About Us
For more than a decade, Citizen Theatre has delved into the complex and pressing issues of our times, using the art of courageous storytelling to provoke thought, inspire action and build meaningful connections with our audiences.
Who are we?
We come together as Performing and Non-performing Collaborative Artists: actors, composers, writers, designers, directors, producers, crew – and we each bring our unique perspectives and talents to the table.
Collaborators come from a range of backgrounds, bodies and experiences and this diversity is crucial to our creative process. It's what allows us to create work that deeply resonates with audiences from all walks of life. By weaving together our varied viewpoints and talents, we craft stories that reflect the richness and complexity of the world around us.
What’s our impact?
As a theatre company dedicated to purposeful action, our commitment extends beyond the stage to actively engage with both our audience and the broader community. We invest time and effort in nurturing meaningful partnerships with a diverse array of organizations, venues, and initiatives. Through these collaborations, we aim to create spaces for dialogue and reflection, where voices often marginalized or overlooked can be heard and valued.
Our approach involves more than just presenting performances; we actively seek out opportunities to listen, learn, and understand the perspectives of those directly affected by the issues we address in our productions. This collaborative process takes many forms, including post-show Q&A panels, interactive workshops, educational classes, and community forums.
By fostering these connections and embracing diverse voices, we enrich not only our storytelling but also the impact and relevance of our work. Through these meaningful engagements, we strive to ensure that our productions resonate deeply with the people we aim to inspire, sparking conversations, fostering empathy, and driving positive change within our communities.
↳ A Q&A panel after the opening night of When The Light Leaves
↳ A free community-focussed photo walk around Stonnington during development for Forgotten Places: From the Past a Future Begins
Our Purpose
To have a profound impact on the trajectory of somebody’s life.
Our Vision
To illuminate pathways towards growth, inspiration, connection and understanding through the transformative potential of theatre.
Our Mission
To collaborate with like-minded artists to create impactful, original theatre experiences that helps build a more compassionate and empathetic world.
Our Values
We recognise the importance of values in shaping our identity and guiding our actions. They serve as the compass that directs us towards our goals and helps us navigate challenges with integrity and purpose.
Our commitment to upholding these values ensures that we maintain a strong foundation upon which to build meaningful relationships, innovate, and contribute positively to the world around us.
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United by our curiosity and strengthened through collaboration, we bravely leap into the unknown, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that await us.
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Embodying our vision with meticulous precision, combining technical expertise and artistic brilliance.
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Embracing creative risks to expand our realm of possibilities, we boldly push boundaries, driven by a relentless pursuit of innovation and a commitment to exploring new horizons.
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We delight in humour and surprise, infusing our endeavours with a spirit of joy and spontaneity, fostering an environment where laughter and unexpected moments spark creativity and forge lasting connections.
Jayde Kirchert
Artistic Director
Jayde Kirchert is a multidisciplinary theatre artist with a focus on feminist and musical theatres, based in Melbourne, Australia. In addition to being director & dramaturge for many new Australian works for the Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Poppy Seed Festival, Melbourne Comedy & Fringe Festivals, she has directed & written multiple critically acclaimed and award nominated productions through her company Citizen Theatre. She is a lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne, and was the 2020 recipient of Monash University’s Jeanne Pratt Artist in Residence. From the University of Melbourne she holds a Bachelor of Music Theatre, Post Graduate Diploma of Arts (Anthropology) and is currently undertaking a PhD researching feminist dramaturgies in music theatre contexts.
Support Us
We rely on the generosity of supporters like you to continue our mission and have a profound impact on people’s lives. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, helps us to create innovative experiences that challenge perspectives, and ignite imaginations.
Please consider supporting us today by making a donation.
Explore Our Productions
Mara KORPER
In a futuristic dystopian world where gender is obsolete and the government owns your body, Mara KORPER explores extremism, corruption, gender, and body image.
Ego Machine
Blending theatre, dance, poetry, music, and video art, Ego Machine explores our complex reality amidst pandemics, climate change, and increasing digitalisation.
When The Light Leaves
When The Light Leaves is a new Australian play that explores the how people navigate the complex reality of facing an uncontrollable, wild death.
Explore our articles
Celebrating Your Weird: Citizen Theatre workshops for Performing Artists
Navigating a pandemic with a podcast
Get in touch
Curious to learn more about us or interested in collaborating? Don't hesitate to reach out. Whether you have questions, ideas, or just want to connect, we'd love to hear from you.