Red Line Productions is an award-winning and leading Australian theatre company known for bold vision, fearless programming, and a deep commitment to bringing Australian voices and stories to the stage.
Amadeus by Peter Shaffer | Directed by Craig Ilott | 2022 Sydney Opera House | Photo: Daniel Boud
Big things start small…
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From 2014 to 2023, Red Line were the custodians of Sydney’s iconic Old Fitz Theatre, transforming the 55-seat space in a pub basement into one of the most exciting and critically acclaimed independent stages in the country. Throughout our tenure, we produced and presented hundreds of productions, including over 20 exclusively commissioned new Australian works, showcasing a dynamic blend of world and Australian premieres, and resurrecting landmark revivals.
World premieres have included This Much Is True by Louis Nowra, Degenerate Art by Toby Schmitz, and King of Pigs by Steve Rodgers.
Red Line also brought Australian audiences timely international works and powerful classics, such as A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller (2017 WINNER Best Independent Production, Sydney Theatre Awards) and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (2023 WINNER Best Independent Production, Sydney Theatre Awards), cementing our role as producers of theatrical excellence.
Red Line’s impact has extended well beyond our first (and much beloved) home at the Old Fitz in Woolloomooloo. Many of our productions have transferred from the Old Fitz into major venues including Belvoir St Theatre, Glen Street Theatre, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Ensemble Theatre and Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, as part of their mainstage seasons.
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The Red Line team loved our Old Fitz home, embraced its eccentricities (yes, even the weird onstage toilet) and will always be grateful to the Woolloomooloo community for their support in those early years.
But Red Line’s brilliance also shines beyond the basement: from headlining the Sydney Festival in 2020 with Betty Blokk-Buster Reimagined to celebrating the Sydney Opera House’s 50th Anniversary in 2022 by creating the biggest theatre show ever housed in the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House, with a monumental production of AMADEUS.The Red Line Productions team has a strong commitment to large scale national tours - to regional and remote towns as well as major capital cities. We want to provide the experience of live theatre for all, ensuring performances are both geographically and financially accessible.
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We don’t just create shows, we create spectacles: thrilling, immersive, and unforgettable theatrical experiences that ignite the imagination and captivate audiences of all ages.
Driven by a bold artistic vision and a deep commitment to community, Red Line continues to break new ground, reviving the classics with a contemporary twist, championing new Australian stories and voices, and taking transformative theatre to every corner of the country.
We believe theatre is for everyone. It is a powerful, unifying force - and we’re devoted to decimating social and cultural barriers, bringing people from all walks of life together to share in though-provoking, conversation-starting, inclusive, and electrifying experiences.
Red Line is currently in development with some bold new Australian works, continuing our mission to amplify homegrown voices and shape the future of our national stage.
With an ever-evolving creative spirit, Red Line remains at the forefront of Australia’s cultural landscape - fearless, inventive, and always pushing the boundaries of what theatre should be.
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Red Line has undergone a major restructure and redevelopment, rebuilding the company from the ground up with a focus on the future.
Our new Company Directors, Lenore Robertson AM and Genevieve Muratore are joining co-founder Vanessa Wright to guide Red Line Productions into its next chapter. As a proudly female-led organisation, we’re excited to begin our work supporting women in the arts, empowering emerging talent, encouraging diverse voices and viewpoints, and giving audiences a chance to share unforgettable experiences with us in the years to come.
We’re already in beginners for Act 2, and folks: THE HOUSE IS LIVE!
What we do
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At Red Line Productions, we believe theatre belongs to everyone.
Our mission is to develop bold, exciting, and culturally significant work that reaches all corners of Australia, and internationally. We champion diverse voices and tell stories that reflect the richness of our communities.
As industry leaders with deep creative roots, we collaborate with artists and companies across the country to bring transformative theatre experiences to the stage and beyond. As a proudly female-led organisation, we are passionate about supporting women in the arts, amplifying emerging Australian talent, and nurturing the next generation of theatre-makers and audiences alike.
We believe theatre is an energy exchange - it's important to us to uplift and empower our artists, providing dignity, respect and a safe space for expression, for their time with the audience to be a memorable and richly rewarding experience for both.
We want to bring people together. To get people talking, feeling, thinking. To put their phones down. To hear someone’s story that deserves to be told. To be present with us in moments that will echo beyond the curtain call. -
To create world-class, boundary-pushing theatre that is inclusive, accessible, and unites Australians of all ages, backgrounds, and identities on stages both intimate and grand.
Vanessa Wright is a leading figure in Australian theatre, with over 20 years of experience across production, touring, and arts leadership. She’s passionate about championing bold, homegrown storytelling and connecting audiences through live performance.
Vanessa Wright
Co-Founder | Director | CEO
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Vanessa Wright is a leading force in Australian theatre, with over two decades of experience across producing, technical production, stage management, venue management, arts administration and touring. After earning her Bachelor of Theatre (Technical Theatre) from James Cook University in Townsville, Vanessa began her career at the Mackay Entertainment Centre as a Theatre Technician, where she rose to the role of Production Manager and spent six years bringing shows to life behind the scenes. Her move to Sydney marked a new chapter as a freelance Stage Manager, working with some of the country’s most respected theatre companies in roles such as Company Management, Stage Manager, Tour Manager, and Production Manager. Vanessa toured extensively all over Australia for four years, bringing theatre to audiences in major cities and remote regional communities. In 2014, Vanessa co-founded Red Line Productions, where she served as Executive Director at the Old Fitz Theatre for nearly a decade. As a producer, she has produced hundreds of shows and continues to champion bold, homegrown storytelling. Vanessa is passionate about sharing Australian stories with audiences across the country through national touring and creative collaborations.
Lenore is currently serving as a board member of Griffin Theatre Company and is Co-Chair of the Griffin Capital Appeal for the redevelopment of the Stables Theatre. She also served on the board of Milk Crate Theatre for nine years. Lenore’s dedication to community arts spans over three decades and she has directed plays and performed in choirs, concerts, and musicals.
Lenore Robertson AM
Director | Executive Producer
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She particularly enjoys directing and producing new Australian work. Over the years she has collaborated with many organisations including Nautanki Theatre, bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company, Willoughby Theatre Company and Soulfood. In addition, she has directed in primary and secondary schools.
As a former schoolteacher, she is deeply committed to learning and literacy. Following the successful 2023 Red Line National Tour of JUST! Live on Stage! Based on Andy Griffiths’ JUST book series, Lenore is co-producing the 2026 Red Line tour of Tim Winton’s The Bugalugs Bum Thief, with the ambition to connect with regional audiences of young children.
Her recent involvement in the Theatre Space Planning Reference Group contributed to the creation of the new Pottery Lane Performance Space for the Lane Cove Community. Lenore also chairs the Robertson Foundation, championing arts, education, and social justice initiatives. In 2024, she was honoured with the Member of the Order of Australia award for her significant service to the community and the arts.
Gen is an actor, writer and producer with over 10 years’ experience across theatre, culture writing and community building. A former Company Director at Red Line Productions, she’s passionate about whip-smart comedies, inventive storytelling, and connecting audiences through bold, playful work.
Genevieve Muratore
Director | Creative Producer
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Gen is an actor, writer and producer who lives and works on Gadigal land. After graduating from a Bachelor of Performance in 2014, Gen worked at Red Line Productions at the Old Fitz Theatre as a stage manager & operator, venue manager, production manager, producer, grant writer, gofer, general hype woman, and eventually Company Director. With 50 + productions under her belt, she hung up her blacks in 2022 but kept her finger on Sydney/Eora’s creative pulse as a culture writer, writing theatre and live gig roundups for Urban List and pop culture commentary for Collider. Since 2023 she has also been a social media and community manager, supporting emerging founders and delivering pitching workshops at the University of Sydney’s flagship startup program. Between breaths, Gen was also a researcher, script-writer, co-host and editor on a podcast that became one of the most listened to globally in its category on Apple Podcasts.
Gen is passionate about whip-smart comedies that are rolled in glitter and social commentary, productions that employ creative solves when the message is bigger than the budget, and her chihuahua, Piglet. Her dislikes include writing positive things about herself in the third person, clichéd sign-offs and barbecue sauce.
Awards & Accolades
In 2019, Red Line Productions received the Hayes Gordon Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre.
Credit: The Chairs By Eugene Ionesco
Directed by Gale Edwards | 2023 Old Fitz Theatre | Pictured: iOTA and Paul Capsis
Photo: Phil Erbacher
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Nomination – Best Performer in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production - Josh Price - A Streetcar Named Desire
Nomination – Best Sound Design or Composition of an Independent Production - Zachary Saric - A Streetcar Named Desire
Winner- Best Performer in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production - Catherine Văn-Davies - A Streetcar Named Desire
Winner – Best Independent Production – A Streetcar Named Desire
Winner – Best Direction of an Independent Production – Alexander Berlage – A Streetcar Named Desire
Winner – Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production – Sheridan Harbridge – A Streetcar Named Desire
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Nomination – Best Main Stage Production – Amadeus
Nomination – Best Independent Production - The Seven Deadly Sins & Mahagonny Songspiel
Nomination – Best Direction of a Mainstage Production – Craig Ilott – Amadeus
Nomination – Best Stage Design of a Mainstage Production – Michael Scott-Mitchell – Amadeus
Nomination – Best Lighting Design of a Mainstage Production - Nick Schlieper – Amadeus
Nomination – Best Sound Design of a Mainstage Production - Tony David Cray - Amadeus
Nomination – Best Stage Design of an Independent Production - Jeremy Allen and Emma White - Hand to God
Nomination – Best Stage Design of an Independent Production - Charles Davis - The Seven Deadly Sins & Mahagonny Songspiel
Nomination – Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production - Trent Suidgeest - The Seven Deadly Sins & Mahagonny Songspiel
Winner – Best Performer in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production - Merridy Eastman - Hand to God
Winner – Best Costume Design of a Main Stage Production - Romance Was Born and Anna Cordingley – Amadeus
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Nomination – Best Independent Production – Happy Days
Nomination – Best Direction of an Independent Production – Craig Baldwin – Happy Days
Nomination – Best Performance in a Leading Role in an Independent Production – Belinda Giblin – Happy Days
Nomination – Best Performance in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production – Lex Marinos – Happy Days
Nomination – Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production - Veronique Benett – Happy Days
Nomination – Best Stage Design of an Independent Production – Veronique Benett – Exit the King
Nomination – Best Costume Design of an Independent Production - Aleisa Jelbart - Exit the King
Winner – Best Stage Design of an Independent Production – Charlie Davis – Happy Days
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Nomination – Best Independent Production - Krapp’s Last Tape
Nomination – Best Direction of an Independent Production – Gale Edwards – Krapp’s Last Tape
Nomination - Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production - Jonathan Biggins - Krapp’s Last Tape
Winner – Best Newcomer - Chika Ikogwe - The Wolves
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Nomination – Best Independent Production – There Will be a Climax
Nomination – Best Direction of an Independent Production – Alexander Berlage – There Will be a Climax
Nomination – Best Costume Design of an Independent Production – Nicolas Fry – There Will be a Climax
Nomination – Best Female Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production – Ella Scott-Lynch – King of Pigs
Nomination – Best Stage Design of an Independent Production – Maya Keys – The Wolves
Nomination – Best Sound Design of an Independent Production – Clemence Williams – The Wolves
Nomination – Best Newcomer - Nadia Zwecker - The Wolves
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Nomination – Best Direction of an Independent Production – Iain Sinclair - A View From the Bridge
Nomination – Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production – Janine Watson - A View From the Bridge
Nomination – Best Male in a Supporting role in an Independent Production – Justin Stewart Cotta – This Much is True
Winner – Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production – Ivan Donato - A View From the Bridge
Winner - Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production – Zoe Terakes - A View From the Bridge
Winner – Best Newcomer – Zoe Terakes – A View From the Bridge
Winner – Best Independent Production – A View From the Bridge
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Nomination – Best Independent Production – The Whale
Nomination – Best Direction of an Independent Production – Shane Anthony – The Whale
Nomination – Best Male Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production - Keith Agius - The Whale
Nomination – Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in an Independent Production - Alex Beauman - The Whale
Nomination – Best Stage Design of an Independent Production – Charlie Davis – The Whale
Nomination – Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production – Alexandra Berlage – The Whale
Nomination – Best Score or Sound Design of an Independent Production - Basil Hogios and Katelyn Shaw – The Whale
Winner – Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in and Independent Production - Meredith Penman - The Whale
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Nomination – Best Independent Production – Cock
Nomination – Best Direction of an Independent Production – Shane Bosher – Cock
Nomination – Best Actress in a Leading Role in an Independent Production – Matilda Ridgway – Cock
Nomination – Best Lighting Design in an Independent Production - Michele Bauer - Cock
Nomination - Best Actress in a Leading Role in an Independent Production - Kate Box – Dolores
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Nomination - Best Independent Production – Howie the Rookie
Nomination – Best Direction of an Independent Production – Toby Schmitz – Howie the Rookie
Nomination – Best Stage Design of an Independent Production – Lisa Mimmocchi – Howie the Rookie
Nomination – Best Sound Design of an Independent Production – Jeremy Silver – Howie the Rookie
Winner – Best Actor in a leading role in an Independent Production – Sean Hawkins and Andrew Henry – Howie the Rookie