Michael Futcher
Michael Futcher
Director
Michael is a director, writer, actor, dramaturg, acting coach, and Artistic Director of the acclaimed Matrix Theatre. Over the last 40 years Michael has worked on more than 100 stage productions in various capacities. He is the recipient of numerous Queensland and national awards including a Green Room Award, two APACA Awards, several Matilda Awards and AWGIE and Helpmann Award Nominations.
Biography
Michael is a freelance director, writer, actor, dramaturg, acting coach, and is also the co-Artistic Director, with Helen Howard, of the acclaimed Matrix Theatre. Over the last 40 years Michael has worked on more than 100 professional stage productions in various capacities, and has appeared on screen in a variety of roles. As a director and writer he is the recipient of numerous Queensland and national awards and nominations including a Green Room Award and an AWGIE Nomination for his play A Beautiful Life, a Playlab Award for his outstanding contribution to Queensland writing, two APACA Drover’s Awards, numerous Matilda Awards, and a Helpmann Award Nomination for best touring production – The Kursk. Most recently, audiences will know Michael’s work from his close association with Shake and Stir Theatre Company for whom he has directed seven productions and five national tours, including: Jane Eyre, A Christmas Carol (six QPAC seasons), Endgame, Dracula, Tequila Mockingbird, 1984 and Animal Farm. Other directing credits include: Woodward Productions: The Mystery of the Valkyrie, Queensland Theatre: 1001 Nights (co-pro with Zen Zen Zo and QMF), Treasure Island (co-pro with Matrix), Grimm’s Tales, Rabbit Hole, The Glass Menagerie and Oz Shorts; La Boite: Pale Blue Dot, Walking By Apple Tree Creek, The Wishing Well (co-pro with Matrix), The Drowning Bride, James and Johnno, Salt, and A Beautiful Life (co-pro with Matrix and Brisbane Festival); Matrix Theatre: Diary of a Madman, Piano Lessons, The Kursk and The King and the Corpse!. Michael has also written five published plays and numerous other professionally produced works.
Ad Astra Plays
Upcoming Plays
Past Plays
Other Theatre
2023 – A Christmas Carol (Theatre), Shake and Stir (since 2018) - Director 2023 – The Mystery of the Valkyrie (Theatre), Woodward Prods – Director/Writer
2023 – Oresteia (Theatre), Griffith University - Director
2022 – Diary of a Madman (Theatre) Matrix Theatre/Powerhouse – Director/Producer
2022 – Jane Eyre (Theatre) Shake and Stir National Tour - Director
2021 – Animal Farm (Theatre) Shake and Stir National Tout – Director
2021 – Family Values (Theatre) QT Playreading Zoom – Director
2020 – Theatre Makers (Film) Zen Zen Zo – Subject of Documentary
2019 – The End (TV) See-Saw Films/Foxtel, Actor – ICU Registrar
2018 – The Family Law (TV) SBS – Acting Coach and Director’s attachment
PUBLICATIONS:
2013 - The King and the Corpse! - Playlab Press
2009 - The Wishing Well, Currency Press
2005 - The Drowning Bride, Currency Press
2002 - Citizen Jane, Playlab Press
2000 - A Beautiful Life, Currency Press
Training
2020 - Actors Pulse, Meisner, Dan Mor
2019 - MasterClass, Anthony Brandon-Wong
1989-90 – Actors Centre, London
1983/84 - JCU Associate Diploma Performing Arts
Representation
Reviews
“Masterful…kudos to writer and director Michael Futcher who is a master of dealing with classic texts and adapting them for the stage…this is West-End quality theatre for a wide audience. It deserves to be a hit and to travel…the acting, the stagecraft, the writing – this is top-drawer stuff”
The Courier Mail
“Spine-chilling…Direction by Michael Futcher was ingenious and faultless throughout the entire production.”
Jake Goodall - Theatre Haus | Read full review
“Brilliant, beautiful, uplifting, thrilling…Futcher is one of my favourite insightful directors”
XS Entertainment
“Director Michael Futcher has done a miraculous job in pulling this technically complex production together…Grimm Tales is everything it should be – by turns wondrous and frightening, magical and inventive and very, very funny”
Australian Stage Online
Awards
2016 QUT Vice Chancellor’s Performance Fund Award
2015 APACA Drovers Award for National Tour of the Year, 1984
2014 APACA Drovers Award for National Tour of the Year, Animal Farm
2013 Matilda Award for Best Director, 1001 Nights
2013 Matilda Award for Best New Australian Work, 1001 Nights
2013 Matilda Award for Best Main Stage Production, Tequila Mockingbird
2011 Matilda Award for Best Director, Animal Farm
2011 Matilda Award for Best Independent Production, Animal Farm
2010 Matilda Award for Best Director, Grimm Tales
2009 Helpmann Award Nomination for Best Touring Production, The Kursk
2008 Matilda Award for Best Director, Rabbit Hole and The Wishing Well
2008 Playlab Award for Outstanding Contribution to Queensland New Writing
2008 Creative Fellowship Award: Arts Queensland/QUT/Griffith University.
2007 Matilda Award for Best Main House Production, The Glass Menagerie
2007 Matilda Award for Best Independent Production, The Kursk
2007 Matilda Award for Best Director, The Kursk
2005 Book Nook Award for Best Playwright, The Drowning Bride
2005 Matilda Award for The Drowning Bride
2005 Shortlisted for Qld Premier’s Literary Award, The Drowning Bride
2000 Green Room Award for Best Director, A Beautiful Life
2000 Green Room Award Nomination for Best Play, A Beautiful Life
1999 Shortlisted for Qld Premier’s Literary Award, A Beautiful Life
1999 AWGIE nomination, A Beautiful Life
1998 Matilda Award for script and direction, A Beautiful Life
1996 Matilda Commendation for acting, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me and Arcadia
1995 Matilda Commendation for script and direction, The King and the Corpse!
1994 Matilda Award for acting, Grendel