Theatre Republic artistic director steps down
After almost eight years in the role, the “big little” theatre company’s inaugural artistic director Corey McMahon is stepping down.
McMahon told InDaily after eight years, he recognised “it’s time for someone with energy and drive and new ideas to step in”.
“You’re not only responsible for conceptualising or creating a season of work and finding ways to create new theatre and provide opportunities for local artists you’re also running a company and the nuts-and-bolts business of doing that as well,” he said.
“I just recognised that the company now established, it’s a very strong presence in the local theatre sector, that it was ready to be handed over to someone else.”
McMahon said he’s always considered Theatre Republic a “big little company”.
“We’re a small operation with just two part-time staff, but we have big ambition – we wrestle with big ideas, we don’t compromise on quality or craft, and we work with the best artists that South Australia has to offer.
Elena Carapetis, Annabel Matheson, Miranda Daughtry in The Bleeding Tree. Picture: Thomas McCammon.
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Under McMahon’s leadership, Theatre Republic staged three South Australian premieres, Lines, The Bleeding Tree and The Almighty Sometimes.
McMahon said picking a highlight is like “picking a favourite child” but The Bleeding Tree stood out as a turning point.
“Not only for the company, but I just think, for the local sector in terms of what was possible, what is possible from a small company with really, relatively speaking, not a lot in the way of resources.
“We were very fortunate to be part of the State Theatre Company state umbrella season which supports independent companies, and that enabled us to create an incredibly powerful, visceral production of a multi-award winning Australian play, which, importantly, had a cast of all women and was about three really powerful women who took back control of their lives.”
The company also developed, produced and presented two full-length world premiere works by South Australian playwright Emily Steel, HOW NOT TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA and The Garden.
James Smith in How Not To Make It In America. Picture: Thomas McCammon.
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McMahon had the idea for Theatre Republic in 2017 and approached inaugural producer Manda Flet, asking: “would you like to jump off a cliff with me and run a theatre company?”
Theatre Republic was born to fill a gap in grassroots, independent theatre that provided opportunities for locals and created work that is “unapologetically political and provocative”.
“State Theatre Company can’t be all things to all people, neither can Windmill, other companies like that,” McMahon said.
“So, how can we engage with local artists and provide them with rewarding creative opportunities when they’re not working for those theatre companies? That was always at the centre of what we did.
“In our own small way, we absolutely made a contribution to that, and it’s been very touching, I’ve received lots of lovely messages from artists that we’ve worked with who have acknowledged that.”
McMahon will continue to work alongside Theatre Republic’s producer Annabel Matheson in the coming months.
“I’ve lived and breathed and slept and ate Theatre Republic for eight years, so I’m looking forward to just giving myself some space to find out what’s next,” McMahon said.
Recruitment for the new artistic director will begin in January.
