John, a multi-award-winning Australian Director, has made a significant impact in the Australian theatre scene, directing productions for various esteemed companies such as Belvoir Street Theatre, Bell Shakespeare, Parramatta Riverside, Black Swan State Theatre Company, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Theatre Company, Griffin, and Opera Australia.
Throughout his illustrious career, John's work has been recognized with numerous nominations for Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Awards, cementing his reputation as a talented and innovative director.
Prior to his tenure as Artistic Director at TheatreWorks St Kilda from 2015 to 2017, John served as the Artistic Director at Barking Gecko Theatre Company from 2010 to 2015, during which time he directed several acclaimed productions, including the stage adaptation of Shaun Tan's children's book "The Red Tree".
In addition to his work at Barking Gecko, John also directed "The Rabbits", a co-production with Opera Australia, which premiered at the 2015 Perth International Arts Festival and subsequently transferred to the Melbourne Festival and Sydney Festival. This production won four 2015 Helpmann Awards, including Best Presentation for Children, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, and Best New Australian Work.
John's extensive experience in opera includes his work as the assistant director to Matthew Barclay on the recent revival of "For The Love Of Three Oranges" for Opera Australia, as well as his direction of the critically acclaimed new opera "Whiteley", which premiered at the Sydney Opera House in 2019.
In addition to his work in film and theatre, John has also made a name for himself as a short film director. His short film "Mrs McCutcheon" (2017) had its Australian premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival and went on to win numerous awards, including Best Australian Short Film, Best Short Film at the Screen Producers Awards, and Best Direction of a Short Film at the Australian Directors Guild Awards.
John's first feature film, "H is for Happiness" (2019),for Cyan Films, premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival and received a Special Mention for the Crystal Bear for Best Short Film from the children's jury at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film is based on the celebrated children's book "My Life As An Alphabet" by Barry Jonsberg and has been adapted for the screen by Lisa Hoppe.
With a career spanning over two decades, John has established himself as a highly respected and accomplished director, with a diverse range of credits in both film and theatre.
