© NIDA, Photographer: Lisa Maree Williams
Heather Fairbairn is a British-Australian stage director.
Current & Forthcoming
In 2018, Heather directs Snappy Operas - Operas VI-X for Mahogany Opera Group and Ariadne auf Naxos for Lisa Gasteen National Opera School / Queensland Conservatorium, conducted by Simone Young.
As assistant director, Heather is collaborating on Katie Mitchell's production of Ariadne auf Naxos (Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Finnish National Opera) and Sarah Giles' production of Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Sydney Theatre Company) .
Opera
As Director: Once Upon a Time...The Magic Flute 2017/18 tour of Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Portugal (Grand Théâtre de la Ville de Luxembourg / Escuela de Música Reina Sofía / Fondation Calouste-Gulbenkian / Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel); Ana Seara's Little Nemo and the Ice Cream Witch (Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding, Munich, 2016); and, Winterreise (National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney, 2014). As Co-Director: Young Artist Concert (Opera Australia, 2014). As Rehearsal Director: La Cenerentola (Opera Australia, 2015). As Assistant Director: Lucia di Lammermoor directed by Katie Mitchell (Royal Opera House, 2017). As Trainee Director: Il Trovatore directed by David Bösch (Royal Opera House, 2016); Alcina directed by Katie Mitchell (Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, 2015).
Theatre
As Director: world premiere of Christopher Bryant's award winning play The Mutant Man in a “stylish production” (The Stage) with “glimpses of visual genius in its staging" (theplaysthething) at The Space Arts Centre, London (2017); Sunnytown (La Boite Theatre Company, 2015); Jez Butterworth's The River (National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney, 2014); Dennis Kelly's Orphans (Actors Centre Australia, 2014). As associate director: Joy, Fear & Poetry (La Boite Theatre Company, 2012). As assistant director: Ophelias Zimmer directed by Katie Mitchell (Royal Court Theatre / Schaubühne Berlin, 2015/16); As You Like It directed by David Berthold (La Boite Theatre Company, 2011); and, 1984 directed by Michael Futcher (Queensland Performing Arts Centre, 2011).
Training
Heather graduated with a Master of Fine Arts (Directing) from the National Institute of Dramatic Art - Sydney, and a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama) from the University of Queensland.