Directing

Melissa Bruce’s theatre productions have received critical acclaim, audience praise and box office success. After a solid background in professional Stage Management (Vic. State Opera, Lyric Hammersmith, London, Royal Shakespeare Company UK…), Melissa was accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art (N.I.D.A.), where she completed a Diploma in Directing. Melissa was then invited to become an Affiliate Director with the Sydney Theatre Company (S.T.C.) and to work as an Assistant Director with notable British and Australian Directors. (View CV.) Melissa’s highly successful mainstream debut production was Caryl Churchill’s ‘Top Girls’ when she was the youngest woman at the time, to direct for the S.T.C. main-stage. Melissa’s professional theatre productions have been celebrated with excellent reviews (see below) and enjoyed by full-house audiences.

DIRECTING FOCUS

Theatre includes: Classical, contemporary, absurdist, magical realist, theatre of image, physical, comic, documentary, educational…

Radio includes: Documentary, narrative, collage

FOR SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY

  • Director. TOP GIRLS by Caryl Churchill
  • Assistant Director with Richard Wherrett. THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller. (3 Seasons) Sydney Opera House & Riverside Theatre Parramatta
  • Comedie Francaise Cultural Exchange. Director EDEN CINEMA by Marguerite Duras (Play reading)
  • Assistant Director Sydney Opera House. THE REVENGER’S TRAGEDY by Middleton/Tourneur. Directed by Jules Wright (Royal Court, London)
  • Affiliate Director – Sydney Theatre Company
  • Assistant to Director – Richard Wherrett. SIREN by David Williamson (World Premiere)
  • Director. Australian Script Development Scheme. Rehearsed Reading. A THIEVING BOY by Tim Conigrave
  • Assistant to Director – Jules Wright. Wharf Theatre. HOT FUDGE & ICE CREAM by Caryl Churchill

FOR OTHER COMPANIES

  • STATE THEATRE COMPANY SOUTH AUSTRALIA  Director. THE SWAN by Elizabeth Egloff
  • ABC RADIO Director. COMPLAINTS by Larry Buttrose
  • PLAYWORKS Director “My Vicious Angel” by Christine Evans (Wkshop)
  • BELVOIR STREET THEATRE Co-Artistic Counsel
  • GRIFFIN THEATRE COMPANY  Director WATER DAUGHTER by Sean Monro
  • HAROLD PARK Director. DELIVERY FOR T. MITCHELL by Andrew O’Sullivan & SEEN BEING by M.Bruce.
  • MELBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY Assistant to Director – Gale Edwards. THE TEMPEST by William Shakespeare
  • NIDA Director – THIS PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED by Tennessee Williams
  • THEATREWORKS Director. THE NOTE by Susie Boisjoux/Anderson
  • ANTHILL THEATRE CO Assistant Director – Ken Campbell-Dobbie. A SHORT STOP IN TRIESTE by Murray Copland (World Premiere)
  • VICTORIA COLLEGE Director/Designer/Lighting Designer Honours. SWALLOWING IS A VERY PRIVATE THING by Ailsa Matheison

Reviews

Productions

  • Sydney Theatre Co. - Director
  • State Theatre Co. Sth. Australia - Director
  • Griffin Theatre Co. - Director - Water Daughter
  • Sydney Theatre Co. - Assistant Director
  • Sydney Theatre Co.- Assistant Director
  • Australian Theatre for Young People - Director
  • Short & Sweet - Writer/Director - Pacing The Cage
  • Sydney Theatre Co. Edu. - Director
  • Melbourne Theatre Co. & Sydney T.C.- Assistant Director
  • Shorts In Winter - Director - Reg n Tony
  • Vic. College - Director - Swallowing is a Very Private Thing

Media