Patrick McCarthy

Patrick McCarthy is a Melbourne based writer and director. He is currently Artistic Director of Fabricated Rooms. In 2014 he was Writer in Residence at Chamber Made Opera, and from 2008-13 was Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed, multi-award winning independent company Mutation Theatre. He holds a Masters in Writing for Performance from the VCA, University of Melbourne.

His work as a writer and director includes Grief and the Lullaby (Fabricated Rooms/Theatre Works/Flight Festival, 2015), So Blue So Calm (Mutation Theatre/Melbourne Fringe, 2011), and Habitat (Mutation Theatre, 2010).

He was also Contributing Writer on the site-specific, interdisciplinary work Wake, created by Chamber Made Opera and presented in Ireland as part of the 2014 Limerick City of Culture Festival. His new work The Sky Is Well Designed is currently in development, supported by Chamber Made Opera.

In 2013 he directed the Victorian premiere of Tom Holloway’s Love Me Tender at Theatre Works. In 2012 he created and directed Mutation Theatre’s work LIBERATE YOURSELF FROM MY VICE-LIKE GRIP!!!, which was presented as part of Next Wave Festival. In 2010 he co-directed Mutation Theatre’s production of The Arrival, based on the book by Shaun Tan, which was presented as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival, winning both the People’s Choice Award and the Theatre Works Award.

During his studies at the VCA in 2013 he received extensive mentorship from playwright Raimondo Cortese. In 2011-12 he undertook an 18 month mentorship with Daniel Schlusser, one of Australia’s leading theatre-makers. In 2011 he also undertook a shorter mentorship with playwright Angus Cerini, and was an assistant director to MTC’s Associate Director Aidan Fennessey. In 2010 he trained with Alexander Devriendt, Artistic Director of acclaimed Belgian company Ontroerend Goed. He has also undertaken Next Wave’s Kickstart program, and was the recipient of an Australia Council Art Start grant.