News

What I’ve learned: Mitchell Butel

Mitchell Butel believes the best way to learn about being an Artistic Director is to become an Artistic Director.

20 Dec 2024 9:01

Richard Watts

Mitchell Butel in the rehearsal room for STCSA's 2024 production 'The Questions'. Butel is a fair-skinned man aged 54, clean shaven and with neatly styled short brown hair. He wears a brightly-patterned jumper and is sitting at a table, leaning forward to smile for the camera.

Performing Arts

Mitchell Butel in the rehearsal room for STCSA’s 2024 production ‘The Questions’. Photo: Matt Byrne.

Last month, Mitchell Butel finished up as Artistic Director of State Theatre Company South Australia (STCSA) and returned to his home town of Sydney, to become Artistic Director of Sydney Theatre Company (STC).

In his final days at STCSA, Butel spoke with ArtsHub about making the transition from actor and director to artistic director (AD), about learning on the job, trusting one’s gut and other lessons from his time at the Company.

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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 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. 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