Aidan Fennessy (1966-2020). Aidan’s work as a writer and director has been produced extensively both in Australia and overseas. His writing credits include The Heartbreak Choir (Melbourne Theatre Company), The Architect (Melbourne Theatre Company), What Rhymes With Cars and Girls (Melbourne Theatre Company), National Interest (MTC and Black Swan State Theatre Company), The Way Things Work (Red Stitch Actor’s Theatre and Tamarama Rock Surfers), The House on The Lake (Black Swan State Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre Company, and productions in Rome, Athens and Madrid), The Trade (Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Tasmanian Theatre Company), Chilling and Killing My Annabel Lee (Playbox/Chameleon, Queensland Theatre Company). He was nominated at the 2016 Helpmann Awards for Best New Work.

He won the 2012 Victorian Premier People’s Choice Award and the 2010 Griffin Award. Aidan was co-founder of Chameleon Theatre, a member of the HotHouse Theatre Directorite, Artistic Director of The Storeroom Theatre Workshop and Associate Director of Melbourne Theatre Company.

Writing Experience (Selected)

THE ARCHITECT
Melbourne Theatre Company 2018
THE WAY THINGS WORK
Red Stitch Actors Theatre 2017
WHAT RHYMES WITH CARS AND GIRLS
Melbourne Theatre Company 2015
THE WAY THINGS WORK
Rock Surfers Theatre Company 2014
THE HOUSE ON THE LAKE
Black Swan State Theatre Company Commission 2013
NATIONAL INTEREST
Melbourne Theatre Company and Black Swan State Theatre Company 2012
AUSTRALIA THE SHOW
HotHouse Theatre – National Tour – MTC Education Program 2011
SONG # 1
White Whale Theatre 2011
BRUTOPIA
Winner of the Griffin Award
Play financed through Australia Council 2010
THE TRADE
Melbourne Comedy Festival Show – Barry Award Winner
HotHouse Theatre – full season and national tour (2002-2004)
ART AND SOUL
Melbourne Theatre Company 2000
CHILLING AND KILLING MY ANNABEL LEE
Two act radio play
Radio National 2000
CHILLING AND KILLING MY ANNABEL LEE
Playbox Theatre, Griffin Theatre, and Queensland Theatre Company 1999

Directing Experience (Selected)

MUSIC
Writer: Barry Oakley. Melbourne Theatre Company, Fairfax Studio 2012
HIS GIRL FRIDAY
Writer: John Guare. Melbourne Theatre Company Playhouse Theatre 2012
NATIONAL INTEREST
Writer: Aidan Fennessy. Black Swan State Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Heath Ledger Theatre, Fairfax Studio 2012
RETURN TO EARTH
Writer: Lally Katz. Melbourne Theatre Company, Fairfax Studio 2011
CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION’
Writer: Annie Baker. Melbourne Theatre Company Lawler Studio 2011
JOY OF TEXT
Writer: Robert Reid. Melbourne Theatre Company, Fairfax Studio 2011
BOSTON MARRIAGE
Writer: David Mamet. Melbourne Theatre Company, Fairfax Studio 2010
RUBY MOON
Writer: Matt Cameron. Melbourne Theatre Company, Lawler studio 2010
GODZONE
Writers: Max Gillies, Guy Rundle. Melbourne Theatre Company, Sumner Theatre 2009
A COMMERCIAL FARCE
Writer: Peter Houghton. Malthouse Theatre, The Beckett 2009
A PILOT VERSION OF (SOMETHING TO DIE FOR)
Writer: Ross Mueller. Storeroom Theatre Workshop 2008
A MILE IN HER SHADOW
Writer: Robert Reid. Storeroom Theatre Workshop 2007
THE GLORY
Writer: Ross Mueller. HotHouse Theatre, the Butter Factory 2006
AMERICAN PILOT
Writer: David Grieg. Red Stitch Theatre 2006
OLEANNA
Writer: David Mamet. HotHouse Theatre 2004
RUBY MOON
Writer: Matt Cameron. Playbox Theatre 2002
MR WASINSKI’S SONG
Funded sixteen minute short film through IFF fund. Film Victoria 2001

Dramaturgy experience (Selected)

SPEECH
Tom Holloway, Finegan Kruckemeyer, Sean Munro, Ryk Goddard. Tasmanian Theatre Company 2013
MUSIC
Writer: Barry Oakley. Melbourne Theatre Company 2012
ON THE PRODUCTION OF MONSTERS
Writer: Robert Reid. Melbourne Theatre Company 2012
HAPPY ENDING
Writer: Melissa Reeves. Melbourne Theatre Company 2012
DON PARTIES ON
Writer: David Williamson. Melbourne Theatre Company 2011
THE GIFT
Joanna Murray-Smith. Melbourne Theatre Company 2011
THE JOY OF TEXT
Writer: Robert Reid. Melbourne Theatre Company 2011
RETURN TO EARTH
Writer: Lally Katz. Melbourne Theatre Company 2011
THE DREAM LIFE OF BUTTERFLIES
Writer: Raimondo Cortese. Melbourne Theatre Company 2011
THE WATER CARRIERS
Writer: Ian Wilding. Melbourne Theatre Company 2011
THIS IS HOW
Adaptation of MJ Hyland novel by David Tredinnick. Melbourne Theatre Company 2010
YOU WON’T BE SEEING RAINBOWS ANYMORE
Writer: Tom Holloway. Melbourne Theatre Company 2010
ROUNDABOUT
Writer: Michele Lee. Melbourne Theatre Company 2010
THE GULLY
Writer: David Mence. 2010
IF I CAN DREAM
Writer: Natasha Jacobs. 2010
POOR BOY
Writer: Matt Cameron. Melbourne Theatre Company 2009
GODZONE
Writers: Max Gillies, Guy Rundle. Melbourne Theatre Company 2009
THE GLORY
Writer: Ross Mueller. StoreRoom Theatre Workshop 2006
A MILE IN HER SHADOW
Writer: Robert Reid. StoreRoom Theatre Workshop 2006
RUBY MOON
Writer: Matt Cameron. Playbox Theatre 2002

Awards

2012 – Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards (People’s Choice Award for Best Play) – National Interest, writer
2010 – Griffin Theatre Award for best new play – Brutopia, writer
2002 – Barry Award for Best New Talent at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – The Trade, writer and performer
2001 – Winner of the Erwin Rado/Cinemedia Award Best Short Australian Film (MIFF) – Mr Wasinski’s Song, director
1999 – Shortlisted for Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards – Chilling and Killing My Annabel Lee, writer/director
1999 – Nominated for Best New Play – Green Room Awards – Chilling and Killing My Annabel Lee, writer/director
1997 – Winner of Wal Cherry Award – Best Play of 1997 – Chilling and Killing My Annabel Lee, writer
1997 – Nominated for Best Actor – Green Room Awards

Education

1989 – Graduated from Victoria University, Rusden with a Bachelor of Education – majoring in Theatre, Language and Literature