BIOGRAPHY
Shannon Rush is a professional theatre maker with over 20 years’ experience. She has a diverse portfolio that includes directing, performing, producing, dramaturgy, casting and facilitating. Her work has been showcased across Australia, New Zealand, London, and Italy. She is currently living and working on Kaurna Yerta, Adelaide.
Shannon is the Artistic Associate at State Theatre Company South Australia and in 2025 will direct American classic The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Her other directing credits for the Company include Housework by Emily Steel (2025), The Puzzle by David Williamson (2024), Starweaver by Madness of Two (2024, Stateside season), Welcome To Your New Life by Anna Goldsworthy (2023), Cathedral by Caleb Lewis (2022) and Limit by Sophia Simmons (2019, Umbrella season). As assistant director for STCSA, Shannon has worked on The Dictionary of Lost Words by Verity Laughton (2023-25) and 1984 by Robert Icke & Duncan Mcmillan (2106-18).
Shannon has also directed AWGIE award winning Claire Della and The Moon by Madness of Two for DreamBig Children’s Festival & AWESOME Festival, Future:Present for Theatre Republic, The Big Score & The Big Party commissioned by Camp Quality, and Red Ink by Duncan Graham for Adelaide Fringe. She has worked as assistant director with Flying Penguin on Juliet Letters for Adelaide Cabaret Festival, and as tour director on Jack Maggs by Samuel Adamson for STCSA, and Wolfgang's Magical Musical Circus by Circa Contemporary Circus.
On secondment, Shannon has worked with Gale Edwards on Cloudstreet for Opera SA, and Rosemary Myers on Rumpelstiltskin for Windmill Theatre Company. She worked extensively with Ovalhouse Theatre in London between 2004-2009 as a freelance director and drama tutor.
Shannon holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Directing with First Class Honours from Flinders University (2016) and an Advanced Diploma in Acting from the Adelaide College of the Arts (2003). She also trained at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (London 2004) with funding assistance from the Helpmann Academy.