STAGES Episode 560: ANNE-LOUISE SARKS

Anne-Louise Sarks is an international theatre director. Her work has premiered in Sydney, Melbourne, London, Mexico City, New York, Auckland, Warsaw, Mannheim, Perth, Mumbai, and Basel.

In April 2021, she was appointed as the Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Melbourne Theatre Company and launched her first season as Artistic director in 2023, directing the double bill Escaped Alone/What If, If Only and Bernhardt/Hamlet in 2023.

Prior to her appointment at Melbourne Theatre Company, Anne-Louise directed Stop Girl for Belvoir St Theatre in 2021. In 2019, she directed Avalanche, a new work by Julia Leigh produced by the Barbican London and later presented by the Sydney Theatre Company.

In 2018, she was appointed the Artistic Director of the Lyric Ensemble at the Lyric Hammersmith, directed a new production of her acclaimed Medea for Theatre Basel, directed a new feminist adaptation of Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People for Belvoir, Sydney, and her production of Sarah Kane’s Blasted at the Malthouse theatre was nominated for four green room awards including Best Director.

In 2017, Anne-Louise directed Seventeen for The Lyric Hammersmith, Minnie & Liraz for Melbourne Theatre Company, Merchant of Venice for Bell Shakespeare and Testament of Mary for Malthouse Theatre.

Anne-Louise was Resident Director at Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney from 2013-2015. For Belvoir Street Theatre Anne-Louise has directed Stop Girl, Escaped Alone, Jasper Jones, Seventeen and Stories I Want To Tell You In Person; she directed and co-wrote Elektra/Orestes, A Christmas Carol, Nora and Medea.  Sarks was also assistant director on The Wild Duck and dramaturg on Thyestes. In 2015, Anne-Louise directed a new production of hers and co-writer Kate Mulvaney’s modern day imagining of Medea at The Gate Theatre in London.

Medea won five 2013 Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Direction, Best Mainstage Production and Best New Australian Work. It was also awarded an AWGIE for Best Stage Play and in 2013 was nominated for four prestigious Helpmann Awards including Best Direction, Best New Australian Work and Best Play.

In 2011, Anne-Louise held the positions of Associate Artist for Belvoir, Director in Residence at the Malthouse Theatre Company in Melbourne and from 2010-2013 Anne-Louise was Artistic Director of the acclaimed independent theatre company, The Hayloft Project.

Anne-Louise has recently opened a visceral new production of David Williamson’s The Removalists at the Sumner Theatre, for the Melbourne Theatre Company. 

The classic of the Australian theatre canon, which was born in the New Wave movement of Australian theatre in 1971, shows no signs of its 54 year longevity as a celebrated staple on our stages.

Anne-Louise joined STAGES to discuss her production of The Removalists, and the role she is relishing as one of our cherished arts leaders and theatre-makers.

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