Resilience is a quality that every artist and leader must cultivate. The arts are full of challenges, from financial pressures and critical reviews to complex organizational dynamics. Over my career, I have learned that resilience is not just about enduring hardships. It is about responding to them with courage, focus, and creativity. It is about turning obstacles into opportunities for growth. Early in my career, I witnessed how talented artists could be discouraged not by lack of skill but by external factors such as sexism, institutional bias, or limited resources. These challenges taught me that resilience is cultivated not only through personal determination but also through fostering supportive networks, trusting your vision, and finding ways to keep moving forward even when progress feels slow.

Navigating Setbacks with Courage

Every production, institution, or creative project comes with setbacks. A key part of leadership is acknowledging these moments without letting them define your work. At Black Swan State Theatre Company, we faced financial and logistical challenges that could have derailed our ambitions. By staying focused on our goals, maintaining transparent communication with our teams, and remaining flexible in our approach, we were able to transform potential crises into moments of innovation. Resilience means choosing action over despair. It is finding the energy to adapt, problem-solve, and continue to pursue your vision even when circumstances are difficult. These moments of challenge often provide the greatest opportunities for growth and creativity.

Overcoming Sexism and Bias in the Arts

Sexism and bias remain realities in many creative industries. I have experienced situations where my skills and decisions were questioned because of my gender. Instead of allowing these challenges to derail my work, I chose to focus on my strengths, my talent, communication, and dedication. I also made it a priority to empower other women and female-identifying artists, creating opportunities for them to have their voices heard and their ideas implemented. Leadership in the arts is not only about personal resilience but also about creating environments where others can thrive despite systemic challenges. By mentoring, listening, and advocating, leaders can help change the culture and ensure that talent is recognized and valued fairly.

Building Resilience in Teams

Resilience is not an individual pursuit; it is a quality that leaders can nurture within their teams. In the theatre, collaboration is essential. Every production depends on the collective strength, focus, and adaptability of the cast, crew, and administrative staff. Leaders set the tone for how a team responds to obstacles. At NIDA, fostering resilience meant encouraging experimentation, providing guidance, and creating a safe space for artists to take risks. Mistakes were not failures; they were opportunities to learn. When teams see their leaders model patience, perseverance, and confidence, they develop their own capacity to respond to challenges with grace and determination.

Maintaining Focus and Perspective

Resilience is strengthened by perspective. For me, walking, swimming, reading, and connecting with family and friends are ways to step back and regain clarity. These moments of reflection allow leaders and artists to assess situations calmly, make thoughtful decisions, and recharge for the work ahead. It is also important to celebrate small victories. Even in difficult times, recognizing progress, effort, and creative achievements reinforces confidence and morale. Maintaining focus on long-term goals while navigating short-term setbacks is an essential part of sustained resilience.

Lessons from a Career in Arts Leadership

My experiences leading theatres, directing productions, and mentoring students have taught me that resilience is a combination of self-belief, empathy, adaptability, and courage. Leaders and artists who embrace these qualities are better equipped to handle the inevitable challenges that arise in creative work. Resilience also involves listening to peers, mentors, and even audiences. Feedback provides insight into what is working, what needs adjustment, and how to grow. By remaining open, leaders strengthen their capacity to respond to setbacks intelligently rather than reactively.

Embracing Resilience to Inspire Others

Resilience in the arts is about more than personal survival. It is about creating cultures, institutions, and communities that endure and flourish despite challenges. Every obstacle is an opportunity to demonstrate courage, inspire confidence in others, and cultivate innovation. Artists and leaders who embrace resilience not only succeed personally but leave a lasting impact on those they work with and the broader cultural landscape. For every artist, educator, and leader, the lesson is clear: challenges will arise, but your response defines your legacy. By cultivating resilience, embracing creativity, and nurturing others, it is possible to navigate setbacks, overcome bias, and build institutions and careers that thrive both on stage and off.

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Leadership in the arts is about far more than schedules, budgets, or even the day-to-day running of a theatre. At its heart, it is about vision and imagination. It is about seeing not just what exists today, but what could exist tomorrow, and inspiring everyone around you to make that possibility real. Early in my career, I realized that the institutions I led could be much more than the sum of their productions. At NIDA, I focused not only on technical skill but on fostering a community where collaboration, curiosity, and creativity were central. In just 18 months, the school’s global ranking improved dramatically, moving from 16th to 10th in the world for performing arts schools. That growth came from a shared belief that excellence requires both imagination and structure. Vision is not just a lofty ideal; it is a practical tool for creating sustainable change.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation

One of the most exciting aspects of leading in the arts is creating a culture where bold ideas can flourish. At Black Swan State Theatre Company, I had the opportunity to test ideas that had never been attempted before in Australia. One project involved Australia’s first simulcast of a theatre production. Another brought together Australian artists with the National Theatre of China for a groundbreaking collaboration. These initiatives were ambitious, sometimes intimidating, but they succeeded because the organization itself valued curiosity, risk-taking, and experimentation. When a leader commits to imagination, it sends a clear message: it is safe to think differently, to experiment, and to push boundaries. This is how innovation becomes not an occasional event, but a habit ingrained in the organization’s culture.

Inspiring Artists and Teams Through Vision

Vision is only powerful when it can be shared and understood. I have been fortunate to work with incredibly talented actors, directors, and conductors from Guy Pearce and Ben Mendelsohn to Nicholas Carter and Paul Kildea. What I have learned is that people rise to a vision they understand and believe in. Whether directing a production for Sydney Theatre Company, mentoring students at Emerson College, or collaborating with opera companies across the world, I have seen firsthand how clarity of purpose inspires creativity. When every member of a team knows how their contribution fits into a larger story, the work becomes more than a job; it becomes a shared journey. The energy, focus, and commitment that emerge from that shared vision are remarkable and often exceed even the highest expectations.

Balancing Creativity with Practical Leadership

Imagination alone cannot sustain an arts organization. Leadership requires practicality, discipline, and attention to detail. Opening theatres, programming seasons, and managing budgets are all essential tasks that provide the framework for creative expression. During my tenure at NIDA and BSSTC, I learned that visionary leadership thrives when it balances artistic ambition with operational sustainability. Creative risk-taking works best when there is a solid foundation to support it. By combining imagination with strategic planning, a leader ensures that not only do productions succeed, but the institutions themselves endure and continue to grow.

Vision as a Tool for Cultural Change

The arts are not only entertainment; they are a reflection of society and a vehicle for change. Visionary leadership amplifies this potential. Productions can challenge assumptions, provoke dialogue, and inspire audiences to see the world differently. Creating programs for emerging theatre makers and writers, leading international collaborations, and engaging communities are all ways that leaders can extend the impact of their work beyond the stage. By imagining new possibilities, we create spaces for stories that can shift perspectives, ignite conversations, and leave a lasting cultural mark.

Lessons from a Career in Arts Leadership

If there is one lesson I have carried throughout my career, it is this: vision requires courage and action. It requires trusting your instincts while remaining open to feedback. It demands empathy, collaboration, and a willingness to take risks. Vision is strengthened by dialogue, reflection, and observation. I often find clarity while walking, swimming, or sharing a meal with family and friends. These moments of quiet reflection allow me to step back from the daily demands of leadership and see the bigger picture. A leader who cultivates imagination also cultivates patience, persistence, and the ability to inspire others without forcing their vision upon them.

Embracing Imagination to Shape the Future

Leading with vision in the arts is a delicate balance of imagination, strategy, and heart. It is about seeing what is possible, inspiring others to follow, and creating institutions and experiences that endure. The arts mirror society, and through visionary leadership, they can reflect the best of what we aspire to be. For every leader, artist, and educator, the challenge is the same: embrace imagination, take thoughtful risks, and trust that a bold, well-communicated vision can create a legacy that resonates far beyond the stage. When vision is paired with courage, creativity, and care, the possibilities for cultural transformation are endless.

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There’s something sacred about a rehearsal room. It doesn’t matter if it’s a fluorescent lit community hall, a state of the art studio, or a makeshift space with taped lines on the floor—we walk in with our scripts, our hopes, and our nerves. What we create together in that room can be astonishing. For me, a life in rehearsal rooms has been a life of discovering what people are capable of when they dare to be open, curious, and brave.

Over the years, I’ve come to think of rehearsal rooms as laboratories for empathy. They are where we dissect humanity, its beauty, its absurdity, its flaws, and reassemble it, scene by scene, moment by moment. There’s sweat and sometimes tears, and always laughter. And though the world sees the polished production at the end, it’s those weeks in the rehearsal room that hold the real story.

Finding the Spark

I didn’t fall into the theatre. I ran toward it. There was something about the alchemy of storytelling onstage that grabbed me early in life. I’ve been privileged to work with some of Australia’s most dedicated actors, designers, stage managers, and crew members through my roles at Black Swan State Theatre Company and NIDA, and every new process has taught me something.

There’s no set formula for how to rehearse a show. Each one is its own animal. Sometimes a production comes together like clockwork. Other times it fights you. But whether I’m directing Shakespeare or a brand new Australian script, I live for the moment the scene lifts off the page and begins to breathe.

The Beautiful Mess

Rehearsal rooms are rarely tidy. The process is often messy by design. We try things. We fail. We try again. An actor might spend hours exploring a monologue, only to completely abandon that interpretation the next day. A choreographer might rework a sequence five times before it lands. I’ve had entire set pieces reimagined mid process because the energy in the room told us we needed something different.

It’s in this chaos that creativity thrives. We push past politeness, past fear of being wrong, and into something raw and real. One of the joys of my career has been fostering a space where people feel safe to make bold choices, even if those choices don’t make it into the final production. Because risk is essential. Without it, theatre loses its urgency.

Moments That Stay With You

Some moments in rehearsal rooms become imprinted on your memory. I remember working with a young actor who had just come out of drama school. She was tackling a scene about loss, and it wasn’t quite landing. We paused. I asked her to speak the words as if she were telling them to someone she loved. She began again, softly, simply, and the room went still. There was no acting. Just truth. That scene ended up being the emotional core of the show, and it was born in that moment of vulnerability.

There was another time a set designer burst into tears after seeing an early run. Not because anything was wrong, but because it moved her. It reminded me that the work we do resonates beyond the cast. We build something together that touches people, sometimes in ways we can’t predict.

Training Grounds for Life

I often say the rehearsal room is a microcosm of life. It teaches you how to listen, how to collaborate, how to handle failure and start again. It demands presence. You can’t phone in a performance, and you can’t lead a team without being fully there with them.

Leading arts institutions like NIDA taught me that rehearsal rooms are also spaces of learning, especially for emerging artists. They are where the next generation of creatives discover their voices. I’ve watched shy students become bold storytellers. I’ve seen ensemble members grow into directors and writers. Theatre is generous that way, it makes room for growth.

The Magic You Can’t Fake

Despite all the planning, spreadsheets, lighting plots, and costume fittings, the heart of theatre remains a kind of mystery. You never really know what will happen when the lights go up. But you trust that what was forged in the rehearsal room, the hours of work, the laughter, the frustrations, the small breakthroughs, will hold.

And most of the time, it does. That’s the magic. The transformation of a script into a living, breathing experience that moves an audience. It’s a shared act of imagination, and it never gets old.

A Thank You to the Room

So, here’s to the rehearsal rooms, the scuffed floors, the whiteboards, the coffee stained scripts. To the stage managers who keep us honest, to the actors who bare their souls, to the creatives who dream out loud. Thank you for the joy, the chaos, and the magic.

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to spend time in a rehearsal room, you’ll understand. It’s not just where the show begins, it’s where the heart of the theatre lives. And I, for one, will always be grateful to have lived a life inside those four walls.

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Theatre is a form of storytelling that has stood the test of time. Its power lies in its immediacy—the shared breath between actor and audience, the electric atmosphere of a live performance. For centuries, that intimacy defined what theatre was meant to be. But as technology evolves, so too must the way we bring stories to life.

I still remember the excitement of overseeing my first simulcast. It was both a bold step forward and a deeply emotional moment. That performance reached audiences who could not have been there in person: people in remote communities, individuals with mobility challenges, and younger viewers who may not have stepped into a theatre before. What we did was not just new. It was necessary.

Breaking the Walls of the Theatre

Simulcasting breaks down the physical walls of the theatre. It extends the reach of a performance beyond the building, allowing anyone with an internet connection or a screen to be a part of the experience. When we first explored this idea, some were hesitant. Would it dilute the magic of live theatre? Would people still buy tickets? Would it feel the same?

These are all fair questions. But I believe the essence of theatre is not tied to a building—it is tied to connection. If simulcasting can create new opportunities for connection, then it is not a threat to tradition. It is a continuation of it.

We have always found ways to make theatre more accessible. From open-air performances to touring productions, from radio plays to television specials, theatre has long experimented with form. Simulcasting is simply the next evolution.

Reaching New Audiences

One of the most inspiring aspects of simulcasting is its power to reach new people. In our first attempt, we received messages from viewers in regional towns who felt they were finally being included in the cultural conversation. We heard from schools that streamed the show for students. We saw elderly viewers who could no longer make the trip to the city but were thrilled to be part of something live again.

This is the real heart of innovation. It is not just about embracing new tools for the sake of novelty. It is about using them to fulfill the core mission of the arts: to engage, to inspire, and to invite.

I am often reminded that innovation and inclusion go hand in hand. Every step forward should make it easier for more people to be part of the journey.

Preserving the Live Experience

Of course, nothing replaces the energy of a theatre full of people. That moment when the lights go down, the hush falls over the audience, and something extraordinary begins—there is nothing quite like it. The key is not to replace this experience but to expand it.

Simulcasting should be done with intention. The camera angles, the sound design, the editing—every element must be approached with care so that the viewer at home or in a cinema feels immersed, not removed.

We are not just recording a play. We are translating it for a different medium while preserving its heartbeat. That takes collaboration between artists, technicians, and storytellers across disciplines. And it opens the door to exciting new partnerships.

The Artist’s Perspective

For performers, simulcasting offers both challenges and opportunities. Acting for a live audience is different from performing for a camera. There is a need to strike a balance—maintaining the scale of a stage performance while allowing the intimacy of a close-up.

But with that challenge comes growth. I have seen actors rise to the occasion with grace, adjusting their work so that both the person in the front row and the viewer on a screen 500 miles away feel something true.

There is also the opportunity to archive and celebrate work in new ways. Performances that once lived only in memory can now be revisited, studied, and shared. For young artists in training or arts educators in schools, this kind of access can be transformative.

Imagining the Future

As we look ahead, the question is not whether live performance will survive in a digital world. It is how it will adapt, thrive, and continue to lead the way in cultural innovation. Theatre has always responded to the times, and these times call for flexibility, imagination, and courage.

What if we embraced hybrid models—shows that run live but also stream? What if we partnered more deeply with education systems, community centers, and global networks to expand our reach? What if we invited audiences to engage with stories on multiple levels, from virtual reality experiences to interactive platforms that support deeper discussion?

This is not about losing our identity. It is about expanding our impact.

A Stage Without Limits

When I directed that first simulcast, I did not know exactly what would come of it. But I knew it mattered. I knew it was one step toward a more inclusive, more dynamic, and more sustainable future for the arts.

Live performance will always be rooted in presence—in the human voice, the shared moment, the collective heartbeat. But now, that presence is not limited to the theatre itself. It can travel across borders, into homes, into hearts.

As artists and leaders, we have the responsibility and the privilege to make sure that our work continues to evolve. The traditions of theatre are rich and meaningful. But they were never meant to hold us back. They were meant to guide us forward.

By combining our commitment to craft with the possibilities of technology, we can build a stage without limits. And in doing so, we will ensure that the power of live performance remains alive for generations to come.

The post Innovating Tradition: The First Simulcast and the Future of Live Performance appeared first on Kate Cherry.