Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts

Richard Watts's Latest Articles

A recent 'Cluedo' publicity photo of actor Craig McLachlan. The black and white photo depicts a middle aged, fair skinned man with a neat grey beard and wearing a black t-shirt.

Craig McLachlan withdraws from Cluedo production after public backlash

Craig McLachlan, who was found not guilty of sexual assault in a 2020 court case, says 'bullying' has forced his…

Richard Watts

Sep 17, 2025
Elijah Trevitt, Larissa Kiyoto-Ward, Lilla Harvey, Isobelle Dashwood and Jett Ramsay in a promotional image for The Australian Ballet's 'Copland Dance Episodes', part of the company's 2026 season. A dynamic photograph of five ballet dancers in brightly coloured clothes, performing contemporary, lively choreography.
News

2026 season announcements: our rolling guide to the performing arts

Orchestras, recital centres, theatre companies and more: we're compiling a list of 2026 season announcements, to be updated regularly, for…

Richard Watts

Sep 16, 2025
ILBIJERRI's Artistic Director of almost 18 years, Dr Rachael Maza AM. The photo shows Maza, an older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman with greying hair, sitting in a leafy courtyard. She is smiling, almost laughing, and leans forward with her hands clasped and her elbows on her knees.
Features

Rachael Maza on shaping the narrative, trusting her gut and preparing to say goodbye

After almost 18 years as ILBIJERRI’s Artistic Director, Dr Rachael Maza AM is stepping down at the end of the…

Richard Watts

Sep 16, 2025
A jumping woman is reflected in the water of a lake or pond. The photo illustrates ArtsHub's weekly round-up of Australian arts sector appointments, On the Move.
News

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

Your weekly round-up of Australian arts sector appointments.

Richard Watts

Sep 16, 2025
Kala Gare in the MTC's 'My Brilliant Career', 2024. My Brilliant Career the musical is touring in 2026. The photo shows Gare, a fair-skinned woman with blonde hair and weaing a long sleeved white shirt and a dark blue skirt, reading a an unfolded letter and smiling. She is sitting on a pile of straw, denoting the story's rural setting.
News

My Brilliant Career the musical will tour ACT and NSW in 2026

My Brilliant Career the musical plays Canberra, Sydney and Wollongong after its previously announced encore season at the Southbank Theatre…

Richard Watts

Sep 15, 2025
L-R: Griffin Theatre Company Artistic Director Declan Greene (photo: Brett Boardman) and Belvoir Artistic Director Eamon Black (photo: Daniel Boud). Two fair-skinned men sit for the camera. Greene is sitting on a four-legged stool and faces the camera directly; his hands are clasped in his lap. Flack leans back on his chair and is photographed in profile, though his head is turned towards the camera.

Griffin and Belvoir announce new partnership and residency for 2026

Griffin will undertake a year-long residency and present its 2026 season at Belvoir while its Kings Cross home undergoes major…

Richard Watts

Sep 13, 2025
Image description: A photo of Fiona Winning, smiling at the camera. She has short red hair, glasses and is wearing a colourful green, pink and yellow top.
Features

Vale Fiona Winning: the game-changing arts producer is sorely missed

The culture-shaping arts leader and producer was farewelled by family and friends last Friday, with mourners encouraged to think, ‘What…

Richard Watts

Sep 9, 2025
A close-up photograph of a person jumping from bollard to bollard on a stretch of road; the photo shows only their legs and feet. The person is wearing black pants, white socks and black and red sneakers. The photo illustrates Artshub's weekly On the Move column, which summarises the week's arts sector appointments across Australia.
Features

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

Your weekly round-up of Australian arts sector appointments.

Richard Watts

Sep 8, 2025
Western Australian composer and producer Elise Reitze-Swensen is a member of the 2025 Minderoo Foundation cohort. The photograph shows Elise Reitze-Swensen, a fair-skinned woman with long blonde hair, smiling at the camera. She wears a long-sleeved white t-shirt decorated with a bold, black-outlined, cartoon-like figure.
Sponsored

Minderoo Foundation Artist Fund seeks mid-career WA creatives with bold ideas

The Minderoo Foundation Artist Fund offers grants of $35,000 and Forrest Hall residencies to the value of $20,000 to mid-career…

Richard Watts

Sep 4, 2025
Franco Zeffirelli’s 'Aida' at Arena di Verona. The photograph hints at the scale of the arena production's opulent set, and depicts cast and chorus members arrayed beneath huge temple-like Egyptian statues and a pyramid.
News

Adelaide Oval to host exclusive performances of Franco Zeffirelli’s Aida in 2026  

The late Franco Zeffirelli's arena production of Verdi’s Egyptian-set opera Aida will be performed in Adelaide.

Richard Watts

Sep 3, 2025
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