About Me
Photographed by Abraham de Souza
Hi, my name’s Sean Landis.
I’m a director, producer and marketing manager from Gadigal land (Sydney, Australia) currently living and working in London (UK).
My practice is grounded in interdisciplinary collaboration, and I work closely with designers, choreographers and musicians to craft vivid theatrical worlds. I specialise in new writing and in works that queer the theatre institution in both form and content. I see the rehearsal room as a radical microcosm where, through empathy and community building, we can create something genuinely healing for the world. As the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Fruit Box Theatre, I have led the development of eight new queer works since our launch in 2022, (French Letters and Leather Cleaner, Comfort. Spin. Travel., Nails Must Be Kept Short: The Warm Up, Back to Birdy, Act Natural, SNAKEFACE, Sex. Riot. Repeat. and Big Screen, Small Queen) many of which have since received presentations with Fruit Box Theatre.
My recent directing credits include Cruise by Jack Holden (KXT on Broadway, 2025, ★★★★★ - Stage Noise), Back to Birdy by Zach Bui (Sydney Mardi Gras, 2024, ★★★★★ - Sydney Arts Guide) and French Letters and Leather Cleaner by Laurent Auclair (KXT, 2023). In 2024, my production of Back to Birdy was a finalist in the Time Out Awards Best Play Critic’s Choice Category, and won Best Play in the People’s Choice Category. In 2021 I was recognised by Out for Australia’s “30 under 30 Awards” for my work to platform diverse LGBTQIA+ voices in theatre.
My recent producing credits include the creative developments of SNAKEFACE by Aliyah Knight (Randwick Council, 2024) and Sex. Riot. Repeat. by Felicity Nicol (Waverley Council and Darlinghurst Theatre Company, 2023-24) and the curated community engagement nights Queer Compost (Old Fitz Theatre and Bondi Festival, 2024-25), How to be a Lesbian by Felicity Nicol (Qtopia Sydney, 2024) and Fruit Cocktail (KXT and Meraki Arts Bar, 2023).
I also work as the Marketing & Communications Manager at The Albany, and hold a Bachelor of Arts (Media Studies) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.
Nice to meet you!
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Photographed by Time Out Sydney
Photographed by Monique Placko
CV
AWARDS
2024
Winner: Best Play, Time Out Arts & Culture Awards, People’s Choice - Back to Birdy)
Nominee: Best Play, Time Out Arts & Culture Awards, Critic’s Choice - Back to Birdy)
2022
Honour Award, Arts & Entertainment, ACON
Step Up Artist, KXT bAKEHOUSE
2021
30 Under 30, Out for Australia
DIRECTOR
2025
The Chemsex Monologues by Patrick Cash, The Other Palace, 1 day R&D
Prove it all Night by James Wood, Reboot Festival, Arches Lane Theatre, 1 week run
Suga by Max Hyner, Script Scratch - Masterclass Trust, Union Theatre, 2 day R&D
Act Natural by Miso Bell, Engine Room, Omnibus Theatre, 1 week R&D
Cruise by Jack Holden, KXT on Broadway, 2 week run, ★★★★★ - Stage Noise
2024
Back to Birdy by Zach Bui, Sydney Mardi Gras, 3 week run, ★★★★★ - Sydney Arts Guide
2023
Big Screen, Small Queen by Etcetera Etcetera, The Eternity Playhouse, 1 week R&D
French Letters and Leather Cleaner by Laurent Auclair, KXT, 3 week run
2022
RIPE Development Program, 1 year R&D program
Back to Birdy by Zach Bui
Act Natural by Miso Bell
French Letters and Leather Cleaner by Laurent Auclair
Comfort. Spin. Travel. by Lu Bradshaw
Nails Must Be Kept Short: The Warm Up by Sophie Davis and Laura McDonald
2020
Orlando by Virginia Woolf, adapted by Sarah Ruhl, The Cellar Theatre, 2 week run
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Tom at the Farm by Michel Marc Bouchard, directed by Danny Ball, KXT, 3 week run
PRODUCER
2025
Igloos Don’t Melt by Claire Leith, Battersea Arts Centre, 1 week R&D
Queer Compost, Bondi Festival, 1 night run
God of Vengeance by Sholem Asche, Lesbians Incorporated, 2 day R&D
2024
Queer Compost, Old Fitz Theatre, 1 week run
Sex. Riot. Repeat. by Felicity Nicol, The Eternity Playhouse, 1 week R&D
SNAKEFACE by Aliyah Night, Randwick Council, 1 week R&D
How to be a Lesbian by Felicity Nicol, The Loading Dock Theatre - Qtopia, 2 night run
2023
Sex. Riot. Repeat. by Felicity Nicol, Bondi Pavillion, 1 week R&D
Big Screen, Small Queen by Etcetera Etcetera, KXT, 3 week run, ★★★★★ - Spot on Sydney
Comfort. Spin. Travel by Lu Bradshaw, Meraki Arts Bar, 2 week run, ★★★★ - Cultural Binge
Nails Must Be Kept Short by Sophie Davis / Laura McDonald, The Factory Theatre, 3 night run
Back to Birdy by Zach Bui, staged reading, KXT, 1 night run
Act Natural by Miso Bell, staged reading, KXT, 1 night run
2022
A Fruity Affair, Meraki Arts Bar, 1 night run
Fruit Cocktail, KXT, 2 night run
2019
Peter Pan Jr by Sir J.M.Barrie, Monte Sant Angelo, 1 week run
Venus in Fur by David Ives, 107 Projects, 1 week run
MARKETING MANAGER
2025
SNAKEFACE by Aliyah Knight, Belvoir Downstairs, 3 week run
2024
Liveworks by Performance Space, Carriageworks, 1 week run
2023
Liveworks by Performance Space, Carriageworks, 2 week run
2022
ATL on Demand by Australian Theatre Live
Mother May We by Mel Ree, Griffin Theatre Company, 2 week run