Sydney Theatre Company (STC) is an Australian

theatre company Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

based in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

, New South Wales. The company performs in the Wharf Theatre at

Dawes Point Dawes Point is a suburb of the City of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Dawes Point is located on the north-western edge of the Sydney central business district, at the southern end of Sydney Harbour Bridge, adjacent to The R ...

in The Rocks area of Sydney as well as the Roslyn Packer Theatre (formerly Sydney Theatre) and the

Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue Performing arts center, performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive b ...

Drama Theatre.

History

Sydney Theatre Company was formed in December 1978, following the closure of the Old Tote Theatre Company the month before. The then premier,

Neville Wran Neville Kenneth Wran, (11 October 1926 – 20 April 2014) was an Australian politician who was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 to 1986. He was the national president of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 1980 to 1986 and chairman o ...

, approached Elizabeth Butcher who had been seconded from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) to administer the Old Tote and asked her to set up a new state theatre company to perform in the drama theatre of the

. Butcher established its legal identity and managerial structure and proposed the name 'Sydney Theatre Company' with John Clark (director of NIDA as the artistic adviser of the first season, five theatre companies were invited to produce six plays to be presented by STC as the 1979 interim season in the drama theatre. The first production, by the Paris Company, was '' A Cheery Soul'' by Patrick White (an Australian Nobel Laureate for Literature), directed by Jim Sharman and featuring Robyn Nevin as Miss Docker. In June 1979, Richard Wherrett, then one of Nimrod Theatre's co-artistic directors, was appointed artistic director of STC to plan and organise activities for the 1980 season. The first STC-produced play was '' The Sunny South'' (1 January 1980) by George Darrell with music by Terence Clarke, directed by Richard Wherrett and assisted by John Gaden. In its early years the company operated out of several rented premises around the city, producing 38 productions in five separate venues. Elizabeth Butcher, STC administrator, was given the task of finding one location that could house all the activities of the company, and a theatre. After an extensive search, Butcher had the vision to propose the derelict Walsh Bay Wharf 4/5 as STC's new home, immediately envisaging the capacity of the building to fulfil all requirements of space, location and additional venue. On 12 September 1983, the premier,

, announced that the state government had approved the expenditure of $3.5 million to finance the project. The 60-year-old ironbark timber wharf warehouse was converted into premises suitable for creating, producing, performing and enjoying theatre. The Wharf was officially handed over to STC in a plaque-unveiling ceremony on 13 December 1984. In 1985, The Wharf, by architects Vivian Fraser in association with NSW Govt Architect JW Thomson, won the Sir John Sulman Medal awarded by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) for a work of excellence in public and commercial architecture. The first STC production in the Wharf Theatre (now Wharf 1), 17 January 1985, was ''Late Arrivals'' by Pamela van Amstel and directed by Wayne Harrison in his directorial debut. (Harrison went on to become the second artistic director of the company, in 1990.) The play was part of a season of one-act plays called Shorts at the Wharf. Other performing arts companies and organisations later moved into the premises at The Wharf, including Sydney Dance Company, Ausdance, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Gondwana Choirs, Sydney Children's Choir, Australian Theatre for Young People, and

Bangarra Dance Theatre Bangarra Dance Theatre is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance company focused on contemporary dance. It was founded by African American dancer and choreographer Carole Y. Johnson, Gumbaynggirr man Rob Bryant, and South African-bor ...

. Nearly 25 years later The Wharf was presented the RAIA 25-Year Award for Enduring Architecture. Directors working regularly for STC include Gale Edwards, Barrie Kosky, David Berthold, Neil Armfield, Benedict Andrews and Kip Williams. Many Australian actors who would later find wider success, such as Hugo Weaving, Geoffrey Rush,

Cate Blanchett Catherine Élise Blanchett ( ; born 14 May 1969) is an Australian actor and producer. Regarded as one of the best performers of her generation, she is recognised for Cate Blanchett on screen and stage, her versatile work across stage and scre ...

Jacqueline McKenzie Jacqueline Susan McKenzie (born 24 October 1967) is an Australian film and stage actress. Early life Born in Sydney, New South Wales, McKenzie attended Wenona School in North Sydney, New South Wales, North Sydney until 1983 then moved to Pymb ...

, Richard Roxburgh and Toni Collette, established their careers in STC productions. Jo Dyer was executive producer of STC for ten years. In January 2024, Alan Joyce who was also the CEO of Qantas, resigned.

Artistic directors

Greening the Wharf

The Sydney Theatre Company operates out of a heritage site of the

wharf A wharf ( or wharfs), quay ( , also ), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more Berth (mo ...

area of

Sydney Harbour Port Jackson, commonly known as Sydney Harbour, is a ria, natural harbour on the east coast of Australia, around which Sydney was built. It consists of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour and the Lane Cove River, Lane ...

. Under the leadership of Blanchett and Upton, STC initiated a comprehensive large scale environmental program called ''Greening the Wharf'', investing in solar energy,

rainwater harvesting Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the collection and storage of rain, rather than allowing it to run off. Rainwater is collected from a roof-like surface and redirected to a Rainwater tank, tank, cistern, deep pit (well, shaft, or borehole), Aquifer s ...

, energy efficiency measures and best practice waste management. The program goes beyond infrastructure projects to include employees, environmentally responsible theatre production, community engagement and education. The program won two Green Globe Awards.

Awards and nominations

Helpmann Awards

The

Helpmann Awards The Helpmann Awards are accolades for live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia (LPA) since 2001. The annual awards recognise achievements in the disciplines of musical theatre ...

is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group ''Live Performance Australia'' since 2001. Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. ! , - , rowspan="4",

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

, Benedict Andrews – ''La Dispute'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Play , , rowspan="4", , - , Robyn Nevin – '' A Cheery Soul'' (Company B Belvoir and Sydney Theatre Company) ,

Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play The Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Play is an award presented by Live Performance Australia (LPA) (the trade name for the Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA)), an employers' organisation which serves as the peak body in ...

, , - , Stephen Page – '' The Sunshine Club'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Helpmann Award for Best Choreography in a Musical , , - , Trudy Dalgleish – '' The White Devil'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Helpmann Award for Best Lighting , , - , rowspan="6", 2002 , '' Three Sisters'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Helpmann Award for Best Play , , rowspan="6", , - , Essie Davis – '' The School for Scandal'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Peter Carroll – '' The Christian Brothers'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , Nick Enright – ''A Man with Five Children'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work , , - , Nigel Levings – '' The Old Masters'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Lighting , , - , Up for Grabs'' (Sydney Theatre Company) "> ">- , rowspan="6", 2003 , ''Copenhagen (play), Copenhagen'' – Sydney Theatre Company , Best Play , , rowspan="6", , - , rowspan="2", Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Miranda Otto – '' ">- ">Deborah Kennedy – '' Soulmate'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Peter Carroll – '' Endgame'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Andree Greenwell – '' , - , rowspan="3", 2004 , Best Female Actor in a Play , , rowspan="3", , - , Amber McMahon – '' Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Peter Carroll – '' Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , rowspan="3", 2005 , '' Best Play , , rowspan="3", , - ,

Democracy Democracy (from , ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which political power is vested in the people or the population of a state. Under a minimalist definition of democracy, rulers are elected through competitiv ...

'' (Sydney Theatre Company) "> Best Direction of a Play , , - , Influence'' (Sydney Theatre Company) ">Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play "> , - , rowspan="5", 2006 , Jennifer Flowers – ''Doubt: A Parable'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Female Actor in a Play , , rowspan="5", , - , Robert Menzies – '' Julius Caesar'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Robyn Nevin – '' Summer Rain'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , ''Stella and the Moon Man'' – Kim Carpenter's Theatre of Image with Sydney Theatre Company and ">- , rowspan="4", 7th Helpmann Awards, 2007 , ''The Lost Echo'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Play , , rowspan="4", , - , '' , - , Pamela Rabe – ''Mother Courage and Her Children'' (Sydney Theatre Company) "> Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Jefferson Mays – ''I Am My Own Wife'' (Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company and Hothouse Theatre) , Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , rowspan="3", 8th Helpmann Awards, 2008 , Susan Prior – ''Riflemind'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , rowspan="3", , - , Alison Whyte – ''Don's Party'' (Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Travis McMahon – ''Don's Party'' (Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , rowspan="13", 9th Helpmann Awards, 2009 , ''War of the Roses'' – Sydney Theatre Company (in association with the Sydney Festival and Perth International Arts Festival) , rowspan="2", Best Play , , rowspan="13", , - , '' Women of Troy'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Benedict Andrews – ''War of the Roses'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Direction of a Play , , - , Barrie Kosky – ''Women of Troy'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Robyn Nevin – ''Women of Troy'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="3", Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Pamela Rabe – ''War of the Roses'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - ,

– ''War of the Roses'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Robert Menzies – ''War of the Roses'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , Marta Dusseldorp – ''War of the Roses'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Ewen Leslie – ''War of the Roses'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Robert Cousins – ''War of the Roses'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Scenic Design , , - , Max Lyandvert – ''War of the Roses'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Sound Design , , - , Nick Schlieper – ''War of the Roses'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Lighting Design , , - , rowspan="2",

2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...

, Kathryn Hunter – ''Kafka's Monkey'' (Arts Projects Australia in association with Sydney Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre) , Best Female Actor in a Play , , rowspan="2", , - , Paul Charlier – '' A Streetcar Named Desire'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Sound Design , , - , rowspan="7",

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

, '' Uncle Vanya'' – Sydney Theatre Company (in association with Bell Shakespeare) , Best Play , , rowspan="7", , - ,

– ''Uncle Vanya'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Robyn Nevin – '' Long Day's Journey into Night'' (Sydney Theatre Company and Artists Repertory Theatre) , , - , Helen Thomson – '' In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Richard Roxburgh – ''Uncle Vanya'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , John Bell – ''Uncle Vanya'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Nick Schlieper – ''Baal'' (Sydney Theatre Company and Malthouse Melbourne) , Best Lighting Design , , - , rowspan="4",

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

, Benedict Andrews – ''Gross und Klein (Big and Small)'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Play , , rowspan="4", , - , Bille Brown – ''The Histrionic'' (Malthouse Theatre & Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , Justine Clarke – ''Les Liaisons dDangereuses'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Miranda Otto – ''The White Guard ''(Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , rowspan="7",

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

, '' The Secret River'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Play , , rowspan="7", , - , Neil Armfield – ''The Secret River'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Direction of a Play , , - , Helen Thomson – ''Mrs. Warren's Profession'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Nathaniel Dean – ''The Secret River'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , Valerie Bader – ''Australia Day'' (Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Miranda Tapsell – ''The Secret River'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Colin Moody – ''The Secret River'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , rowspan="9",

2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...

, '' Waiting for Godot'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Play , , rowspan="9", , - , Andrew Upton – ''Waiting for Godot'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Direction of a Play , , - , Cate Blanchett – ''The Maids'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Richard Roxburgh – ''Waiting for Godot'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , Paul Blackwell – ''Vere (Faith)'' (State Theatre Company of South Australia and Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Elizabeth Debicki – ''The Maids'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Luke Mullins – ''Waiting for Godot'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Ewen Leslie – ''Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , ''Storm Boy'' – (with Barking Gecko Theatre Company) , Best Presentation for Children , , - , rowspan="14",

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

, ''Calpurnia Descending'' (with Malthouse Theatre) , rowspan="3", Best Play , , rowspan="14", , - , '' Endgame'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , '' Suddenly Last Summer'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Kip Williams – ''Suddenly Last Summer'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="3", Best Direction of a Play , , - , Sarah Goodes – ''Switzerland'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Andrew Upton – ''Endgame'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Robyn Nevin – ''Suddenly Last Summer'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Sarah Peirse – ''Switzerland'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Hugo Weaving – ''Endgame'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , Helen Thomson – '' After Dinner'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Female in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Sarah Peirse – ''Endgame'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Bruce Spence – ''Endgame'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Glenn Hazeldine – ''After Dinner'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Nick Schlieper – ''Macbeth'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Lighting Design , , - , rowspan="4",

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

, Kip Williams – ''Love and Information'' (Sydney Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre) , Best Direction of a Play , , rowspan="4", , - , Cate Blanchett – '' The Present'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Sarah Peirse – ''The Golden Age'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Mark Leonard Winter – ''

King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...

'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , rowspan="1",

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

, Kip Williams – '' Chimerica'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Direction of a Play , , rowspan="1", , - , rowspan="15",

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

, '' The Children'' – (Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="3", Best Play , , rowspan="14", , - , '' Black is the New White'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , '' The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Sarah Goodes – '' The Children'' – (Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="3", Best Direction , , - , Kip Williams – ''Cloud Nine'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Kip Williams – ''The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Pamela Rabe – ''The Children'' – (Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Sarah Peirse – ''The Children'' – (Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Hugo Weaving – ''The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , John Bell – ''The Father'' (Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company) , , - , Anita Hegh – ''The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Kate Box – '' Top Girls'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Peter Carroll – ''The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Colin Moody – ''The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , '' Muriel's Wedding The Musical'' – Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures , Best Musical , , - , rowspan="14",

2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...

, ''Blackie Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owner of Death'' (with Malthouse Theatre) , rowspan="2", Best Play , , rowspan="14", , - , '' The Harp in the South: Part One and Part Two'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Declan Green – ''Blackie Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owner of Death'' (with Malthouse Theatre) , rowspan="3", , Best Direction of a Play , , - , Imara Savage – ''Saint Joan'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Kip Williams – ''The Harp in the South: Part One and Part Two'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Helen Thomson – ''Mary Stuart'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , rowspan="2", Best Female Actor in a Play , , - , Sarah Snook – ''Saint Joan'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , , - , Wayne Blair – ''The Long Forgotten Dream'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Play , , - , Helen Thomson – ''The Harp in the South: Part One and Part Two'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play , , - , Ash Flanders – ''Blackie Blackie Brown: The Traditional Owner of Death'' (Sydney Theatre Company) , Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play ,

References

Bibliography

* * *

External links

Sydney Theatre Company website

Greening the Wharf project video explanation
{{authority control Theatre in Sydney Theatre companies in Australia Companies based in Sydney Sydney Opera House