In 2006 Artistic Director Ben Harkin re-launched The Store Room as SRTW - Store Room Theatre Workshop - a company whose focus is to create a Research & Development Lab, supporting artists in the development of new work.
Now eight years after founders Ben Harkin and Todd MacDonald first opened the doors of The Store Room, the company is pleased to welcome a new Artistic Director who will lead SRTW forward in this next phase of development.
Since studying language, literature and drama at Victoria College Rusden, Aidan Fennessy has established a multifaceted career of note as a director, writer and actor.
He has been heavily involved in the creation of new Australian theatre over the years as one of the founders of Chameleon Theatre and brings with him a wide-ranging experience with many companies having directed for Melbourne Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre, HotHouse Theatre and Playbox in addition to extensive acting work on television, stage and film.
Aidan’s plays have been produced by Playbox, Queensland Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre in Sydney and Melbourne Theatre Company. In 1997 he won the Wal Cherry Award for his play Chilling and Killing My Annabel Lee. He is currently on the Artistic Directorate for HotHouse Theatre. In 2006 Aidan directed SRTW’s premiere production – A Mile in her Shadow by SRTW Associate Artist Robert Reid.
A strong advocate for the need for artists to engage in ongoing creative development, Aidan is passionate about the role SRTW plays in Melbourne and Australia’s theatrical landscape and he and the company have exciting plans for developing this role locally, nationally and internationally in future years. Under Aidan’s leadership, SRTW will operate as an R&D lab, focusing its resources each year on creative development and presenting productions as they evolve to presentation stage. Productions will be presented at either SRTW’s home base at The Parkview Hotel or at other venues in Melbourne. In the following months SRTW will be embarking on a number of creative developments and will be presenting productions in the second half of 2007.
During 2007, Ben Harkin will remain on board as Co-Artistic Director together with Aidan Fennessy, with Aidan taking over as sole Artistic Director from January 2008.
Latest Reviews
1. Prima Facie | Griffin Theatre Company Melbourne
2. Retrograde | Melbourne Theatre Company Melbourne
3. The First Murder | Pinchgut Opera Sydney
4. Savior | Griffin Theatre Company Sydney
5. At Home at the Zoo | Flightpath Theatre Sydney
6. Helios | Wright & Grainger Canberra
7. Waitress the Musical Melbourne
8. The Glass Menagerie | Melbourne Theatre Company Melbourne
9. Hamlet | Sh!tfaced Shakespeare Brisbane
10. Dancing at Lughnasa | New Theatre Sydney