Marion Potts
{{short description|Australian theatre director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{use Australian English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Marion Potts
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| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1965}}
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| education = University of Sydney
National Institute of Dramatic Art
| occupation = Theatre director
| nationality = Australian
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| spouse = Ned Manning
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| children = 2
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Marion Potts is an Australian theatre director.
Early life and education
Potts developed an interest in the theatre when she went to see Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on a school excursion.{{cite web|url= https://engagingwomen.com.au/create/malthouse-theatre/ |title= The Theatre Director |publisher=Engaging Women}}
While attending the University of Sydney, she joined the Sydney University Dramatic Society and contemplated a career in theatre after studying theatre symbiotics with an inspiring female academic. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in French and a Master of Philosophy in Performance Studies. She also studied directing at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/arts/power-women-of-australian-arts-setting-the-scene/news-story/cdd96a2b3ea6e21ecb90e334a9cb55ee|title=Power women of the arts|last=Lambert|first=Catherine|date=September 11, 2014|work=Herald Sun|access-date=2017-06-16}}
Career
Potts has directed productions for many of Australia's major theatre companies including Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Griffin Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare and Victorian Opera.
Potts was a Resident Director for the Sydney Theatre Company from 1995 to 1999. She was Bell Shakespeare’s Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of its development arm, Mind’s Eye, from 2005 to 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/at-play-within-a-poem/2008/04/03/1206851100118.html|title=At play within a poem|website=www.theage.com.au|language=en|access-date=2017-06-16}} She was Artistic Director of the Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne from 2010 to 2015. She became Director of Theatre with the Australia Council in 2015.{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/marion-potts-to-leave-melbournes-malthouse-theatre-for-the-australia-council-20150120-12u72b.html|title=Marion Potts to leave Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre for the Australia Council|last=Cuthbertson|first=Debbie|date=2015-01-20|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2017-06-16|language=en-US}} Marion was Executive Producer of Performing Lines from 2017 to 2024.{{Cite web|url= https://performinglines.org.au/2023/11/22-marion-potts-executive-producer-to-step-down/ |title= Performing Lines announces Marion Potts to step down |website= performinglines.org.au}}
She was also a founding directorate member of HotHouse Theatre and has been Chair of World Interplay, Townsville, a board member of Griffin Theatre Company, Windmill Theatre and Playworks, and Curator of the National Playwrights Conference.{{Cite web|url= https://performinglines.org.au/2023/11/22-marion-potts-executive-producer-to-step-down/ |title= Performing Lines announces Marion Potts to step down |website= performinglines.org.au}}
Awards and nominations
| class=wikitable
! Year ! With ! Award ! Category ! Result | ||||
| 2006 | The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? | Helpmann Awards | Best Direction of a Play | {{won}} |
| 2007 | The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? | Sydney Theatre Awards | Best Direction of a Play | {{nom}} |
| 2008 | Venus and Adonis | Green Room Awards | Best Direction | {{nom}} |
| 2011 | Meow Meow's Little Match Girl | Green Room Awards | Best Cabaret Director | {{won}} |
Personal life
Potts is married to actor Ned Manning, with whom she had two children. In 2010, they relocated from Sydney to Melbourne when she was appointed director of the Malthouse Theatre.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/potts-wins-malthouse-post/2010/02/05/1265151969590.html|title=Potts wins Malthouse post|last=Usher|first=Robin|date=6 February 2010|work=The Age|access-date=31 May 2010}}
Credits
=As director / creator=
=As actor=
| class=wikitable
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Venue / Co. | |||
| 1989 | Artaud at Rodez | University of Sydney |
References
{{reflist}}
{{HelpmannAward PlayDirection 2001-2020}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Potts, Marion}}
Category:Australian theatre directors
Category:Australian women theatre directors