About Us
For more than a decade, Citizen Theatre has delved into the complex and pressing issues of our times, using the art of courageous storytelling to provoke thought, inspire action and build meaningful connections with our audiences.
Who are we?
We come together as Performing and Non-performing Collaborative Artists: actors, composers, writers, designers, directors, producers, crew – and we each bring our unique perspectives and talents to the table.
Collaborators come from a range of backgrounds, bodies and experiences, and this diversity is crucial to our creative process. It's what allows us to create work that deeply resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
What’s our impact?
As a theatre company dedicated to purposeful action, our commitment extends beyond the stage to actively engage with both our audience and the broader community. We invest time and effort in nurturing meaningful partnerships with a diverse array of organisations, venues, and initiatives such as post-show Q&A panels, interactive workshops and pre and post show experiences.
Through these activities we aim to enrich community engagement with our work and deepen our impact by creating space for dialogue and reflection.
Awards and Recognition
We are trusted leaders and innovators and have created 14 productions in 12 years (11 new works), reaching thousands of people since we began. Our work has been recognised and encouraged through funding and in-kind support from local and federal government, philanthropic organisations, institutions and private donors. Our seasons are loved by audiences and receive critical acclaim from noted reviewers.
We received 2 Green Room Award Nominations for Mara KORPER (2021) and 1 Green Room Nomination for When The Light Leaves (2019) and have been selected for Showcase Vic twice (2018 & 2022). We have been recognised as “Theatre Company of the Year” (Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Program 2024) and “Most Provocative Theatre Company” (LUX Global Excellence Awards 2023). We were also company in residence at Gasworks (2022).
↳ A Q&A panel after the opening night of When The Light Leaves
↳ A free community-focussed photo walk around Stonnington during development for Forgotten Places: From the Past a Future Begins
↳ A Q&A panel after a performance of Ripening
Our Purpose
To have a profound impact on the trajectory of somebody’s life.
Our Vision
To illuminate pathways towards growth, inspiration, connection and understanding through the transformative power of theatre.
Our Mission
To collaborate with like-minded artists to create impactful, original theatre experiences that help build a more compassionate and empathetic world.
Our Values
We recognise the importance of values in shaping our identity and guiding our actions. They serve as the compass that directs us towards our goals and helps us navigate challenges with integrity and purpose.
Our commitment to upholding these values ensures that we maintain a strong foundation upon which to build meaningful relationships, innovate, and contribute positively to the world around us.
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United by our curiosity and strengthened through collaboration, we bravely leap into the unknown, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that await us.
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Embodying our vision with meticulous precision, combining technical expertise and artistic brilliance.
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Embracing creative risks to expand our realm of possibilities, we boldly push boundaries, driven by a relentless pursuit of innovation and a commitment to exploring new horizons.
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We delight in humour and surprise, infusing our endeavours with a spirit of joy and spontaneity, fostering an environment where laughter and unexpected moments spark creativity and forge lasting connections.
Jayde Kirchert
Artistic Director
Jayde is a mother, wife, writer, director, dramaturge, lecturer and Artistic Director of Citizen Theatre. She has directed & written multiple critically-acclaimed productions through Citizen Theatre including Ripening (2025), Green Room Award nominated Mara KORPER (2021), Ascent (2018), Nude (2015), and directed Rory Godbold’s Green Room Award nominated play, When The Light Leaves (2019 & 2020). She has also been the dramaturge on numerous musicals, original cabarets and plays.
In 2024 she was commissioned to write the libretto and lyrics for an opera for young people at Victorian Opera, called The Lyrebird’s Voice (dir. Elizabeth Hill-Cooper), which premiered at various venues in 2025. She was the 2020 recipient of Monash University’s Jeanne Pratt Artist In Residence commission to create a new musical with Peter Rutherford. She was also the Artist in Residence at Gasworks Arts Park in 2022 to create a new work, Ego Machine.
She is a lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne where she regularly directs student works, which have included the graduating 3rd year production Sweet Charity (2021) and Morning Melodies concerts at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall (2019, 2022, 2024, 2025).
From the University of Melbourne she holds a Bachelor of Music Theatre, Post Graduate Diploma of Arts (Anthropology) and is currently undertaking a PhD researching feminist dramaturgies in music theatre contexts.
Support Us
We rely on the generosity of supporters like you to continue our mission and have a profound impact on people’s lives. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, helps us to create innovative experiences that challenge perspectives, and ignite imaginations.
Please consider supporting us today by making a donation.
Explore Our Productions
Mara KORPER
In a futuristic dystopian world where gender is obsolete and the government owns your body, Mara KORPER explores extremism, corruption, gender, and body image.
Ego Machine
Blending theatre, dance, poetry, music, and video art, Ego Machine explores our complex reality amidst pandemics, climate change, and increasing digitalisation.
When The Light Leaves
When The Light Leaves is a new Australian play that explores the how people navigate the complex reality of facing an uncontrollable, wild death.
Get in touch
Curious to learn more about us or interested in collaborating? Don't hesitate to reach out. Whether you have questions, ideas, or just want to connect, we'd love to hear from you.