CV — Jason Forrest

Jason Forrest

Jason Forrest is an Australian director, creative and educator working across theatre, film and performance internationally. A recent graduate of NIDA's Master of Fine Arts (Directing), his practice centres on inquiry-led collaboration, performer agency and rigorous process. With three decades in the arts, Jason brings depth, clarity and a distinctly human approach to contemporary storytelling.

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Drama Education

Jason’s early career spans performance across theatre, music and dance, including work as a touring performer and involvement in contemporary theatre productions. This foundation as a performer continues to inform his directing practice, grounding it in empathy, physical awareness and an acute sensitivity to the actor’s process. Alongside his creative work, Jason has built an extensive career as an arts educator and leader, working across Drama, Media Studies and English in primary and secondary contexts throughout Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan and China. His educational practice has focused on cultivating expressive skill, aesthetic literacy and creative confidence in emerging artists.

Jason has directed and produced numerous theatrical works and community-based projects, often centring young people and collective storytelling. He has also expanded his practice into screen and audio, completing a Graduate Certificate in Journalism and undertaking further study in radio, film and podcasting.

Jason has recently completed a Master of Fine Arts in Directing at NIDA, where his recent work includes directing Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story, assistant directing on productions by Joel Tan and Kate Mulvany, and directing music video work. In 2026, he directed Emma Rice and Anna Maria Murphy’s adaptation of The Red Shoes for NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists. He has recently undertaken a series of international professional placements, including Emma Rice Company’s Educator Residency at The Lucky Chance in Frome, UK, alongside placements with Wilde Stages, Dublin’s Gay Theatre Festival and the Wiener Festwochen in Vienna.

Jason’s work is defined by clarity of vision, generosity of process and a sustained commitment to meaningful, human-centred storytelling.

Education

• Master of Fine Arts (Directing)
National Institute of Drama (NIDA)
Sydney, New South Wales
February 2025 – July 2026

Majors: Directing Techniques, Directing Practice, The Contemporary Director, Dramaturgy, Practice-Based Research Project, Major Directing Project.

• Graduate Certificate in Journalism
Charles Sturt University
Bathurst (Distance Education)
2014

Majors: Research and Reporting for Journalism, Journalism Cultures, News writing and Journalism, Law and Ethics.

Subjects accredited: Research and Reporting for Journalism (D), Journalism Cultures, News writing and Journalism (D), Law & Ethics (HD).

• Graduate Diploma in Education
The University of Adelaide
Adelaide, South Australia
1995

Majors: Drama, English and Media Studies

Subjects accredited: Australian Educational Issues, General and Senior Drama Curriculum Methodology, Social, Cultural and Australian Studies, Two Teaching Practices of four weeks each, the Teacher - Learner Relationship, Minority Sexualities in Education, Radical and Progressive Schooling and
Innovators (Montessori, Summerhill), Mandatory Notification and Dance/Movement.

• Bachelor of Arts in Educational Theatre / Drama Studies
The University of Adelaide
Adelaide, South Australia
1992 — 1994

Majors: Drama, English and Media Studies

Subjects accredited: Writing for Performance, Directing Studies, Epic and Documentary Theatre, Design for Theatre, Themes in Australian Drama, Surrealism and the Absurd, Contemporary Australian Drama, Dance Drama,
Foundations of Modern Theatre, History of European Theatre plus English Literature in the 19th Century, Media Techniques, Advertising, Media and Culture and History and Development of Mass Communications.

Employment

• Wilderness School
Adelaide, South Australia
Permanent Position | April 2023 – January 2025
Position held: Media Arts Teacher

Subjects taught: Cert III Screen & Media; Year 9 Film & Animation; Year 7 Media Production; Year 5–9 Drama

Additional roles and responsibilities: Year 7 Form Teacher; Media Team Coordinator; Director — Year 6 Production (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory); Director — Year 9 Drama Productions (Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, 67 Cinderellas); Creative Director and Programmer, 2023 Film Festival at The Mercury X Cinema.

• Pembroke School
Adelaide, South Australia
Permanent Position | January 2022 – December 2022
Position held: Head of Drama and Film

Subjects taught: SACE Stage 2 Drama; SACE Stage 2 Community Connections (Practical); Year 10 Drama; Year 9 Drama; Year 7 Drama

Additional roles and responsibilities: Director — Cosi by Louis Nowra; Year 8 Hill House Tutor.

• Shelford Girls’ Grammar, Caulfield
Melbourne, Victoria
Permanent Position | January 2021 – December 2021
Position held: Head of Performing Arts

Subjects taught: VCE Drama (Units 1–4); Year 9 Drama

Additional roles and responsibilities: Producer — Senior School Musical (Mary Poppins); Coordinator — Senior School House Performing Arts Festival; Coordinator — Presentation Evening and Assemblies.

• Fintona Girls’ School
Melbourne, Victoria
Permanent Position | January 2017 – December 2020
Position held: Head of Drama

Subjects taught: Year 6–10 Drama (ACARA); VCE Theatre Studies; VCE Drama (Units 1–4); Year 10 Multimedia Communications

Additional roles and responsibilities: Director — Annual School Plays (The Red Shoes, 2019; The Wizard of Oz, 2018; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 2017); Coordinator — House Drama (2017–2020); Tutor — Years 7, 11 and 12.

• Ruyton Girls’ School
Melbourne, Victoria
Contract Position | January 2016 – December 2016
Position held: English / Drama teacher

Subjects taught: Year 7, 9, 10 and 11 English (VCE); Year 8 Drama

Additional roles and responsibilities: Associate Director — School Musical (Into the Woods).

• Henley High School
Adelaide, South Australia
Permanent Position | January 2007 – December 2015
Positions held: 2015: English and EAL Coordinator, 2014: ETI (English Teaching Instructor) Okayama, Japan, 2013: Assistant Principal (Literacy and Numeracy)
2013 - 2007: English, EALD / Literacy and Numeracy Coordinator Senior
Drama and English teacher, Term 2 2011: Acting Assistant Principal – Director of Studies

Subjects taught: Stage 2 English Studies, English Communications and English Pathways; Stage 1 English (all subjects) and ESL (EAL); Year 9–10 English; Stage 2 Drama / Theatre Studies; Stage 1 Drama; Year 8–10 Drama; Year 8 Music

Additional roles and responsibilities: Year 12 Mentor; EALD Coordinator and Levelling; Subject Counsellor; CIS Chair. Director — Stage 1 and 2 Drama Productions (School Dance, 2015; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, 2013; Grimm’s Tales, 2013; The Physicists, 2012; The Man from Chicago, 2010; The Cagebirds, 2009). Assistant Director and Choreographer — School Cabaret (2007); Promotions and Community Liaison (Term 4, 2007); Year 9 Care Group Teacher.

• St. John’s Grammar
Adelaide, South Australia
Permanent position | January 2006 – December 2006
Position held: Drama / English & History teacher

Subjects taught: Stage 2 Theatre Studies / Drama (SACE); Year 9 English; Year 8 Drama; Year 8 SOSE (History); Year 7 Drama

Additional roles and responsibilities: Home Group Teacher (Years 10–12); Assistant Director and Choreographer — School Play (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory); Cabaret Committee; Director — Walking Wounded (Year 12 Drama).

• St. Peter’s College
Adelaide, South Australia
Permanent position | January 2002 – December 2005
Position Held: Drama / English teacher

Subjects taught: Stage 2 Theatre Studies / Drama (SACE); Theatre Arts (International Baccalaureate); Stage 2 English Communications; Stage 1 English and Drama; Year 8–10 Drama; Year 8–9 Language Studies; Year 8 English

Additional roles and responsibilities: Year 8 Form Teacher (2003–2005); Assistant Head of House (2002); Director — Co-curricular and Senior Productions (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Amadeus, Chicago, Chicago, Savage Love, The Exception and the Rule, The Meteor, The Club).
Assistant Director — School Musicals (Paris, West Side Story, Les Misérables); Director — Year 10 Chapel Plays.

Teacher Exchange: Shixi High School, Shanghai, China (December 2004 — January 2005).

• Ricarp Productions / ActorsInk
October 2001 – December 2001
Position Held: Acting Tutor (Musical Theatre Course)
Ages taught: 12 - 14

• Wirreanda High School
Adelaide, South Australia
Contract position | May 2000 – December 2001
Position Held: Drama Co-ordinator

Subjects taught: Stage 2 Theatre Studies / Drama; Year 11 English and Drama; Year 10 Drama; Year 9 English and Drama; Year 8 Drama and Music

Additional roles and responsibilities: Year 10–11 Care Group Teacher; Director and Choreographer — Rock Eisteddfod Challenge; Director — The Removalists, The Venetian Twins, Dimboola.

• Cumberland Secondary School
Plaistow, East London, United Kingdom
Contract position | February 1996 – August 1996
Position Held: English / Drama teacher

Levels taught: Years 7–11

Additional subjects (supply): Media, History, Art and Design, Science

Referrals

Available on request.

Additional Training & Experience

• VTAE40122 — Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
ASC Training and Development Pty Ltd
March 2024

Competencies achieved:
BSBAUD412 — Work within compliance frameworks
BSBCMM411 — Make presentations
TAEASS412 — Assess competence
TAEASS413 — Participate in assessment validation
TAEASS512 — Design and develop assessment tools
TAEDEL311 — Provide work skill instruction
TAEDEL411 — Facilitate vocational training
TAEDEL416 — Facilitate learning for young vocational learners
TAEDES411 — Use nationally recognised training products to meet vocational training needs
TAEDES412 — Design and develop plans for vocational training
TAELLN421 — Integrate core skills support into training and assessment
TAEPDD401 — Work effectively in the VET sector

• Filmmaking Fundamentals in the Digital Age
Kismet Film Productions
North Carlton, Victoria
January 2024

• Beginners Photography
Adelaide College of the Arts
Adelaide, South Australia
November 2023

• Introduction to Filmmaking
Link Film Academy
August 2023

• Introduction to Media Law for Broadcasters (V1.3)
Community Media Training Organisation
July 2023
Credential ID: 91800

• Radio Essentials Training Course
Radio Adelaide
Adelaide, South Australia
July 2023

• Digital Video Editing
Adelaide College of the Arts
Adelaide, South Australia
June 2023

• Adobe Audition Training
City of Charles Sturt
Adelaide, South Australia
April 2023

• Adobe Premiere Essentials
Australian City Design College
March 2023

• The Art of Interviewing — Masterclass
Radio Adelaide
January 2023

• Podcasting and Radio Training Course
JOY 94.9 Melbourne
October 2021 — December 2021

• Radio Training Course
JOY 94.9 Melbourne
May — July 2017

• Newsreader
JOY 94.9 Melbourne
January 2017

• Masterclass Radio Training
Australian Radio School
Nova Studios, Adelaide
November — December 2015

Specialisation areas: Show Preparation and Producing; Collaborative Broadcasting (Live Demonstration); Advanced Paneling; Advanced Solo Announcing; Advanced Creative Techniques

• Voice-Over Workshop
Australian Radio School
Nova Studios, Adelaide
November 2015

• Certificate in Copywriting
Australian Radio School / Them Advertising
Adelaide, South Australia
February 2015

• Certificate — Introductory Radio Course
Australian Radio School
Franklin Street, Adelaide
January — April 2015

Specialisation areas:
Announcing; News Reading; Interviewing; Creative Thinking; Voice-Overs; Sales and Promotions; Production; Copywriting and Recording; Programming; New Media; Public Relations; Show Producing; Talkback; Sports Reporting

Last Updated January 2026