Tim O'Connor (born 13 September 1981) is an Australian theatre director, producer and playwright.
Tim O'Connor | |
|---|---|
 O'Connor in 2019 | |
| Born | 13 September 1981 Brisbane, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Theatre director, theatrical producer, playwright, author |
| Years active | 1993–2022 |
Career
editWhen O'Connor finished school he volunteered in the office at Harvest Rain Theatre Company for three years. He was eventually employed and became more involved in administrative work.[1] His first paid directors role was for a community play at Harvest Rain.[2]
Since 2004, O'Connor was the Artistic Director of the Harvest Rain Theatre Company and subsequently became the CEO.[2][3] The company, rebranded as AVT Live, closed in 2022.[4]
He has directed Harvest Rain productions of musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar,[5] Hairspray,[6] Oklahoma!,[7] and Spamalot,[8] as well as writing, directing, and producing the world premiere stage adaptation of The Neverending Story.[9]
O'Connor founded the Brisbane Academy of Musical Theatre.[10][11] Harvest Rain also ran Youth Theatre Workshops and the Australian Musical Theatre Workshop which hosted workshops and masterclasses in Brisbane and regional centres.[12][13]
Awards
editIn 2011, O'Connor won a Groundling Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Queensland Theatre Industry.[14] In 2012 he was nominated for Brisbane's person of the year.[9] In 2014, he won a Gold Matilda Award for his work with Harvest Rain and was also nominated for Best Director for Spamalot.[15]
Personal life
editIn November 2022, O'Connor and his partner were arrested and charged with multiple sex offences against children.
16 October 2024 9News reported: On 4 November 2022, 9News Brisbane broadcast a report about a 35-year old male and his 41-year-old partner who worked at a Brisbane theatre company and had been charged by police. The report was based on a public statement from police that incorrectly suggested the man had been charged with sexual offending against children. 9News was not aware of the errors in the police's statement. 9News wishes to clarify that the sexual offence charges [16]facing the 35-year-old male related to a complaint made by a person in their 30s, and that all of those charges have since been dropped.
15 August 2024 The Courier-Mail wishes to apologise for three articles published in November 2022.
In November 2022, The Courier-Mail published three articles concerning a 35-year-old man who worked in a Brisbane theatre company who had been charged by police.
Those articles incorrectly suggested that the man was charged with sexual offending against children, and students at the theatre company.
The charges were brought after a complaint by a person in their 30s, and all of those charges have since been dropped.
The Courier-Mail sincerely regrets the error, and apologises to the man for any hurt and embarrassment caused by the publication of the articles.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Interview : Harvest Rain's Tim O'Connor". Creative Issue. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Spotlight on Tim O'Connor". Aussie Theatre. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- ^ "Our Team". Harvest Rain. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ Hope, Zach (9 November 2022). "National arena shows cancelled amid Queensland sexual assault allegations". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Review : Jesus Christ Superstar: Harvest Rain THeatre". Actors Greenroom. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Hairspray – Harvest Rain Theatre Company". Aussie Theatre. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Oklahoma! Harvest Rain comes sweeping down the plain". Stage Whispers. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Spamalot Review : Brisbane". Scenestr. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ a b "World Premiere of The Neverending Story: Magical, enchanting and spectacular". Aussie Theatre. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Brisbane Academy of Musical Theatre". Brisbane Academy of Musical Theatre. March 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Teaching Staff". Brisbane Academy of Musical Theatre. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "Training". Harvest Rain. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "The stars are coming". Australian Musical Theatre Workshop. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "2011 Groundling Award winners". Actors Greenroom. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "Gold Matilda Award Winners 2014". Matilda Awards. March 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Clarification - Charges dropped against arts figure". www.9news.com.au. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ "Apology by The Courier-Mail". The Courier-Mail. 15 August 2024.