‘Melbourne is a really dynamic, challenging place. There is a lifeblood of creativity that has always run through this city. Like any river it has floods, it has droughts, but it's great to be swimming in it.'

Michael Kantor calls his face ‘over-expressive’. It is by turns puckish, wonder-filled, scholarly, solemn. If physiognomy is destiny, then he was always set for life in the theatre.

Michael has been the Artistic Director of Melbourne’s Malthouse Theatre since July 2004. Prior to that he was an acclaimed director (and occasional actor and writer) working in various parts of Australia. He is known for devising contemporary productions that pack a wallop, the antithesis of safe or stale theatre.

‘I like theatre that is wild, silly, raucous,’ he says. ‘I think theatre needs to be really surprising. Whether or not it is challenging, whether or not it has a message, it must be astonishing on some level. It has to incite a reaction.’

As well as devising new theatre pieces and reexamining classics, Michael has directed opera and contemporary dance as well. ‘There are extraordinary skills in Melbourne within the acting and broader theatre community. It brings me real joy when I can engage with these artists and help them bring their visions to the stage.’

Favourite Object
My director’s hat, a silly pork-pie hat. The actors play their roles, and I play at being a director.