By Nick Dent
Director, playwright and Queenslander Daniel Evans has been announced as the new artistic director of Queensland Theatre.
The appointment of Evans, who starts in the role immediately, ends eight months of uncertainty over the future of the company since the surprise resignation of former artistic director Lee Lewis in March.
Brisbane-born Evans has a long association with Queensland Theatre as a playwright and director. His productions The Almighty Sometimes (2022) and Drizzle Boy (2023) both won Matilda Awards for Best Mainstage Production and Best Director.
Daniel Evans has been appointed as Queensland Theatre’s artistic director.Credit: Jade Ellis
Queensland Theatre chief executive Criena Gehrke said that Evans’ appointment reflected the company’s commitment to Queensland artists and audiences.
“He is undoubtedly one of Australia’s best directors, our audiences love his productions,” Gehrke said.
Evans said it was an honour to take up the post.
“The size of the job is not lost on me, but also the incredible honour and privilege it is,” Evans said.
“Theatre has the power to transform lives. I know this because it has continually transformed mine.”
Evans, 40, began his association with Queensland Theatre at the age of 16, winning the Young Playwright’s Award for his play Opening a Fuzzwollop’s Frame of Mind.
He would go on to make his mainstage playwriting debut at the company with Oedipus Doesn’t Live Here Anymore in 2014.
More recently he directed the acclaimed productions Vietgone and Medea.
As an associate artist of Queensland Theatre he helped map out the company’s 2025 season, for which he will direct productions of Pride and Prejudice and A Few Good Men.
“The 2025 season that we put together is going off, we’ve had the strongest sales in five years, so we are on the up and up,” Evans said.
Evans said he had grown up watching Queensland Theatre shows and that being a part of the local industry gave him an advantage in his new role.
“I’m such a devout Queensland fan that I’ve just dug my heels in, and said, ‘I wanna be a prototype for someone who doesn’t have to change their address to experience success.’
“I think having that knowledge, and having worked in the company for the last couple of years, I’m ready to keep the momentum going, to put us on a really good runway towards the Olympics.”
The 54-year-old company has been under a cloud this year with the departure of Lewis and the 11th-hour cancellation of the play POTUS in August following a cast injury.
The company also revised its leadership structure with the promotion of executive director Gehrke into the role of chief executive, and artistic associate Isaac Drandic into Head of First Nations Theatre.
The company’s latest production, Round the Twist The Musical, is at QPAC’s Playhouse until December 8.
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