Learning Curves: Clare Watson

Black Swan’s Artistic Director looks back at her first year in Perth, having relocated from Melbourne last October, and discusses the challenges of getting to know the city and the company.

Photo by Pia Johnson

Clare Watson officially started in her role as Artistic Director of Black Swan State Theatre Company on 1 January this year. Appointed in April last year, Watson worked initially as Artistic Director Designate in a part-time capacity alongside outgoing AD Kate Cherry, who had held the role for nine years. She relocated permanently to Perth last October, effectively giving her just over a year to put her first season together.

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Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts