Kate Cherry

Background

About Kate Cherry

Internationally acclaimed award winning theatre and opera director whose productions have broken box office records and toured festivals throughout Australia, the US and New Zealand. As the leader of two major Australian cultural institutions, the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and Black Swan State Theatre Company,(BSSTC), initiated significant organisational transformation and developed programs that supported artistic, cultural and strategic imperatives, delivered financial surplus and achieved growth, in donors, sponsorship, ticket sales and prestige. As Director/CEO at NIDA I oversaw significant growth in prestige, moving NIDA up 6 points in world-wide rankings of Performing Arts Schools, from 16-10, in 18 months, The Hollywood Reporter, 2018. As Artistic Director/ joint CEO BSSTC I drove significant growth in prestige, audience, and finance. The growth was recognised by the Federal Government when BSSTC was 1 of 6 major performing arts companies to share a funding package of 9.3 million dollars with additional contribution from the state government. Examples of innovative leadership include initiating Australia's first collaboration with the National Theatre of China and initiating and directing the first simulcast of a theatre production in Australia, and establishing programmes for emerging theatre makers and writers. I have programmed 11 seasons for BSSTC and NIDA, produced over 100 productions in the theatre, directed 54 professional productions in opera and theatre and taught/ directed at leading Performing Arts Institutions throughout Australia and the United States. I have opened 4 theatres and repurposed another. I have directed for companies including: Seattle Opera, New Zealand Opera, Lincoln Center Theater Lab, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company, BSSTC, Victorian Opera, State Opera Company of South Australia, Opera QLD, and Perth, Adelaide & Brisbane Festivals. Collaborators include: Guy Pearce, Ben Mendelsohn, Asher Keddie, Paul Kildea, Tobias Ringborg, Nicholas Carter, Tim Winton, Tony Briggs, Aaron Pederson, Pauline Whyman, Gina Williams, Peter Rowsthorn, Joanna Murray Smith, Hannie Rayson, Janet Andrewartha, Helen Morse, Hilary Bell, Antoinette Halloran, Gillian Jones.