PRISCILLA JACKMAN

Priscilla is a director of theatre and opera, whose background in acting has informed her work in both Sydney and the UK. Still Point Turning: The Catherine McGregor Story, marked Priscilla’s debut production as writer/director at Sydney Theatre Company. Previously for STC, she was assistant director of The Father (2017) and The Hanging (2016). In 2019, she will direct White Pearl by Anchuli Felicia King — the first co-production between Sydney Theatre Company and the National Theatre of Parramatta.

For the Ensemble Theatre, Priscilla directed The Appleton Ladies Potato Race by Melanie Tait (2019) as well as the Boatshed’s Importance of being Earnest (2016). She assistant directed Good People and Barefoot in the Park (2016). Priscilla received Ensemble Theatre’s inaugural Sandra Bates Directing Award, in 2016.

In 2017 Priscilla was awarded the Berlin New Music Opera Award, from The Opera Foundation for Young Australians, and travelled to Berlin, working at the Komische Opera under Barrie Kosky. For Opera Australia Priscilla directed The Barber of Seville Victorian schools’ tour (2018) and The Magic Flute NSW schools’ tour revival (2018). Priscilla also directed a new work for Musica Viva, titled Da Vinci’s Apprentice (2018), which is touring nationally over four years.

She was the Resident Director of Sport for Jove’s Winter Season (2017), where she co-directed The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet, and assistant directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

An advocate of new work, Priscilla conceived and directed Eurydike + Orpheus — a multidisciplinary work of scale, leading to the first co-production between National Institute of Dramatic Art and National Institute of Circus Art (2017). She is working with Nam Le, adapting and directing a stage version of his award-winning book, The Boat. In 2016 Priscilla co-conceived and directed The Angelica Complex with playwright Sunny Grace for The Invisible Circus at Kings Cross Theatre — a festival of new work by Australian female artists.

In 2014/15 Priscilla was invited to work with Complicite (UK), in devising educational resources to support innovative devising processes. Priscilla represented the Southbank Centre London at the Sydney Writers Festival in 2013. She has presented at National and State Drama conferences (2013 - 2015) and written dramaturgical curriculum for the NSW Department of Education.

Priscilla is a lecturer in Creative Practices at National Institute of Dramatic Art, where she graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts, Directing (2016). She also holds a Bachelor of Theatre Arts (Acting) and Bachelor of Teaching.