HEATHER FAIRBAIRN
Agent: Justine Goss - Aurora Artists’ Management - justine@auroraartists.com
PRODUCTION CREDITS
2025
Katya Kabanova Director Victorian Opera
Dinner Party at the End of the World Creative Director NORPA
The Barber of Seville Revival Director Opera Australia
Twelfth Night Director Queensland Conservatorium
2024
Wildskin Associate Director NORPA (dir. Julian Louis)
Idomeneo Assistant Director Opera Australia (dir. Lindy Hume)
2023
Biographica Director Theatre Works & Lyric Opera of Melbourne
Twelfth Night Director Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Opera House & National Tour
Tirra Lirra by the River Co-Director Queensland Theatre (rehearsed reading)
2022
An Enemy of the People Director Queensland Theatre, Young Artists’ Ensemble
The Norman Mailer Anecdote Director Queensland Theatre (rehearsed reading)
The Wolves Director Queensland University of Technology
The Alchemist Director Bell Shakespeare (rehearsed reading)
2021
Le Nozze di Figaro Associate Director Opera Queensland (dir. Patrick Nolan)
Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. Director National Institute of Dramatic Art
Women Beware Women Director Bell Shakespeare (rehearsed reading)
Ingress Dramaturg Judith Wright Arts Centre (created by Bridie Hooper)
Elektra/Orestes Director The Hive Collective & Metro Arts
Conviction Creative Producer The Hive Collective & Metro Arts
Humans 2.0 Associate Director CIRCA, Sydney Festival (dir. Yaron Lifschitz)
Sacre Associate Director CIRCA, IPAC - Wollongong (dir. Yaron Lifschitz)
Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show Associate Director CIRCA, QPAC (dir. Yaron Lifschitz)
Cube Studies: Santiago Associate Director CIRCA & Urban Art Projects (UAP), Santiago A Mil Festival (dir. Yaron Lifschitz)
2020
Ariadne auf Naxos Revival Director Royal Danish Opera, Copenhagen (dir. Katie Mitchell)
Ariadne auf Naxos Revival Director Finnish National Opera, Helsinki (dir. Katie Mitchell)
The River’s Secret Director & Librettist Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon (creative development)
Sister Mourns Brother Director & Dramaturg Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, Lisbon (creative development)
2019
Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor Director Queensland Conservatorium
Orpheus and Eurydice Associate Director Opera Queensland (dir. Patrick Nolan)
Silk Moth Director Arcola Theatre, London
Lord of the Flies Assistant Director Sydney Theatre Company (dir. Kip Williams)
Zauberland (Dichterliebe) Associate Artist Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, Paris (dir. Katie Mitchell)
Ariadne auf Naxos Revival Director Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Paris (dir. Katie Mitchell)
2010 - 2018 (SELECTION)
Ariadne auf Naxos Director Queensland Conservatorium
The Magic Flute Director & Adaptor European Tour - Madrid, Lisbon, Belgium, Luxembourg
Accidental Death of an Anarchist Assistant Director Sydney Theatre Company (dir. Sarah Giles)
Ariadne auf Naxos Assistant Director Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, France (dir. Katie Mitchell)
Snappy Operas - Operas VI-X Director Mahogany Opera Group, London
Lucia di Lammermoor Revival Director Royal Opera House, London (dir: Katie Mitchell)
The Magic Flute Director & Adaptor Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Belgium
The Mutant Man Director The Space Arts Centre, London
Old Land New Marks Assistant Curator ARTLANDS Dubbo (curator: Djon Mundine)
Il Trovatore Assistant Director Royal Opera House, London (dir. David Bösch)
Little Nemo and the Ice Cream Witch Director & Librettist Bayerische Theaterakademie, Munich
Ophelias Zimmer Assistant Director Royal Court Theatre, London (dir. Katie Mitchell)
Alcina Assistant Director Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, France (dir. Katie Mitchell)
Sunnytown Director La Boite Theatre Company
Cinderella Rehearsal Director Opera Australia (dir. Naomi Edwards)
Young Artists’ Concert Director Opera Australia
Die Winterreise Director National Institute of Dramatic Art
Orphans Director Actors Centre Australia
Joy, Fear & Poetry Associate Director La Boite Theatre Company (dir. Natasha Budd)
1984 Assistant Director shake&stir, QPAC (dir. Michael Futcher)
As You Like It Assistant Director La Boite Theatre Company (dir. David Berthold)
POSITIONS HELD
2010 - current Director & Dramaturg Freelance
2024 - current Artistic Associate NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts)
2021 - 2024 Panel Assessor Queensland Theatre, Queensland Premier’s Drama Award
2019 - 2022 Co-Artistic Director The Hive Collective
2020 - 2021 Associate Director: New Work CIRCA Contemporary Circus
2015 - 2025 Sessional Academic National Institute of Dramatic Art
2018 - 2019 Sessional Academic University of Queensland
2009 – 2013 Program Coordinator The Song Room
2010 - 2011 Project Officer Queensland Performing Arts Centre
2008 - 2009 Workshop Facilitator Access Arts Inc. Qld
TRAINING
Contemporary Opera Creation, Académie du Festival d’Aix, France
Music Theatre for Young Audiences, Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding, Munich
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts (Directing), National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney
Bachelor of Creative Arts (Drama & Creative Writing), University of Queensland
BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre), The BRIT School for Performing Arts, London