Projects
Sammy Moynihan is a theatre-maker, producer, and arts worker with a particular interest in working with diverse communities.
As Director
My work as a director—across both professional and community contexts—is fuelled by a desire to connect with people whose lived experiences differ from my own. My first production was Jean the Jungle Princess (2009), a pantomime with a large intergenerational cast. Since then, I’ve directed for companies including Jigsaw Theatre, Canberra Youth Theatre, the National University Theatre Society, Free Rain, and Rebus, where I directed Beauty Thief, Utopiate, The Art of Disruption, and Re-Emergence.
I also co-founded Shwa Shwa Theatre with long-time collaborator Marlene Radice—an independent political theatre company committed to bold, socially engaged storytelling. Our debut production, an all-female staging of Mark Ravenhill’s The Cut, was a daring exploration of power, control, and complicity.
Additionally, I’ve produced and directed independent works for festivals such as You Are Here and Short+Sweet. My directing methodology—shaped at NIDA—is grounded in collaboration, and in amplifying the voices and experiences of the communities I serve.
Image: Joachim Ellenrieder, 2021
Applied Theatre
Applied theatre spans diverse practices that aim to spark dialogue and drive social change. My work in this field is rooted in deep listening and long-term relationship-building with communities.
Working with companies like Mind Blank and Rebus, and independently, I’ve created work in schools, refugee camps, detention centres, First Nations communities, and both corporate and public settings.
My understanding of theatre as a tool for healing and resistance deepened during my time with The Freedom Theatre in Palestine. I later trained at the Centre for Theatre of the Oppressed in Brazil, where I led workshops with homeless communities in Rio de Janeiro.
Image: Bobby Gordon. 2019
As Producer/ Project Manager
Like my directing and facilitation, my approach to producing is grounded in care, collaboration, and responsiveness to people.
My first large-scale project was Watershed: Summit for Youth Arts (2013), a hybrid festival-conference involving national artist liaison and event coordination. Since then, I’ve worked across sectors including Mental Health, Disability Advocacy, Community Arts, and Live Performance.
A major chapter in this journey was my time at Belco Arts, where I worked across a dynamic portfolio that spanned professional and community-led work. This included artist residencies, producing and presenting performances, and managing a wide range of projects across disciplines—from contemporary dance and circus to experimental theatre and live music.
A notable presented work with Shwa Shwa was producing Invaders: Fear of Memories, a multi-disciplinary performance exploring memory, colonisation, and identity. I continue to produce and manage events that centre collaboration, accessibility, and creative risk.
Image: Andrew Sikorski, Belco Arts, 2020