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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Recent Projects
- The Red Shoes
- Mary Stuart
- Burnin’ Up
- No Particular Order
Drama Education
- Cosi (2022)
- Lost & Found (2021)
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Metamorphosis (2020)
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The Wizard of Oz (2018)
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Shakers (2017)
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The Cagebirds (2013)
The Wizard of OzTheatre 2018
A classic journey reimagined as a celebration of belonging,
courage and self-worth.
Year: 2018
Role: Director / Facilitator
Category: Theatre (Drama Education)
Institution: Fintona Girls’ School
Source text: The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum,
adapted by Anne Coulter Martens
This production explored The Wizard of Oz as a story about searching for what we already possess. Dorothy’s journey from Kansas to Oz — and ultimately back again — became a meditation on the meaning of home: found in friendship, self-belief and the courage to stand proudly as oneself.
As Dorothy travels the yellow brick road, she is joined by the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion — companions each seeking brains, a heart and courage, only to discover these qualities were within them all along. Together, they encounter fantastical worlds, eccentric characters and the looming threat of the Wicked Witch, whose pursuit of Dorothy’s ruby slippers underscores the play’s central tension.
This staging foregrounded the emotional clarity and optimism at the heart of the story, encouraging young performers to engage with themes of identity, resilience and community. The work emphasised ensemble storytelling, character transformation and the idea that sometimes one must leave home in order to truly understand its value.