Shannon Rush is the Artistic Associate at State Theatre Company South Australia. She is a theatre maker with more than 20 years’ experience across directing, performing, producing, dramaturgy and education. Her career spans Australia and the UK, combining artistic practice, community engagement and strategic leadership across the arts, education and health sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Directing) with First Class Honours from Flinders University, an Advanced Diploma (Acting) from the Adelaide College of the Arts, and trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with support from the Helpmann Academy. In 2026 Shannon won a Hansen CEW Leaders Program in the Arts Scholarship. 

Shannon specialises in new work development, bringing together dramaturgical rigour and directorial vision to guide projects from concept to production. Her directing credits for State Theatre Company South Australia include The Glass Menagerie, Housework, The Puzzle, Starweaver, Welcome To Your New Life, Cathedral and Limit. As Assistant Director, she has contributed to major productions including The Dictionary of Lost Words and 1984. Upcoming projects include Housework for Sydney Theatre Company and The Heartbreak Choir for State Theatre Company South Australia.

Beyond her work with State Theatre Company, Shannon has directed the AWGIE Award-winning Claire Della and The Moon, developed nationally touring theatre-in-education programs for Camp Quality, and worked as a tour director with companies including Circa Contemporary Circus. Earlier in her career, she undertook artistic residencies in Italy and the UK and worked extensively as a freelance director in London, creating theatre with young people from marginalised communities.