RICHARD CARROLL

​Director

Richard Carroll is a director, writer and producer based in Sydney, and is the co-artistic director of Hayes Theatre Co. 

Most recently, Richard directed RIDE THE CYCLONE and MURDER FOR TWO, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES and GODSPELL at Hayes Theatre Co.  MURDER FOR TWO had a sold-out premiere season, a sold out return season and toured to the Adelaide Comedy Festival.  Richard’s acclaimed production of the musical ONCE premiered in 2019 at Darlinghurst Theatre Company, had a return season at Darlinghurst Theatre Co the following year, then toured to Black Swan State Theatre Company.  In 2023, ONCE toured to Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre and HOTA.  In 2021, Richard co-directed THE BOOMKAK PANTO with Virginia Gay at Belvoir Theatre.  In 2020, Richard directed OKLAHOMA for Black Swan State Theatre Company, and a new work THE BOY, GEORGE, starring comedian Joel Creasey.  Richard’s acclaimed production of CALAMITY JANE at Hayes Theatre Co, starring Virginia Gay, toured to five cities in 2018-19, including two sold-out mainstage seasons at Arts Centre Melbourne and Belvoir Theatre. CALAMITY JANE had a sold-out return season to Arts Centre Melbourne later that year followed by a commercial season at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre.   In 2019, Richard directed sold-out production of the musical SPAMALOT at Hayes Theatre Co, which toured to several cities.

Richard won a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Production of an Independent Musical and has been nominated for Best Director of a Musical for ONCE, MURDER FOR TWO, and CALAMITY JANE. ONCE received 8 Green Room Award nominations including Best Direction. ONCE was nominated for four Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Production of a Mainstage Musical. CALAMITY JANE received seven Green Room Award nominations including Best Direction and Best Production. His production of SIDE SHOW was nominated for multiple awards, including three Sydney Theatre Awards. 

Richard is co-creator and director of THE SHOW GOES ON starring Bernadette Robinson which had its premiere at Sydney Opera House and toured to Arts Centre Melbourne. Other directing work includes: GODSPELL, GYPSY (Hayes Theatre Co); THE SHOW GOES ON (Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne); A NIGHT AT THE SPEAKEASY (Sydney Symphony Orchestra); and AN ACT OF GOD (Darlinghurst Theatre Company) starring and co-directed by Mitchell Butel; MAME, MEET ME IN ST LOUIS & CALAMITY JANE for Neglected Musicals. 

Richard’s cabaret work includes: EVERYBODY LOVES LUCY (co-writer); DAHLESQUE (co-writer); ¡HISPANIC ATTACK! (writer/director, national tour); DON’T BOTHER TO KNOCK (co-writer/director, Hayes/Adelaide Cabaret Festival); JULIE MADLY DEEPLY (co-creator; Australian, Canadian, UK national tours and West End season); and opening night variety gala concerts (director/writer) for Adelaide Cabaret Festival and The Art House.

Richard’s producing work includes: DARLINGHURST NIGHTS and HIGH SOCIETY (Hayes Theatre Co); SPAMALOT, CALAMITY JANE and SIDE SHOW, (One-Eyed Man Productions); MIRACLE CITY and SWEET CHARITY (Luckiest Productions).  Richard co-wrote and was associate producer of the documentary DAVID CAMPBELL ON BROADWAY. Richard is also the host of popular podcast EVERY MUSICAL EVER.