Public memorial to honour Sue Nattrass, AO, pioneering leader in the Australian arts industry

A Memorial Service to honour the extraordinary life and achievements of arts industry trailblazer and former General Manager of Arts Centre Melbourne (then Victorian Arts Centre) Sue Nattrass AO, will be held on April 27 at the Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne.

The service, which will be open to the public, is an opportunity to honour Sue Nattrass’ memory and remarkable achievements as a pioneering woman and influential leader. Sue began her professional career when she was asked to operate the lighting board for Barry Humphries’ first one-man show in 1962 and became the first woman to ever fill this role.

Many more industry firsts followed including her foundational time at Arts Centre Melbourne and then Melbourne International Arts Festival. She was a trailblazer who paved the way for so many in the performing arts sector, particularly women in stage management, lighting, production and in leadership positions. She also generously mentored and actively encouraged generations of arts professionals.

Arts Centre Melbourne Executive Director Performing Arts Melanie Smith:

Sue Nattrass AO, was a pioneering leader in the sector, being one of the first women in our industry to take on the most senior of roles, firstly in our organisation as GM and as the first female Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Arts Festival. Sue was tenacious, determined, kind and generous and long after her time with us came to an end, she has remained a great advocate, supporter, and friend.

Our long-time friend is sadly missed not only by our Arts Centre Melbourne family, but by the broader performing arts landscape that she shaped so indelibly.

Sue started her career with us as an accomplished technician and stage manager and later in her career flourished and impressed in senior leadership roles in the formative years of Arts Centre Melbourne, where she was much loved, respected and admired.

With this in mind I am so happy to announce the newly created Arts Centre Melbourne’s Sue Nattrass Technical Production Traineeship.

To honour Sue’s legacy, Arts Centre Melbourne is establishing the Sue Nattrass Technical Production Traineeship.

With philanthropic support, the aim is to award this traineeship annually to support women to complete a one-year program, achieving an accreditation in Certificate III Live Production and Technical Services.

Sue Nattrass, AO was born in Horsham, Victoria, on 15 September 1941. After secondary school, she commenced a commerce degree at the University of Melbourne in 1959 where she drawn towards the student theatre scene.

Sue began her professional arts career when entrepreneur Clifford Hocking asked her to operate the lighting board for Barry Humphries’ first one-man show, A Nice Night’s Entertainment, at the Assembly Hall in Melbourne in 1962. Sue became the first woman to ever fill this role in Australia’s professional theatre industry and went on to break similar ground in the commercial theatre sector, at Arts Centre Melbourne and in arts festivals.

Sue was known for providing leadership, support, and mentorship throughout her career. She paved the way for so many in the performing arts sector, particularly women in stage management, lighting, production and in leadership positions. She generously mentored and actively encouraged women to work in technical areas of the theatre.

In 1966 Sue Nattrass joined JC Williamson Theatres Limited where she became the first woman in Australia to work as Production Manager, Lighting Designer, Executive Producer and General Manager of a commercial theatre company.

In 1983, she joined the staff of the Victorian Arts Centre Trust as Operations Manager, becoming Deputy General Manager in 1988 and General Manager from 1989 to 1996 – again, the first woman ever employed in these roles. She went on to become the first female Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Arts Festival for the 1998 and 1999 festivals.

Sue also served as Interim CEO and Artistic Director of the 2002 Adelaide Festival. In 2001, Nattrass was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2002 Queen’s Birthday Honours, received the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Cultural Leadership Award from the Australia Business Arts Foundation in October 2006, and, in April 2007, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association.

The prestigious Sue Nattrass Award, presented by Live Performance Australia, is named in her honour, and recognises exceptional service to the Australian live performance industry.

Sue brought her experience and leadership philosophy to Deakin University in her capacity as Adjunct Professor, Arts and Cultural Management, as well as in her former role as the chair of the Advisory Board.

In recognition of Sue’s life-long passion for the sector, the arts community came together to create the Sue Nattrass Arts Management Fund at Deakin, which supports postgraduate students studying Arts and Cultural Management.

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Season Details

Venue: Playhouse
Dates: 27 April 2023

For more information click HERE