Chris Dunstan is a Melbourne-based theatre maker, community arts facilitator and artistic director.
Chris is passionate about devising playful ways for people to connect with ideas and each other. Whether it’s something that has challenged him personally, manifesting in both independent theatre and film projects, or the ideas and expressions of a community, Chris hopes to invite artists, participants and audiences into an open space where they can be themselves and encounter new possibilities.
Graduating from the University of Wollongong with a double degree in Creative Arts (Performance) and Science (Chemistry) in 2013, Chris has had work presented around Australia, including venues in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. He has facilitated groups of young people and community members in the making of original performances with companies such as Shopfront Arts Co-op, Blacktown Arts, Marian Street Theatre for Young People, Back to Back Theatre, Belvoir and Story Factory. In 2016, he completed his ArtStart year* (Australia Council for the Arts) and was selected for the inaugural Belvoir Artist Workshop. Having acted in the role of Artistic Director for Spark Youth Theatre (initiative of Inner West Council) from 2017-18, Chris was the Artistic Director/CEO of Tantrum Youth Arts in Newcastle from 2018-21.
*Chris wrote an article for Arts Hub about his ArtStart year and the impact of the program’s cancellation, which can be found here.
During his time with Tantrum, Chris was responsible for driving and delivering the creative vision of the company, as the leading youth arts organisation in the Hunter region and a not-for-profit co-operative. This involved leading major works (incl. Tantrum’s partnership with Branch Nebula on The Shake Up), as well as organising and overseeing all other projects (incl. Nat Randall’s collaboration with local emerging artists on CAPTURING THE REAL). Beyond this, Chris was heavily involved in developing Tantrum’s strategic and business plans, which saw the company prioritise increasing the accessibility of its programs (especially for young people who would otherwise miss out). Chris’ legacy consists of several new initiatives including Accelerate Ensemble (for young adults with disability in partnership with Civic Theatre and supported by Back to Back Theatre), Tantrum Outposts (ongoing creative programs for young people in regional areas led by regional artists) and Tantrum OPEN (inclusion scholarships).
Now based in Melbourne, Chris is excited to continue his creative and strategic work within the youth arts, arts and disability, and community arts sectors. He is a member of the Lived Experience Advisory Group with the Arts Wellbeing Collective (through Arts Centre Melbourne).
