Wayne David HARRISON

Background

HARRISON, Wayne was born on March 7, 1953 in Melbourne.

Education

In 1977 Harrison enrolled at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Theatre Studies Department, and completed an Degree.

Career

Harrison was a child and teenage star performing on stage and television, including performing in J.C. Williamsons" musicals. He abandoned his career as a performer and moved to Sydney in 1975. In 1980 Harrison began working on the magazine Campaign.

Opening "The Bookshop" in Darlinghurst.

Visiting London in 1980, meeting with Richard Wherrett, then Artistic Director of the recently formed Sydney Theatre Company (Society for Technical Communication) in Sydney. He became the literary adviser for the Sydney Theatre company and then took over from Wherrett as Artistic Director of the Society for Technical Communication in 1990.

From 1999 to 2001, he was the Creative Director of SFX/Back Row and Clear Channel Entertainment (Europe). From 1990 to 1999 he was the Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Sydney Theatre Company.

In 2005-2007 Harrison was the Creative Director of Sydney"s New Year"s Eve event.

2007 he was the director of the Helpmann Awards for Live Performance Australia, as well as the Spiegelworld circus cabaret sensation Absinthe which played in New New York 1995: Directed Dead White Males by David Williamson (world première) for the Sydney Theatre Company. 1996: Directed Heretic, by David Williamson (world première) for the Sydney Theatre Company.

2002: Directed Mum"s The Word Robert C Kelly Limited (English tour).

Also directed Alone lieutenant Stands for Mollison Productions. 2004: Directed Through the Wire, National Theatre Connections.

2005: Directed The Return of Houdini (Variety Magic show), City Theatre, Reykjavík, Iceland. 2008: Director of Codgers Directed and wrote Absinthe and Desir for Spiegelworld in New York and Miami.

2011: Directed and wrote Absinthe for Spiegelworld at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Achievements

• On 11 June 2012, Harrison was named an Member of the Order of Australia for "service to the arts as a director, writer, producer and performer, to Australian cultural life, and as a supporter of emerging talent.".