Performing Lines announces Marion Potts, Executive Producer to step down after more than 6 years leading the company.

After delivering countless productions, supporting the growth of artists and producers and bringing new and important work to stages across Australia, the Performing Lines Board has today announced that Marion Potts will be stepping down on 30 April 2024. 

Marion said, “It’s been a privilege to be entrusted with one of the most important and exciting Performing Arts companies in Australia. One of my proudest achievements is to have demonstrated the power of our unique, forward-looking company and built a team of talented, artist-focused humans who will carry it to another level. I am deeply grateful to them and everyone who has made this journey so rich”.

Marion has worked tirelessly to sharpen the curatorial focus and creative ambition of Performing Lines, successfully developing a broad spectrum of projects and partnerships. Under Marion’s leadership, Performing Lines has diversified and solidified its revenue base creating greater long-term security. 

Throughout Marion’s time with Performing Lines, the company has employed more than 3,000 artists and artworkers, produced more than 200 projects, and delivered more than 50 sector development programs, across all states and territories. Marion led the company through the roll-out of successful regional programs designed to build local creative and producing capacity.  

Performing Lines Chair Robi Stanton said “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank and congratulate Marion Potts for her outstanding leadership over the past six years. Marion leaves a lasting legacy on Performing Lines and we thank her for the contribution and impact she has had on Australia’s creative arts sector. Whilst we are very sad to lose her, Marion will depart Performing Lines next year with our full support and deep gratitude”.  

“Marion leaves us with a myriad of accomplishments and milestones for the organisation to be proud of, and with this strong foundation, a clear vision for the future.” Says General Manager Megan Roberts. “She will be greatly missed.” 

The Performing Lines Board has appointed Tony Grierson from AEGEUS to conduct the search for a new Executive Producer.  

About Performing Lines 

Performing Lines is a national company with offices in NSW, Tasmania, Victoria and WA. It produces the work of independent artists across Australia, from concept to premiere and beyond. We champion this sector as a powerful force of contemporary cultural expression, demonstrating the value of artist-led practice. We share this work with others through collaboration, mobility, and reciprocity, bringing people together in a collective quest to make deeper sense of our world. 

Performing Lines is the powerbase that fuels the work of our most innovative performing arts sector. We work in step with artists whose practice is constantly evolving and who are changing the way new Australian work is being made and shared. By supporting new ways of thinking, practicing, and experiencing the arts, we are a leading and formidable national producing force. 

About Marion Potts, Executive Producer 

Marion joined the Performing Lines team in October 2017 as Executive Producer from her previous role as Director, Theatre at the Australia Council for the Arts where she was responsible for the Council’s support and engagement with the development of theatre. Marion has held leadership roles at Malthouse Theatre (Artistic Director/CEO), Sydney Theatre Company (Resident Director) and Bell Shakespeare (Associate Artistic Director). Marion has also worked as a practising theatre director with over 50 mainstage production credits, working with all of Australia’s major theatre companies including STC, MTC, STCSA, Queensland Theatre, Bell Shakespeare, Malthouse, Griffin and Belvoir.  She was a founding directorate member of Hothouse Theatre (Albury-Wodonga) and Chair of World Interplay (Townsville), as well as a Board member of Griffin Theatre, Windmill Theatre, Playworks and Curator of the National Playwrights Conference – all companies representing diverse scales of operation, governance needs, producing complexities and audience expectations.  

Marion has worked tirelessly to sharpen the curatorial focus and creative ambition of Performing Lines during her tenure as Executive Producer, with a broad spectrum of projects and partnerships including: 

• The Second Woman by Nat Randall and Anna Breckon which received international acclaim from intercultural adaptations presented in Taiwan, Canada, New York as well as major festivals presentations in Perth and Adelaide;  
• Numerous Major Festivals Initiative commissions including Anthem (2019/20) by Andrew Bovell, Patricia Cornelius, Melissa Reeves, Christos Tsiolkas and Irine Vela the largest work ever produced by the company; 
• Andrea James’ Sunshine Super Girl: The Evonne Goolagong Story a new Australian work made possible through an unprecedented co-commissioning model, with regional partners and major metro players working together to bring it to fruition. Its subsequent national tour included presentations at three major festivals and two state theatre companies, as well as regional venues across NSW, Vic and SA; and 
• The Seen and Unseen, an international co-commission by AsiaTOPA and Esplanade Theatres Singapore, led by artist Kamila Andini in collaboration with Melbourne’s Fraught Outfit and with collaborating artists from Indonesia, Japan and Australia.