Show Notes
An actor, writer, director and artistic director who is now a major force in Sydney’s theatrical scene, Mitchell Butel has come a long way from bursting onto the stage for his Sydney Theare Company debut in Six Degrees of Separation 35 years ago. Now the STC’s artistic director, he is presenting his first full season, coming to the role after a five-year stint as artistic director of the State Theatre Company of South Australia. As an actor, he’s received Helpmann awards for his turns in Avenue Q, The Mikado, Mr Burns and The Venetian Twins. He returns to the stage to star in The Normal Heart, a role he has already performed in Adelaide. Mitchell discusses how this play about the AIDS crisis in New York from the mid-80s still has resonance today, and goes on to reveal some other highlights of the 2026 season which is shaped by themes of difference, dialogue, and social change, balancing drama with humour and emotional storytelling. We hear about his unconventional path into theatre, from growing up in Maroubra and studying arts/law to then embracing a professional acting career. He speaks of the responsibilities of leading a major arts organisation, including nurturing artists, selecting productions, and balancing creative ambition with financial sustainability, including the development of new Australian works such as upcoming productions of new musicals My Brilliant Career and Whispering Jack. Throughout, Mitchell conveys both the challenges and deep rewards of shaping the future of Australian theatre while maintaining his enduring passion for performance. Mitchell Butel stars in The Normal Heart at the Drama Theatre of the Sydney Opera House until March 14.
More from In Conversation
Christopher Lawrence has spent his life sharing his love of music with Australian audiences, as a broadcaster, recording producer, writer and, more recently, leader of musical tours. His journ ey began rather improbably in the ABC mailroom, before washing records in the network's vast library became an extraordinary musical education. In this conversation, Christopher reflects on the twists and turns that led him to the microphone, the award-winning recordings and television productions he helped create, and the sometimes exhausting realities of life as a breakfast radio presenter. Growing up with parents in showbusiness, he recalls being introduced to Nat King Cole while still in his bassinet, and later concocting an elaborate ruse to meet Leonard Bernstein, only to find himself invited to the composer's birthday party. He also talks about his work with Renaissance Tours, the determination behind the success of Van Diemen's Band, founded by his wife Julia Fredersdorff, and a lifelong passion for Berlioz that recently inspired a whirlwind trip to Brussels. It's a warm and frequently amusing journey through a life spent finding new ways to bring people closer to music.
South Korean violinist Bomsori Kim has quickly earned an enviable reputation on the international concert stage, performing with leading orchestras around the world and at some of the most prestigious international festivals. Making her Australian debut with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Bomsori reflects on her long-standing affection for the work, her first encounter with the orchestra as a student in Seoul, and the remarkable 300-year-old Guarneri del Gesù violin on which she performs. In this conversation, Bomsori recalls the childhood concert that inspired her to take up the violin, her studies in Korea and at Juilliard, and the opportunities and pressures that came with international competitions. She discusses her love of opera and jazz, the challenges of capturing a performance in the recording studio, and her fascination with the ancient strategy game Go. She also reveals her passion for championing the music of Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz, including her involvement in a documentary exploring a long-forgotten work. Bomsori Kim performs with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra 14-17 October.
Dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey has spent more than four decades building a career defined by curiosity, individuality and a refusal to regard any interpretation as finished. Equally at home on modern and period instruments, he has repeatedly returned to the great works of the cello repertoire, recording Bach’s Cello Suites three times and Benjamin Britten’s suites four times. In this conversation, Pieter reflects on why familiar music continues to change, the impossibility of an “ultimate” recording, and his lifelong search for greater expression in performance.
Pekka Kuusisto has never been especially interested in staying neatly within musical boundaries. The Finnish violinist, conductor and composer returns to Australia to guest direct the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s Legends and Luminaries program, bringing with him the curiosity, spontaneity and collaborative spirit that have become hallmarks of his work. He reflects on the ACO’s influence on his own approach to directing, his enthusiasm for contemporary composers, and why he tries not to spend too much time thinking about what kind of musician he is supposed to be. The conversation looks back on a childhood immersed in music, from improvising at the piano with his father to beginning violin lessons at the age of three and later winning the Sibelius Competition. He talks about discovering Nordic folk traditions at a moment when he felt he had “lost the plot” musically, the value of collaboration over ego, and the freedom he has found in making music outside the classical world. His latest adventure is Council, a songwriting project with Gabriel Kahane, which has given him the chance to become, as he puts it, a “deeply middle-aged” beginner singer-songwriter. Pekka Kuusisto directs the Australian Chamber Orchestra from 3-19 October.
Simon Phillips has spent more than four decades at the heart of Australian theatre, directing everything from Shakespeare and contemporary drama to blockbuster musicals and opera. In Sydney directing the Australian premiere of Steven Moffat’s The Unfriend for Sydney Theatre Company, Simon reflects on the precision required to make comedy work and how the audience’s laughter becomes another member of the cast. He also looks back on a career that has taken Priscilla, Queen of the Desert around the world, helped bring Muriel’s Wedding to the stage, reimagined Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, and put The Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour. Simon talks about discovering theatre as a child in New Zealand, his enduring passion for Shakespeare, the challenges of directing opera, and his years leading the Melbourne Theatre Company. He speaks about a desire to always keep audiences on the edge of their seats, drawing us into lives and experiences beyond our own. Simon Phillips directs The Unfriend for the Sydney Theatre Company, at the Roslyn Packer Theatre, from September 29 through October 31.