Stuart Bowden is an Australian theatre maker. He makes both self devised solo theatre and works professionally as an actor, writer, director and musician. His work has been presented in London, Bristol, Brighton, Exeter, Edinburgh, Belfast, Prague, Oslo, Kristiansand, Tromsø, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Auckland, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney. He has made seven solo works: Of Moonset, Our Molecules, Wilting In Reverse, Before Us, She Was Probably Not A Robot, The Beast and The World Holds Everyone Apart, Apart From Us. His work has garnered multiple awards and nominations in Australia and the UK. Stuart's recent directing credits include Mr Sole Abode by Leo Kay and Unfinished Business which toured South West England in early 2015 and Balladen om Steven von Gutenberg og Robert Robertsen, a family show in Oslo at Det Andre Teatret where he has also been commissioned to write a musical.
Stuart also collaborates with Philip Burgers (Dr Brown), together they have created Dr Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown and His Singing Tiger and Dr Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown and His Singing Tiger... Again!
Stuart is also one half of The Lounge Room Confabulators, a storytelling duo that perform intimate theatre in homes around the world.
In 2012 Stuart co-created The DIY Nativity with Bryony Kimmings and Sam Halmarack at The Junction Theatre, Cambridge.
Stuart has also performed with independent theatre company The Hayloft Project in The Nest (2010) and Yuri Wells (2009/2010).
In 2009 Stuart performed in Hark! a collaborative performance installation by Gabrielle de Vietri commissioned by the Edinburgh International Arts Festival 2009.
In 2008 Stuart toured Australia with Bell Shakespeare Company in Actors at Work.
Stuart graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts as part of company 2007.
EARLY LIFE
Stuart was reared on a farm in Won Wron (population 192), Gippsland, Victoria, Australia with three brothers. He went to primary school in that tiny little place called Won Wron. Everyone knew each others names. At the end of 1995 Won Wron Primary School was closed because there weren't enough kids. He went on to high school in a bigger place called Yarram with heaps more kids, he tried to learn all the names, his work suffered. That's where he started to get pretty serious about surfing, BMX and theatre.
After high school he went to a bigger place called Ballarat to learn about theatre at the Arts Academy. He studied there for two years. Then he went to a much bigger place called Melbourne to learn more about theatre, he studied acting at VCA for three years. Then he moved to an even bigger place called London, he lived there for five years working as a writer, director, collaborator and performer (and occasionally he was employed to move really big heavy tables for events in a fancy hall in Chelsea). Over those five prolific years he created a series of five solo storytelling theatre experiences and moved heaps of really heavy fancy dinner tables.
Now he travels the world making theatre as a performer, writer and director.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2015
- Won the Three Weeks Editors' Award Wilting in Reverse (Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2015)
- Won the John Chataway Innovation Weekly Award Before Us (Adelaide Fringe 2015)
- Won the Best Presentation for Children Weekly Award Dr Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown and His Singing Tiger... Again (Adelaide Fringe 2015)
- Nominated Perth Fringe World Theatre Award Before Us (Perth Fringe World 2015)
2014
- Won the National Centre for Circus Arts and the Point Innovation Award Le Flop (2014)
- Nominated Brighton Fringe Award for Excellence Before Us (Edinburgh Fringe 2014)
- Won the Adelaide Theatre Weekly Award She Was Probably Not A Robot (Adelaide Fringe 2014)
- Nominated Artrage Theatre Award She Was Probably Not A Robot (Fringe World, Perth 2014)
2013
- Nominated for the Brighton Fringe Emerging Talent Award She Was Probably Not A Robot (Edinburgh Fringe 2013)
2012
- Nominated for the Melbourne Green Room Award for Best Male Performer in Independent Theatre The Beast
- Nominated for the Melbourne Green Room Award for Best Writing in Independent Theatre The Beast
- Won the Best Presentation for Children Award Doctor Brown and His Singing Tiger (Adelaide Fringe 2012)
- Won the Directors Choice Award Doctor Brown and His Singing Tiger (Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2012)
- Won the Best Kids Show Award Doctor Brown and His Singing Tiger (Melbourne Fringe 2012).
2011
- Nominated for the Arches Brick Award The World Holds Everyone Apart, Apart From Us (Edinburgh Fringe 2011)
- Nominated for the Best Performer Award The World Holds Everyone Apart, Apart From Us (Adelaide Fringe 2011)
- Nominated for the Best Theatre Production Award The World Holds Everyone Apart, Apart From Us (Adelaide Fringe 2011)
- Nominated for the Underbelly Edinburgh Award The World Holds Everyone Apart, Apart From Us (Adelaide Fringe 2011)
- Won the Underbelly Edinburgh Award The Lounge Room Confabulators (Adelaide Fringe 2011)
- Nominated for the Innovation Award The Lounge Room Confabulators (Adelaide Fringe 2011).
2010
- Won the Adelaide Fringe Award The Lounge Room Confabulators (Melbourne Fringe 2010)
- Highly commended for the Melbourne Fringe Performance Award The Lounge Room Confabulators (Melbourne Fringe 2010)
- Nominated for the Melbourne Green Room Award for Best Independent Theatre Production The Lounge Room Confabulators
2009
- Won the Adelaide Fringe Award Yuri Wells (Melbourne Fringe 2009)
- Won the Herald Angel Award Hark! (Edinburgh International Arts Festival 2009)
SHOWS
Wilting in Reverse | solo show | produced by Don't Be Lonely
2016: Soho Theatre (London UK), Theatre Republic - Brisbane Festival, The Wardrobe Theatre - Mayfest (Bristol UK), The Kirkgate Theatre - (Cockermouth UK), The Basement Theatre (York UK), The Bike Shed Theatre (Exeter UK), The Continental (Preston UK), The Blue Room Theatre - Fringe World (Perth Aus).
2015: Battersea Arts Centre (London UK), Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe (UK).
Balladen om Steven von Gutenberg og Robert Robertsen | direction | produced by Det Andre Teatret
2015: Det Andre Teatret (Oslo Norway)
Mr Sole Abode | direction | written by Leo Kay | produced by Unfinished Business
2015: Various venues in the UK
Before Us | solo show | produced by Don't Be Lonely
2015: Latitude Festival (Suffolk UK), Soho Theatre (London UK), Bristol Old Vic - Mayfest (UK), Giant Dwarf (Sydney AUS), Tuxedo Cat - Melbourne Comedy Festival (AUS), Tuxedo Cat - Adelaide Fringe (AUS), The Blue Room Theatre - Fringe World (Perth AUS), Det Andre Teatret (Oslo Norway).
2014: Rådstua Teaterhus (Tromsø Norway), Schkapf Theatre (Los Angeles), Camden Peoples Theatre (London UK), The Bike Shed Theatre (Exeter UK), Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe (UK)
Dr Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown and His Singing Tiger… Again | collaboration with Philip Burgers produced by Don't Be Lonely
2015: The Garden of Unearthly Delights (Adelaide AUS), Arts Centre (Melbourne AUS), Bondi Pavilion (Sydney AUS), Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe (UK)
Toby: Fuzzbuzz | direction | produced by Trokia
2014: Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh Fringe (UK), Soho Theatre (London UK)
She Was Probably Not A Robot | solo show | produced by Don't Be Lonely
2016: The Herald Theatre (Auckland NZ), The Malthouse Theatre (Melbourne AUS), The Garden of Unearthly Delights (Adelaide AUS)
2015: SAND Festival (Kristiansand Norway), Kakiseni International Arts Festival (Kuala Lumpur Malaysia),
2014: Soho Theatre (London UK), The MAC Theatre (Belfast UK), The Blue Room Theatre (Perth AUS), Tuxedo Cat (Adelaide and Melbourne AUS), The Newsagency (Sydney AUS), The Hawth Theatre (Crawley UK), The Bike Shed Theatre (Exeter UK), Det Andre Teatret (Oslo Norway)
2013: Battersea Arts Centre (London UK), Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe (UK), Brighton Dome (Brighton UK), Camden Peoples Theatre (London UK)
Le Flop | collaboration with Le Flop | produced by Le Flop
2014: Pleasance Theatre (London UK), The Alchemist (Prague Czech Republic), Komedia Theatre (Birghton UK), Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe (UK)
The Beast | solo show | produced by Don't Be Lonely
2016: Det Andre Teatret (Oslo Norway)
2014: The Pleasure Gardens (Perth AUS), The Basement Theatre (Auckland NZ), Pleasance Theatre (London UK),
2013: Brighton Dome (Brighton UK), Parabola Arts Centre (Cheltenham UK), Tuxedo Cat Adelaide Fringe (AUS), Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe (UK), Power House Brisbane Festival (AUS), Tuxedo Cat Melbourne Fringe (AUS), Belvoir Theatre (Sydney AUS)
2012: Battersea Arts Centre (London UK), Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe (UK)
The DIY Nativity | collaboration with Bryony Kimmings and Sam Halmarack | produced by Cambridge Junction
2012: The Junction Theatre (Cambridge UK)
The World Holds Everyone Apart, Apart From Us | solo show | produced by Don't Be Lonely
2011: Tuxedo Cat Adelaide Fringe (AUS), Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe (UK)
2012: Brighton Dome (Brighton UK)
Dr Brown Brown Brown Brown Brown and His Singing Tiger | collaboration with Doctor Brown | produced by Don't Be Lonely
2011: Underbelly Edinburgh Fringe (UK), Soho Theatre (London UK)
2012: The Garden of Unearthly Delights Adelaide Fringe (AUS), Melbourne Town Hall Melbourne Comedy Festival (AUS), The Speigel Tent Brisbane Festival (AUS), The Arts Centre Melbourne Fringe (AUS), The Herald Theatre New Zealand Comedy Festival (Auckland NZ)
2013: MAC Theatre (Belfast UK), Brighton Dome (Brighton UK), Secret Garden Party (UK), Awesome Festival (Perth AUS), The Bosco Tent Assembly Edinburgh Fringe (UK)
2014: Upright Citizens Brigade (Los Angeles USA)
The Lounge Room Confabulators | collaboration with Wil Greenway | produced by Don't Be Lonely
2010 - 2016 Homes in Melbourne, Adelaide, London, Edinburgh, Oslo and Perth
The Nest | actor | produced by Hayloft Project
2010: Northcote Town Hall (Melbourne AUS)
Hark! | Co-writer and co-performer, concept by Gabrielle de Veitri | produced by Edinburgh International Festival
2009: Dean Gallery (Edinburgh UK)
Yuri Wells | musician | produced by Hayloft Project
2009: North Melbourne Town Hall (AUS)
2010: The Garden of Unearthly Delights Adelaide Fringe (AUS)
Actors at Work | actor | Bell Shakespeare
2008: East Coast of Australia