An Evening with Kip Williams

Kip Williams is an award-winning writer and director of theatre and opera. Williams has revolutionised the stage with his ‘cine-theatre’ productions including the hugely critically acclaimed gothic trilogy of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde and Dracula, which have been seen to date by a global audience of over 300,000 people. Williams started writing plays in early childhood and began directing them in his early teens. 

His passion for theatre continued during his university studies where as a member of the Sydney University Dramatic Society (SUDS) he took part in over 20 productions, directing, writing, acting, designing sets, rigging lights and running front of house. Following his studies at Sydney University, Williams was accepted into National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), where he completed an MFA in Directing. At age 25 he was appointed Resident Artist at Sydney Theatre Company (STC) by then Artistic Directors Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton. At age 30 he was appointed as the Artistic Director of STC – the youngest person to hold the position in the company’s history - a role in which he served for 8 years. In this time he transformed the company’s production of new Australian writing, with over two thirds of the 101 shows he programmed written by Australian writers, whilst also achieving gender parity for writers and directors across all seasons for the first time in the company’s history. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Play for his production of Suddenly Last Summer, three Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Director for Kate Mulvany’s The Harp in the South and his adaptations of The Picture of Dorian Gray and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, and two Green Room Awards for Best Director for Miss Julie and The Picture of Dorian Gray. In addition to his work with the STC, Williams has directed for many of Australia’s leading companies and festivals, including the Melbourne Theatre Company, Opera Australia, Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Chamber Opera, Victorian Opera, Adelaide Festival, RISING Festival, and Perth Festival. 

Internationally he has directed for Auckland Arts Festival, Princeton Summer Theatre, Michael Cassel Group, Kindred Partners and Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End, where his production of Dorian Gray starred Sarah Snook and received two Olivier Awards and a nomination from The Stage for Williams for Best Creative West End Debut. Williams is currently preparing for a Broadway transfer of The Picture of Dorian Gray and has a number of screen and stage projects in development.