Marion Potts appointed Associate Artistic Director and Nicole Pingon named 2027 Richard Wherrett Directing Fellow at Sydney Theatre Company.
We are thrilled to announce two key appointments to our artistic team – acclaimed director and arts leader Marion Potts as Associate Artistic Director and multidisciplinary artist and theatre maker Nicole Pingon as the Company’s 2027 Richard Wherrett Directing Fellow.
The appointments will strengthen Sydney Theatre Company’s artistic leadership and its commitment to developing the next generation of Australian theatre makers. Potts will work closely with our Artistic Director and Co-CEO, Mitchell Butel and the wider artistic team across programming, artist development and the creation of productions, while Pingon will join the Company for a year-long fellowship supporting the artistic program and creative development projects.
Mitchell says: “Marion is one of Australia’s most accomplished theatre makers and cultural shapers, and I am thrilled to welcome her into this new role. Her depth of experience, artistic rigour and generosity will be an extraordinary asset to our artists, our audiences and the Company as a whole. We are equally delighted that Nicole will join STC as the 2027 Richard Wherrett Directing Fellow. Nicole is an imaginative, collaborative artist with a distinctive and committed cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural practice. We’re happy to see Nicole build on their previous experiences at STC, Assistant Directing on Dracula, Oil and Into the Shimmering World. These appointments bring exceptional experience and a vital new perspective into the heart of Sydney Theatre Compnany, and the entire Company is excited by the energy, ambition and possibility that Marion and Nicole will bring.”
Marion Potts is an experienced theatre director, dramaturg and arts leader. Most recently she was CEO/Executive Producer of Performing Lines. She has held prominent roles at Malthouse Theatre (Artistic Director/CEO), Sydney Theatre Company (Resident Director) and Bell Shakespeare (Associate Artistic Director). Marion is a Helpmann Award-winning director with over 50 mainstage production credits and has worked with all major Australian theatre companies. For STC, highlights include Doubt: A Parable, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Venus and Adonis, Volpone, Don Juan, Cyrano de Bergerac, Closer, Life after George, The Crucible, Navigating, The Herbal Bed, Playgrounds – Where Are We Now? and The Café Latte Kid. For Melbourne Theatre Company: Di and Viv and Rose and Grace. For Malthouse Theatre: The Riders (with VO and WAO); Ugly Mugs, The Dragon, Blood Wedding, Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl, Sappho, Wild Surmise, Tis Pity She’s a Whore. For STCSA: A Number; Equus; The Goat or Who is Sylvia? and Gary’s House. For Queensland Theatre: Constance Drinkwater and the Final Days of Somerset. For Griffin: Good Cook. Friendly. Clean and The Story of the Miracles at Cookie’s Table.
Marion says: “It is such a privilege to join Mitchell and Sydney Theatre Company's dynamic team. STC is in my creative DNA. The opportunity to bring my knowledge back to help shape the company’s future is hugely inspiring. At heart, the role is a commitment to support artists to do their best work and realise their extraordinary impact on our city and our culture.”
Nicole Pingon (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist, theatre maker, and director working across live performance, installation and digital mediums. Nicole's practice is collaborative and process-driven, with a focus on new work and cross-cultural storytelling. Most recently, Nicole directed the world premiere of lacuna by Eric Jiang for Griffin Lookout. Nicole has been part of numerous artist development programs with organisations including Shopfront Arts Co-op, Contemporary Asian Australian Performance and Diversity Arts Australia. In 2026, Nicole was part of Pan Pan Theatre and UNSW School of the Arts & Media’s inaugural International Mentorship Program, and ASSITEJ Mongolia’s Next Generation Program. Nicole has previously worked with Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir, Little Eggs Collective, Shopfront Arts Co-op, Blush Opera and SBS Audio. Nicole chairs Shopfront Arts Co-op's CALD Advisory Board, is a CreateNSW Artform Board Assessor, and a passionate teaching artist.
Nicole says: “This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to look at a company from the inside, how it works, and how decisions are made. I look forward to a year of intergenerational learning, and engaging in critical conversations around self-determined storytelling and more equitable futures for all artists.”
Sydney Theatre Company is delighted to welcome both of these incredible artists to the Company. Marion has now commenced in her role and Nicole will commence in January 2027.