Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Thursday, October 08, 2009

NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED FOR BRISBANE FESTIVAL

Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh and Lord Mayor Campbell Newman today announced the appointment of experienced arts director Noel Staunton as the new Artistic Director of Brisbane Festival.

“I am delighted to welcome Noel Staunton to lead the Brisbane Festival in 2010,” said the Premier.

“Noel has worked in the arts sector for more than 30 years, with a distinguished history working with companies in the UK, Australia and the US to create major stage productions across opera, theatre and dance.

“He will join Brisbane Festival after he finishes his duties as Executive Director for the Sydney Dance Company.”

The Premier said Mr Staunton, a former Technical Director of the English National Opera and Opera Australia and Executive Director of the Sydney Dance Company, joins Brisbane Festival at a key moment in the history of Queensland’s largest arts and cultural celebration.

“This year’s event was the first annual Brisbane Festival and the first time it included RiverFestival to bring 22 days of festivities featuring more than 600 performances and 3560 artists.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said five of the festival shows this year were sell-outs, including Miracle in Brisbane, which was commissioned for the Festival.

"More than one million people attended the Festival this year, which was a real indication that the Brisbane Festival keeps going from strength to strength," he said.

"We have a fantastic audience base to build on and the Premier and I are sure Noel will give Brisbane another exciting event in years to come."

Major Brisbane Festivals Chairman Chris Freeman said Mr Staunton was the standout candidate to replace Lyndon Terracini, who is leaving Brisbane Festival to take up his new role as Artistic Director of Opera Australia.

“Noel’s proven experience in managing massive international productions, covering the artistic, commercial and technical aspects has convinced us he is the right man to take on the challenge of delivering another outstanding festival in 2010,” Mr Freeman said.

The Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council are founding partners of Brisbane Festival.


Media contact: 3224 4500


Biography

Noel Staunton has more than 30 years experience in the arts sector in both the UK and Australia.
Educated in the UK where he received Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) Diploma he first worked for the Glyndebourne Festival Opera before moving to the English National Opera in 1978 as Technical Director. In 1987 he joined Opera Australia as Technical Director. After 12 years with Opera Australia he became Executive Director of Baz Lurhmann’s company, Baz Live. He also worked on Moulin Rouge premieres in Cannes, New York and Sydney, and the project management of the development of the Fox Studios Entertainment Precinct, a $15 million project which opened in Sydney in 1999. He left Bazmark Live to become Executive Producer of the $15 million The Ring Cycle, which was the first complete production of The Ring in Adelaide in 2004. His most recent role was Executive Director for the Sydney Dance Company, a position he undertook to work beside newly appointed Artistic Director Tanja Liedtke, who was tragically killed. Noel took on the leadership of the company’s artistic direction and season for a year until a new Artistic Director was appointed.

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