Arena artistic director flags departure

ARENA Theatre Company’s artistic director of seventeen years, Christian Leavesley, will step down from his role at the end of the year, with the company now engaged in a succession process.

“The time feels right for me,” he said.

“My career has worked in 12 or 13-year cycles, and I feel a strong motivation to take on a new challenge.

“It’s also a good time for Arena with solid foundations and an exciting future – it’s the perfect moment for new artistic leadership.”

Since joining Arena in 2008 Leavesley has been credited as fundamentally reimagining what theatre for young audiences can be.

“Performance teaches children that they have the power to transform their world and themselves,” he said.

“There’s nothing like watching children have that realisation – it’s utterly amazing.

“Children and young people are some of the most present and honest audiences you can have.

“At first that was frightening, but now I only want to make work for audiences who bring those qualities.”

Under his leadership, Arena has created multiple award-winning productions including Marlin, Robot Song, Hidden Creature Gallery, Baai and War of the Worlds.

Perhaps Leavesley’s most defining accomplishment, however, has been the relocation and reinvention of Arena in Bendigo.

“Bringing Arena to Bendigo and embedding the company here has been my proudest achievement,” he said.

“It was a massive project and an extraordinary journey, but through all our hard work we now understand what the children of a regional city need from their professional theatre company.”

He said he feels confident he is leaving Arena in a “wonderful place.”

“We’ve answered some essential questions about our role and purpose,” he said.

“With our education program, our Makers program for teenagers and the new annual Creativerse Festival, the company is in an amazing place right now.”