Lee Lewis Named Griffin Theatre Company's Artistic Director

Griffin Theatre Company has announced that Lee Lewis has been appointed Griffin's new Artistic Director, taking over from Sam Strong in January 2013.

Lee is currently Associate Director at Griffin and has worked for numerous main stage companies, including Sydney Theatre Company (Honour, ZEBRA! and Love Lies Bleeding), Belvoir (That Face), Bell Shakespeare (Twelfth Night), and Griffin (Silent Disco, The Call and The Nightwatchman). She has also directed widely for independent theatre companies in Sydney.

Griffin Chair Michael Bradley made the announcement today, saying, "Lee Lewis is the perfect person to take over Griffin at this stage of its development. She has a deep personal passion for Griffin's mission to be the voice and heart of Australian writing in the theatre. She is also a brilliant director and nurturer of new work. Griffin has enjoyed wonderful success in recent years and is rapidly becoming recognised as a critically important Australian cultural institution.  Lee's appointment marks the beginning of the next exciting phase for the company, its artists and its audience."

Lee trained as an actor at Columbia University in the United States, working on Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, before returning to Australia to study directing at NIDA. She has been an outspoken advocate for increased cultural diversity on Australia's main stages, and a leading voice for the representation of female directors and playwrights.

Her current show for Griffin, A Hoax by Rick Viede, closes at the SBW Stables Theatre this Saturday 1 September.

Sam Strong's third and final season at Griffin will be announced Monday 3 September.