State Theatre Company South Australia farewells Executive Director Julian Hobba
State Theatre Company South Australia is today announcing that Executive Director Julian Hobba is departing the Company to commence the role of Executive Director of Adelaide Festival.
During his five years as co-CEO, Julian has helped guide the Company through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, supported some of the most ambitious productions in our history, and helped deliver a prolific series of national co-productions and tours, most recently of the Company’s incredibly successful production of The Dictionary of Lost Words. In the coming months, the Company will leave its temporary administration and production locations to take up new residence across ABC Collinswood and a production warehouse in Marleston – steering this move has been a mainstay of Julian’s tenure with the Company.
On Julian’s time with the Company, Board Chair Joe Thorp says,
“I was very pleased to appoint Julian as Executive Director in early 2020 and am delighted to now see him take on this role with the Adelaide Festival. Julian is a natural collaborator who has forged strong, respected relationships at all levels in South Australian and national performing arts circles.”
“Julian has been a most caring, calm, thoughtful, and professional leader for State Theatre Company South Australia, serving the Company with great distinction and providing genuine support for staff, creatives, partners, subscribers, foundation, and stakeholders.”
“In the face of the pandemic and challenging funding constraints, he has driven consistently successful commercial results. He leaves the Company in an enviably strong position for which the Board is very grateful. We wish him all the very best for his new appointment.”
Artistic Director Petra Kalive says,
“Since joining as Executive Director in May 2020, Julian has been a driving force behind the Company’s growth, resilience, and artistic ambition. His leadership has been defined by a deep love for theatre, sharp strategic thinking, and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity and innovation.
Under Julian’s guidance, the Company navigated the challenges of the pandemic, emerging stronger and more connected to its community. He played a pivotal role in expanding our reach, forging new partnerships with national performing arts venues.
As he embarks on his next professional chapter, I know I speak for the entire Company in expressing our heartfelt gratitude for his invaluable contributions — and his wicked sense of humour. Julian’s departure will be keenly felt across the company, but we celebrate his achievements and wish him every success in what comes next.
Thank you, Julian, for your visionary leadership and steadfast dedication to the arts in South Australia”.
On his departure, Julian has provided the following statement:
“It’s been a privilege to serve this Company and pursue its vitally important, foundational mission, to make locally produced theatre of the highest quality that is broadly accessible to the community and which impacts South Australian and Australian culture with bold, original and important storytelling on stage.
I want to express my deepest admiration for this Company – the artists with whom we work, our talented and committed staff and supportive Board and Foundation – and my pride in all we have achieved together. I want to acknowledge too, the great collaboration I enjoyed with former Artistic Director Mitchell Butel for most of my time in the role.
I leave with a heavy heart for all I will miss, but with enormous optimism for the future under our new Artistic Director, Petra Kalive. I think the theatre produced under Petra’s leadership will further the relevance of the Company’s work, entertain and spark dynamic cultural conversation.
I’m grateful to all who support State Theatre Company South Australia. In my role, through ongoing challenging times for the arts, I have been consistently buoyed by everyone who supports the Company – in buying tickets (this is the best way to support the Company – tell your friends!), in sharing support on social media, in joining a committee or the Board, in making generous donations or sponsorships. This is a constant reminder to me that the Company is a shared asset that a great many people believe in. So many in the community remain committed to ensuring South Australia maintains a state theatre company worthy of that name, a company that can make theatre from ‘first principle’ – from commissioning and developing scripts, to making the set and costumes, to rehearsing, marketing and ticketing the show. I will certainly continue to count myself among those people and enjoy all your fine company in doing so”.