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.<\/p>\n
“The time feels right for me,” he said.<\/p>\n
“My career has worked in 12 or 13-year cycles, and I feel a strong motivation to take on a new challenge.<\/p>\n
“It’s also a good time for Arena with solid foundations and an exciting future – it’s the perfect moment for new artistic leadership.”<\/p>\n
Since joining Arena in 2008 Leavesley has been credited as fundamentally reimagining what theatre for young audiences can be.<\/p>\n
“Performance teaches children that they have the power to transform their world and themselves,” he said.<\/p>\n
“There’s nothing like watching children have that realisation – it’s utterly amazing.<\/p>\n
“Children and young people are some of the most present and honest audiences you can have.<\/p>\n
“At first that was frightening, but now I only want to make work for audiences who bring those qualities.”<\/p>\n
Under his leadership, Arena has created multiple award-winning productions including Marlin, Robot Song, Hidden Creature Gallery, Baai and War of the Worlds.<\/p>\n
Perhaps Leavesley’s most defining accomplishment, however, has been the relocation and reinvention of Arena in Bendigo.<\/p>\n
“Bringing Arena to Bendigo and embedding the company here has been my proudest achievement,” he said.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
He said he feels confident he is leaving Arena in a “wonderful place.”<\/p>\n
“We’ve answered some essential questions about our role and purpose,” he said.<\/p>\n
“With our education program, our Makers program for teenagers and the new annual Creativerse Festival, the company is in an amazing place right now.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n