Director. Dramaturg. Producer.

Kitan Petkovski (he/him) is a theatre director, dramaturg and producer of Macedonian heritage currently working and living in Naarm (Melbourne). His work has featured in international festivals and on renowned stages across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Kitan's practice focuses on developing new writing and directing work that experiments with cross-form and queer dramaturgies. A key feature in his work is the integration of live music.

In 2024 Kitan directed the Australian premiere of The Inheritance by Matthew López at fortyfivedownstairs, receiving critical acclaim from The Age, Australian Book Review and the Australian Arts Review. The three week season as part of Midsumma Festival played to sold-out houses and was lauded for it's "extraordinary ensemble performance" (The Age). 

Kitan also directed the Victorian premiere of Things I Know to be True by Andrew Bovell at Theatre Works, starring renowned stage and screen actor Belinda McClory. The production played to sold out houses and received four stars from Arts Hub and five stars from Theatre Matters.  

In November 2024, Kitan will direct the Australian premiere of The Hall by Ro Bright and Pat Irwin at fortyfivedownstairs. 

In 2023, Kitan's award-winning production of The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven by Jo Clifford returned to Melbourne and played to sold-out houses at fortyfivedownstairs. His production of BURGERZ premiered at Theatre Works as the first international adaptation of the acclaimed work by Travis Alabanza. Kitan was the 2023 directing recipient of the Besen Family Artist Program with Malthouse Theatre, assisting on Loaded with Stephen Nicolazzo and This is Living with Matthew Lutton. In the latter half of 2023, Kitan assistant directed the world premiere production of My Sister Jill alongside Susie Dee for Melbourne Theatre Company and he directed the Victorian premiere of In the Club by Patricia Cornelius with songs by Jaguar Jonze at Theatre Works. 

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"Rarely does a work come along that can only be described as perfect... Kitan Petkovski masterfully directs [The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven], his influence can be seen in the smallest moment to the overarching drive of the work – there is not a moment that is not considered, respected and given reverence." (Australian Arts Review)

In 2022, Kitan's production of The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven by Jo Clifford won 2x Melbourne Green Room Awards for Best Independent Production and Best Composition and Sound Design, and Kitan was nominated for Best Direction. Alternative Futures, conceived and directed by Kitan also received a nomination for Best Composition and Sound Design. The same year, Kitan directed Nora: A Doll's House by Stef Smith for the Actors' Program (Herald Theatre, Auckland) and the world premiere of No Ball Games Allowed by Kristen Smyth (Theatre Works, Melbourne).

 

He is the co-founder and creative director of Bullet Heart Club with collaborator and writer Ro Bright. In 2021, Kitan directed the world premiere of The Hall by Ro Bright and Pat Irwin (Festival of Colour, Wanaka). Bullet Heart Club received a Scotsman Fringe First Award for their gig-theatre show Daffodils (a play with songs) at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh. In 2019 Daffodils was released as a feature film.

 

Kitan holds an MFA in directing from the Victorian College of the Arts and is a Director's Lab Melbourne alumni. He has been the recipient of the Melbourne Global Scholars Award and Cybec Foundation Scholarship. He was mentored by director/performer Cora Bissett at the National Theatre of Scotland and director/festival curator Neil Armfield AO at Belvoir St Theatre.

 

Kitan is currently the Creative Associate at Theatre Works and a panel member for the Theatre Companies Green Room Awards.

 

Kitan's work has been commissioned by Creative Victoria, Australia Council for the Arts, the Victorian Government, Creative New Zealand, Creative Scotland, City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, The Tron Theatre (Glasgow), Auckland Live and Festival of Colour (Wanaka).

Kitan's work has been presented at the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh), Salisbury International Arts Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, Merrigong Theatre Company, Theatre Works (St Kilda), Riverside National Theatre of Parramatta, The Butterfly Club, Herald Theatre (Auckland), Festival of Colour (Wanaka), Nelson Arts Festival, Tauranga Arts Festival, Christchurch Arts Festival, Q Theatre (Auckland), Auckland Town Hall, Hawke's Bay Arts Festival, Kokomai Creative Festival, Taranaki International Arts Festival, Upsurge Festival, Meteor Theatre, Oamaru Opera House, Floor Pride Civic Theatre, Regent on Broadway, QT Museum Hotel and Sanfran Bath House.