EFF9E; color: #000; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2 notheme"|Won

2007 The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? Sydney Theatre Awards

Best Direction of a Play || style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated

2008 Venus and Adonis Green Room Awards Best DirectionNominated
2011Meow Meow's Little Match Girl Green Room Awards Best Cabaret DirectorWon

[7]

Personal life

Potts is married to actor Ned Manning, with whom she had two children. In 2010, they relocated from Sydney to Melbourne when she was appointed director of the Malthouse Theatre. [8]

Credits

As director / creator

YearTitleRoleVenue / Co.
1988Sylvia Plath: a dramatic portraitDirector University of Sydney
1990StruthDirector Stables Theatre, Sydney
1992 The Will DirectorHarold Park Hotel, Sydney with Lounge Acts
1993, 1994The GapDirector Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney, Civic Square, Canberra with Asia Arts Management
1993The Gentleman's New Clothes (aka Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme )Director Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney
1994 Falsettos Assistant Director Monash University, Melbourne with STC
1994The Cafe Latte Kid / Darling OscarDirector Wharf Studio Theatre, Sydney with STC
1995Sydney Stories 2: The Blessing / Two Wongs / In the Club / The Way I Was Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC for Sydney Festival
1995 Dead White Males Assistant DirectorRegional Australian tour, Sydney Opera House with STC
1995 Two Weeks with the Queen Director Alexander Theatre, Johannesburg, South African State Theatre, Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
1995 Tales from the Vienna Woods Director NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney
1995 Three Tall Women Assistant Director Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC, Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC, Gold Coast Arts Centre
1995, 1996BeechamDirector Marian Street Theatre, Sydney for Sydney Festival
1996PlaygroundsDirector Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
1996 The Torrents Director Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1996, 1997 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Assistant DirectorQueens Park Theatre, Perth, Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, Esperance Civic Centre, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Burnie Arts and Function Centre, Princess Theatre, Launceston, Canberra Theatre, Sydney Opera House with Glen Street Theatre & STC
1997, 1998 The Herbal Bed Director Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Playhouse, Adelaide, Canberra Theatre with Royal Shakespeare Company, with STCSA & STC
1997 Pygmalion Director Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Canberra Theatre with STC
1997Gary's HouseDirector Adelaide Festival Centre with STCSA
1997 Closer Director Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
1998NavigatingDirector Sydney Opera House with STC
1999 Cyrano de Bergerac Director Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
1999Big Hair in AmericaDirectorThe Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga with HotHouse Theatre
2000 Equus Director Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
2000 The Beauty Queen of Leenane Associate Director Playhouse, Adelaide, Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with STC & with MTC
2000 Life After George Director Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
2001 Don Juan Director Sydney Opera House with STC
2002 Volpone Director Sydney Opera House
2002 Fear and Misery of the Third Reich Director Western Sydney University
2003WonderlandsDirectorThe Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga, Riverina Playhouse, Wagga Wagga, Stables Theatre, Sydney with HotHouse Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company & Riverina Theatre Company
2003 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Artistic DirectorAmphitheatre, Gateway Island, Wodonga with HotHouse Theatre
2004Dreaming TransportationDirector Sydney Opera House with Performing Lines
2004 A Number Director Brisbane Powerhouse with STCSA
2004Newton's CradleDirector Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Blueprints
2005 Cyrano de Bergerac Translator Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
2005, 2006 The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? Director Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide, Seymour Centre, Sydney with STCSA
2006 Constance Drinkwater and the final days of Somerset Director Bille Brown Studio, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre
2007 Othello Director Playhouse, Canberra, Playhouse, Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Orange Civic Theatre with Bell Shakespeare
2007The Story of the Miracles at Cookie's TableDirector Stables Theatre, Sydney, Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga with HotHouse Theatre & Griffin Theatre Company
2008, 2009 Venus and Adonis Director Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland with Bell Shakespeare
2008 Hamlet Director Sydney Opera House, Playhouse, Melbourne with Bell Shakespeare
2009 Grace Director Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC
2009 The Wonderful World of Dissocia Director Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC & MTC
2009 The Taming of the Shrew Director Theatre Royal, Hobart, Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mt Gambier, Chaffey Theatre, Renmark, Barossa Arts and Convention Centre, Northern Festival Centre, Port Pirie, Middleback Theatre, Whyalla, Nautilus Theatre, Port Lincoln, Canberra Theatre, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare
2010 King Lear Director Sydney Opera House, Playhouse, Canberra, Playhouse, Brisbane, Playhouse, Melbourne, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with Bell Shakespeare
2010Sappho...In Nine FragmentsDirector Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2010 Uncle Vanya Associate Director Sydney Theatre with STC
2011 ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore Director Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2011, 2012 Little Match Girl Director Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, The Famous Spiegeltent, Sydney, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
2012 Blood Wedding Director Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2012 Wild Surmise Director Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2013HateDirector Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2013The DragonDirector Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2013–2014, 2016The Shadow KingDramaturge Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Carriageworks, Sydney, Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Darwin Amphitheatre, Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture, Katherine, Brisbane Powerhouse, Barbican Theatre, London
2014Ugly MugsDirector Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company
2014 Cyrano de Bergerac Translator Sydney Theatre with STC
2014, 2016The RidersDirector Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Victorian Opera, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with West Australian Opera
2015Meme GirlsCreator Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
2017Di and Viv and RoseDirector Southbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
2018Good Cook. Friendly. Clean.Director Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company

As actor

YearTitleRoleVenue / Co.
1989Artaud at Rodez University of Sydney

[9]

References

  1. "The Theatre Director". Engaging Women.
  2. Lambert, Catherine (11 September 2014). "Power women of the arts". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  3. "At play within a poem". www.theage.com.au. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  4. Cuthbertson, Debbie (20 January 2015). "Marion Potts to leave Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre for the Australia Council". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  5. "Performing Lines announces Marion Potts to step down". performinglines.org.au.
  6. "Performing Lines announces Marion Potts to step down". performinglines.org.au.
  7. "Marion Potts". shanahan.com.au.
  8. Usher, Robin (6 February 2010). "Potts wins Malthouse post". The Age. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  9. "Marion Potts". AusStage.