About this episode

Sam Strong discusses his career as a leading theatre director in Australia and his contributions to various theatre companies.

Sam Strong is an award-winning theatre director and one of Australia’s leading cultural figures, known for combining artistic ambition with transformative leadership. He has served as Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre and Griffin Theatre Company, Associate Artistic Director of Melbourne Theatre Company, Chair of Circa, and Executive Director of Creative Industries at Creative Victoria. In 2024 he was appointed Creative Director and CEO of Gasworks Arts Park. A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Strong brings rare cross-sector insight to his work. At Griffin, he delivered seven consecutive seasons of subscriber growth and record-breaking productions. At Queensland Theatre, he rebranded and revitalised the company, achieving the highest box office in its history, overseeing the renovation of the Bille Brown Theatre, and positioning the company as a national home for new Australian stories. Strong has directed for every Australian state theatre company and major festivals. His stage adaptation of Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe became the highest-selling production in Queensland…

People in this episode

Host: Peter Eyers

Guest: Sam Strong

Topics covered

• theatre direction
• cultural leadership
• Australian theatre
• artistic ambition
• transformative leadership

Keywords

• theatre director
• Sam Strong
• Queensland Theatre
• artistic leadership
• Australian stories

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Queensland Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Circa, Creative Victoria, Gasworks Arts Park, Victorian College of the Arts

Books & works: Boy Swallows Universe, Love Stories, Honour

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