Creatives

Robyn Nevin AO was among the first acting students to graduate from NIDA in 1960. Since then she has been a central figure in Australian theatre. After two decades acting on all Australian State Theatre Company stages, she was appointed Associate Director at Sydney Theatre Company in 1984 for three years. Her mainstage directing debut was Heartbreak House, an acclaimed production of George Bernard Shaw’s play at the Sydney Opera House. She directed, among others, Kathy Lette’s Perfect Mismatch, one of the short plays that opened the Wharf Theatre. In her three years as associate director for Melbourne Theatre Company she directed, among other plays, Ray Lawler’s Kid Stakes and then her celebrated production of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll which toured Australia. Robyn was appointed Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre Company in 1996 where she was responsible for opening the QPAC Playhouse with the production she commissioned and starred in of The Marriage of Figaro. The QTC flourished under her direction increasing audience numbers and she commissioned Wesley Enoch and John Rogers to write much loved The Sunshine Club. Her productions of Summer Rain by Terrence Clark and Nick Enright and David Williamson’s After the Ball were among her directing successes. Robyn was appointed Artistic Director and CEO of Sydney Theatre Company in 1999. During her nine successful years at STC she oversaw the building and opening of the Sydney Theatre (later re named the Ros Packer) for which she commissioned two new Australian works, Harbour by Katherine Thompson and The Republic of Myopia by Jonathan Biggins and Drew Forsythe. She also invited Jonathan and Drew to establish the Wharf Revue which for 21 years was a huge success for STC. In 2003 Robyn created the Actors Company, directing their opening production of Berthold Brecht’s Mother Courage in the Wharf Theatre. She invited Barrie Kosky and Benedict Andrews to direct their memorable productions of War of the Roses and Lost Echo, both of which won awards for their direction and for her Actors Company. Her production of Hedda Gabler introduced Cate Blanchett to New York audiences in 2006. As an actress her most recent work was as Mrs Higgins in My Fair Lady directed by Julie Andrews and in 2020, A German Life by Christopher Hampton, directed by Neil Armfield and produced by John Frost. Covid cut short the latter production, one for which Robyn received universal acclaim. Her most recent screen work was as Nanny Margaret in the hugely popular ABC series, by Wayne Hope and Robyn Butler, Upper Middle Bogan. She also starred as Edna in Relic the much-lauded debut feature film of Natalie Erika James. In addition to numerous awards for stage and screen performances she was given an honorary doctorate in the arts from the University of Tasmania and awarded an AO by the Australian Government for her lifetime contribution to the performing arts and mentoring of others.