Anna Houston
Actor / Creative / Directing
Creative

Bio

DIRECTOR/WRITER

Anna is an actor, playwright, and director deeply invested in the process and mechanics of storytelling for live performance.

In 2004 she graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts in Acting. Prior to that, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Cultural Studies at Perth’s Curtin University, where she majored in Theatre Arts and Gender Studies.

As a professional actor, she has performed for the Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare Company, Belvoir St Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company, Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Perth Theatre Company, and Sport for Jove. Her work as an actor has taken her around Australia on five national tours and internationally to Europe and Asia for commercial theatre productions that include the National Theatre of UK’s production of War Horse.

In 2009 she wrote her first full length play In The Garden which was long listed for the 2010 Patrick White Award, presented by the Sydney Theatre Company. In 2010, In The Garden was produced by Deckchair Theatre Company in Fremantle, Western Australia. Her second full length play Vanessa Darling was selected by Play Writing Australia for a National Script Workshop in 2015.

In 2015 Anna directed Ella Hickson’s full-length play Eight for the Sydney Fringe Festival. Produced by Edgeware Forum, the play was performed over five sold out nights at the Erskineville Town Hall.

Anna recently directed David Ireland’s Cyprus Avenue at the Old Fitz Theatre. The production was a critical hit, garnering rave reviews.

Reviews

    'Anna Houston directs this Sydney premiere production with precision and grace, adding shades of nuance to its depictions of psychological ruin, unconscionable violence and political allegiances gone mad.' [Cyprus Ave] ★★★★
    Time Out

    '...direction from Anna Houston [that] exacted performances of pinpoint accuracy.'
    The Buzz

    'Anna Houston directs this production with a well-tuned ear for the language.' ★★★★
    Stage Noise

    'This is a nuanced, well-timed and acted production directed by Anna Houston- a blacker than black play performed on an all-white set (Ester Karuso-Thurn).'
    ★★★★
    Sydney Morning Herald