Margaret Thanos

Margaret Thanos is an Australian theatre director, activist and arts advocate. She has made work for Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Sport for Jove, 25A, New Theatre and the Old Fitz Theatre. In 2026, she directed Sam Holcroft's A Mirror for Belvoir and Jez Butterworth's The River for Sydney Theatre Company.

Career

Thanos began directing in Sydney's independent theatre sector. Her early directing credits included A Grain of Sand, Labyrinth and the Australian premiere of Lucy Prebble's A Very Expensive Poison at New Theatre.[1]

In 2023, Thanos received the Sandra Bates Director's Award from Ensemble Theatre, alongside Emma Canalese.[2][3]

In 2024, she was appointed the Andrew Cameron Fellow at Belvoir St Theatre.[4] That year she created and directed Not Now, Not Ever: A Parliament of Women for Belvoir's 25A program, a contemporary adaptation after Aristophanes.[5][6] In 2025, Thanos directed Melissa Reeves' Furious Mattress for Belvoir's 25A program, a dark comedy based on a true story from rural Victoria.[7][8]

Thanos also directed I Hate People; Or Timon of Athens, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Timon of Athens for Sport for Jove.[9] Reviewing the production in The Sydney Morning Herald, John Shand described it as "the pinnacle of Shakespeare in Sydney this century".[10]

In 2026, Thanos directed Sam Holcroft's A Mirror at Belvoir St Theatre.[11] The production was described by Belvoir as her mainstage debut at the company.[12] The same year, she directed Jez Butterworth's The River for Sydney Theatre Company, starring Miranda Otto, Ewen Leslie and Andrea Demetriades.[13][14]

Thanos has been profiled by media outlets including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Vogue Australia in relation to her work on A Mirror and The River.[15][16]

Activism and advocacy

Thanos has worked as a youth advocate with Plan International Australia, focusing on gender equality, online safety and youth participation in politics.[17]

In 2021, she was quoted by SBS News in coverage of young women calling for reforms to address misogyny in Australia's Parliament.[18] Thanos co-authored an article for Plan International Australia with Olivia Causer about online safety and gender-based harassment.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "2024 Andrew Cameron Fellow". Belvoir St Theatre. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "2023 Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director's Awards Recipients". Ensemble Theatre. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "Margaret Thanos receives prestigious Ensemble Theatre director's award". The Greek Herald. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "2024 Andrew Cameron Fellow". Belvoir St Theatre. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Review: Not Now, Not Ever: A Parliament Of Women". Suzy Goes See. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "Not Now, Not Ever: A Parliament of Women - REVIEW". City Hub. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Furious Mattress". Belvoir St Theatre. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Review: Furious Mattress (25A Belvoir)". Suzy Goes See. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "I Hate People; or Timon of Athens". Seymour Centre. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  10. ↑ Shand, John (9 June 2025). "This was the best Shakespeare I've seen in Sydney this century – and now it's back". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "A Mirror". Belvoir St Theatre. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "A Mirror digital program" (PDF). Belvoir St Theatre. February 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "The River". Sydney Theatre Company. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "The River". Sydney Opera House. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  15. ↑ Heath, Nicola (15 March 2026). "Meet Margaret Thanos, director of A Mirror and The River and a rising star of Australian theatre". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  16. ↑ ""I'm very lucky to be a true believer in theatre": Margaret Thanos makes her Sydney Theatre Company debut". Vogue Australia. 14 April 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "On International Youth Day, a new generation of feminist activists have a powerful message for the nation's politicians". Plan International Australia. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "These young women believe they have the answer to ending misogyny in Australia's parliament". SBS News. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  19. ↑ Causer, Olivia; Thanos, Margaret (7 October 2021). "The Future Online – Keep Us Safe!". Plan International Australia. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
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