Marion Potts

"Director Marion Potts is a master of this art..." - The Conversation

MARION POTTS is a distinguished Helpmann Award-winning theatre director and arts leader with over 50 production credits. She has worked with an array of the country’s leading theatre companies. Most recently she was CEO/Executive Producer of Performing Lines (2017-2024). Prior to this, she was Director of Theatre at the Australia Council for the Arts. She has also held prominent roles at Malthouse Theatre (Artistic Director/CEO), Sydney Theatre Company (Resident Director) and Bell Shakespeare (Associate Artistic Director). During her tenure with Malthouse, Marion and her team were committed to the development and programming of First Nations works, including THE SHADOW KING and its tour to all major Australian festivals and the Barbican Centre, London.

Also for Malthouse Theatre, Marion directed THE DRAGON, HATE, WILD SURMISE, BLOOD WEDDING, LITTLE MATCH GIRL (and Southbank Centre London tour), ‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE, SAPPHO… IN 9 FRAGMENTS, VENUS & ADONIS (with Bell Shakespeare), THE RIDERS (with Victorian Opera) and UGLY MUGS (with Griffin).

Marion was Resident Director at the Sydney Theatre Company between 1995 and 2000. She has directed STC productions such as THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA, PLAYGROUNDS: WHERE ARE WE NOW, VOLPONE, DON JUAN, LIFE AFTER GEORGE, THE CRUCIBLE, NAVIGATING, CLOSER, THE HERBAL BED, TWO WEEKS WITH THE QUEEN, THE BLESSING and THE CAFÉ LATTE KID. In 2014, Marion provided the original translation for a new adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s CYRANO DE BERGERAC which Andrew Upton then adapted for the STC production, featuring Richard Roxburgh in the title role. Marion previously directed the play in 1999 starring Jeremy Sims and Justine Clarke.

Most recently, Mariondirected Bell Shakespeare’s contemporary anti-war interpretation of HENRY V.  Her previous Bell Shakespeare directing credits include KING LEAR, TAMING OF THE SHREW, HAMLET and OTHELLO and her credits with other major Australian companies include DI AND VIV AND ROSE and GRACE (Melbourne Theatre Company); EQUUS, THE TORRENTS, GARY’S HOUSE, A NUMBER, THE GOAT OR WHO IS SYLVIA? (State Theatre Company of South Australia); CONSTANCE DRINKWATER AND THE FINAL DAYS OF SOMERSET (Queensland Theatre Company) and GOOD COOK. FRIENDLY. CLEAN (Griffin).

In 2014 Marion participated in Dramafest, Teatro del Granero, Mexico, directing Latitúd by Verónica Musalem.

Marion was a founding directorate member of Hothouse Theatre (Albury-Wodonga) and Chair of World Interplay (Townsville), as well as a Board member of Griffin Theatre, Windmill Theatre, Playworks and Curator of the 2003 National Playwrights Conference. She has a strong interest in international collaboration and cultural diplomacy, speaks three languages fluently and has brokered many complex and positive outcomes for the Australian Performing Arts. Throughout her career, Marion has been committed to advancing gender equity in the arts, championing the voices of women and underrepresented artists. Her leadership and contributions have left a lasting impact on Australian theatre.