Glenn Hayden
A 40+ year professional life in the Performing Arts
Graduate of WAAPA/Edith Cowan University - 1986.
Award winning Theatre and Festivals Director, Acting Coach, Corporate Trainer, Mentor, Arts Manager
Actor
Between 1987 and 1996, Glenn worked consistently as an actor in Film and TV production but mostly in Theatre, touring Australia several times and working with companies across the country in productions from musical theatre to Shakespeare, to contemporary Australian and international new and established texts, performing in theatres, site specific locations and for national and international festivals.
Notable companies include National Theatre Co, Playhouse Theatre Co, Hole in the Wall Theatre Co, Melbourne Workers Theatre, Deckchair Theatre, Ginivan Productions, Elston Productions, WA Ballet Company, WA Opera Company.
Dorothy Hewitt's Golden Valley. Playhouse Theatre Company, WA. 1987
Director
Glenn Directed his first play, ‘Made in Spain’ by Tony Grounds, for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 1993 at Melbourne's famed La Mama Theatre. In ’96, he performed for the last time as an actor to focus on a career in Directing.
Since '93, Glenn has directed more than 60 professional projects and productions, commissioned over 20 theatre plays, served as Artistic Director for three major arts and community festivals (including the renowned Fremantle Festival), and worked as an Associate Artist with some of Australia’s most innovative companies such as Melbourne Workers Theatre and Deckchair Theatre. During his time at these companies, he was mentored by renowned artists such as Suzie Dee, Angela Chapman, and David Gerrand, among others.
Glenn's productions have garnered awards in Australia and internationally for best productions, and best performances.
Artistic Director
Glenn's time as Artistic Director and later CEO of Urban Myth Theatre Company in South Australia from 2004 to 2014 was significant in his career. Urban Myth was considered one of Australia's major youth theatre companies, and during his tenure, the company continued to produce exceptional training and works with young people and emerging artists between the ages of 5 and 27.
Under Glenn's leadership, Urban Myth hosted an annual workshop program with 14 workshops per week, serving over 300 young people per term, and produced an average of 10 productions per year. In 2010, Glenn introduced the Senior Ensemble, a competitive program for 17+ young artists, as a 12-month pre-training program. This program proved to be highly sought after and many of its participants gained entry into national and international acting and theatre industry schools.
Urban Myth Theatre Company's Out of the Boot program's success was a source of pride, winning the SA State Theatre's Young Guns Playwrights Award for seven consecutive years. Under Glenn's leadership, the company received numerous awards and nominations for best production, best actor, best actress, sustainability, contribution, and company. The works created under Glenn's leadership at Urban Myth were celebrated not only in Australia but also internationally.
Glenn's work with Urban Myth also provided opportunities for international exposure, such as his hit production of Pirates Ship being invited to the Thespo Theatre Festival in Mumbai in 2009 as invited international guest artists. and the residency of Seattle-based Theatre Company, Theater Simple.
After leaving Urban Myth in 2014, Glenn began to spend much of his time in India, specifically Mumbai.
Festivals
Glenn has been Artistic Director on Three major Festivals
INTERNATIONAL
Glenn has collaborated with an incredible array of artists and arts organisations in India since 2014 to research and forge a global presence for Indian Performing Arts, forge creative relationships between India and Australia, and to teach and make theatre. He has paid particular heed to combining Western and Indian actor training and local artists’ inert cultural qualities, creating a ‘perfect storm’ for creativity.
Among others, Glenn has produced and directed three Australian texts in India, including Andrew Bovell’s Speaking in Tongues for the Tata Literature Festival’s Literature Live program, Ruby Moon by Matt Cameron, and A Solitary Choice by Sheila Duncan, starring Ramneeka Dhillon Lobo. In India, he was a business and arts associate for the development of Peas and Carrots Theatre Co. and Chakravyu Performing Arts and Creative Director for Amphibian Productions based in Mumbai and Firelight Australia.
In 2022, Glenn worked with commissioned playwright Lakhinandan Boruah as Co-Writer and Dramaturge on an original stage adaptation of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp for a South Africa tour, which he consequently Directed. Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp received several nominations for the Naledi Theatre Awards Nominations 2022, including Best Breakout Performance for Vash Singh which Glenn also credits Rehearsal Director Darren King.
Glenn also worked with the London College of Communications, representing WAAPA in delivering acting classes and assessments on performance, and returned to WAAPA in 2017 as Guest Director of the second-year students for a production of Victory by Howard Barker
Teacher
Glenn first began teaching and facilitating theatre workshops 35 years ago. It is a great passion of his to nurture and support the growth of the industry and the craft.
Institutes and organisations he has created and delivered programs for include: Jeff Goldberg Studio | WAAPA | Goa | Deakin University | London School of Communications – Malaysia | Adelaide College of the Arts | Chakravyu Performing Arts | DADAA WA disability arts| Urban Myth Theatre Company | Mobius Strip Productions | Carclew | Cavan Youth Training Centres | Adelaide Secondary School of English | City of Charles Sturt | WORDPLAY Arts in Education | Notre Dame University | Croydon City Council | Drama School Mumbai | Centrelink Australia | Amphibian Productions as well as self producing workshops throughout India and Australia.
The Blue Room Theatre
Perth, WA
Arts Advocate
Glenn had a significant impact on the performing arts industry in Western Australia and beyond. His establishment of the WA Actors Centre, now the Blue Room Theatre, provided a training ground and meeting place for artists and a platform for new works, as it still does. His work with Comedy Ink at that time, helped establish minimum wages and fees for the comedy/cabaret sector in WA.
In addition, Glenn has been an active participant in the development of the performing arts industry. He has served on numerous boards and committees, including the WA Actors Equity (MEAA), Country Arts WA (which he served as interim Chair and co-created a mentorship program), funding panels for SA Arts and the Australia Council for the Arts, and management committees across Australia.
Glenn has mentored dozens of artists and emerging companies.
Most recently, in 2021, Glenn co-wrote the live performer’s guidelines for the Intimacy Collective of India.