Headshot for Jarrad West

Jarrad West

Jarrad trained at both WAAPA and VCA in Musical Theatre and Theatre. Hailing from Perth originally, he moved to Canberra in 2006 and has since forged a reputation as one of Canberra’s most sought-after directors and actors.

He is the co-founder and producer of the highly-acclaimed theatrical company Everyman Theatre, now in its sixteenth year. Since its inception, Everyman has attempted to bring to Canberra audiences shows that would not normally be seen here in the nation’s capital, staying true to our vision statement – ‘Every Man Woman and Child has a story to tell.’ One highlight of our time has been being selected to be part of the Canberra Centenary celebrations with our production of Home At The End – presented as part of the Canberra Theatre Centre’s 2013 subscription season. 

Recently Jarrad has directed Spamalot!, Marry Me A Little, Holding the Man, The Importance of Being Earnest (Ovation Award Winner 2022), Beautiful Thing (2022), Hand to God (Ovation Award Winner 2022), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical, Mamma Mia!, Absurd Person Singular, Queers (with Steph Roberts), The World Goes ‘Round (Winner – Best Musical – CAT Awards 2019) 12 Angry Men (Canberra Critics’ Circle Award 2019), FAME – The Musical, The History Boys (with Chris Zuber) (Canberra Critics’ Circle Award 2017), The 39 Steps, Avenue Q (Canberra Critics’ Circle Award 2017), Funny Girl, Play On!, Casanova, Home At The End, RENT, Hairspray, Breaker Morant, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Laramie Project (Canberra Critics’ Circle Award 2010), Latin! Or Tobacco and Boys (Canberra Critics’ Circle Award 2009), Angels in America Parts I & II (with Liz Bradley) (Canberra Critics’ Circle Award 2008), The Boyfriend, Tickets-Music-Passport, Funny Lovin’ That Theatre, Beautiful Thing (2003) (Robert Finley Award, Best Production 2004)

He was last seen on stage in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical. Prior to that he has performed in Assassins, 42nd Street, The Normal Heart (Canberra Critics’ Circle Award 2017), Company, La Cage Aux Folles, The Burning, The Witches of Eastwick, The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), GOD + pool (no water), Doubt, Grease, The Ides of March, The Boy From Oz, A Lie of the Mind, True West, And Then There Were None, The History Boys (Canberra Critics’ Circle Award 2009), In Cold Light, Singer! Dancer! Actor!, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, School for Scandal, Little Shop of Horrors, RENT, Anthems for Doomed Youth, Crave, Bedroom Farce, Robin Hood, Puss in Boots, Oedipus Rex (Best Actor – 2001) Pinocchio, Play On!, Sing On!, My Three Angels, Cabaret (Best Actor – 2000), Assassins, The Taming of the Shrew, Chalky White Substance, The Pyjama Game, Oliver! 

As a writer he has developed and directed the shows No Stamp Required, Tickets-Music-Passport!, Singer! Dancer! Actor!, Coffee in a Cardboard Cup.  

This year at ACT Hub he’ll be co-directing the return season of Queers with Steph Roberts, treading the boards once again in ACT Hub’s upcoming productions of Mary Stuart and the one man tour-de-force Every Brilliant Thing, and finishing off the year directing the Canberra premiere of the multi-award winning two part epic The Inheritance.

Productions