Gale Edwards | |
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| Born | (1954-11-14)14 November 1954 (age 71) Australia |
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Annette Gale EdwardsAM (born 14 November 1954)[1] is an Australiantheatre director, who has worked extensively throughout Australia and internationally. She has also directed for television and film.
Edwards began her career atAdelaide youth theatre company Energy Connection.[2] From 1986 to 1989 she was associate director of theState Theatre Company of South Australia, has been an Artistic Director of theMelbourne Theatre Company, she has worked with every other major Australian theatre company, including theSydney Theatre Company andOpera Australia.
Internationally, Edwards directed the 1996 London revival ofJesus Christ Superstar, which opened at theFord Center for the Performing Arts onBroadway in 2000, and for which she won anEmmy Award for the televised recording of the production.[3]
Edwards contributed to thebook of the musicalWhistle Down the Wind, for which she directed theWest End production. She directedShakespeare'sThe Merchant of Venice andA Midsummer Night's Dream at theChichester Festival Theatre in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
Edwards has directed for theRoyal Shakespeare Company andShakespeare Theatre Company (Washington D.C.).[4] She directed the premiere production ofThe Boy from Oz. For Opera Australia, she directedAida (2015),La bohème (2016–2023),Carmen (2017),Salome (2019).[4]
She co-wrote the book and lyrics of the musicalEureka, which premiered in Melbourne in 2004.
Edwards'credits directing for film and television include the 2011 Australian filmA Heartbeat Away and the "Pride" segment of 1993 television seriesSeven Deadly Sins, as well as filmed versions of stage presentations.
Edwards has been the recipient of three Sydney Critics Circle Awards, four MelbourneGreen Room Awards (most recently for her 2012 production ofChess for The Production Company[5][6]), anEmmy, twoHelpmann Awards (Best Direction of a Musical forThe Boy From Oz andSweeney Todd), a Sydney Critics Award, two nominations forHelen Hayes Awards in Washington D.C., and a 2000 Centenary Medal 'for Service to Australian Society'.[4]
Edwards was made a member of theOrder of Australia (AM) in the2017 Queen's Birthday Honours.[7]
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as theMo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Gale Edwards won two awards in that time.[8]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Gale Edwards | Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre | Won |
| 1999 | Gale Edwards | Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre | Won |
