Sally McLean: Writer/Director
After graduating from The Actors’ Institute, London, UK, Sally co-wrote and co-produced the successful short feature A Little Rain Must Fall, which premiered at Ealing Studios, London in July 1997. During an extended return visit to Australia in 1999, she began her apprenticeship in directing for theatre under the guidance of New York theatre director, Andy Gale – working as his Assistant Director during the professional Australian Premier of I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change at the Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne (starring Julia Morris & Matt Hetherington), of which she was also a member of the cast.
Since then, Sally has written, directed and/or produced a number of successful films and plays under the banner of her production outfit, Incognita Enterprises, which began life in 1998 under the honorary patronage of Oscar-nominated British actor, Sir Nigel Hawthorne. Incognita Enterprises is dedicated to producing high-quality, innovative and affordable theatre experiences, arts education opportunities and screen projects.
Produced plays include the workshop performances of Chasing Pegasus (a play in ten chords) and PS I Love You (set on the Melbourne Home Front during WWII). Completed films in addition to A Little Rain Must Fallinclude the short films fixNATION (aired on Foxtel) and Brigit & Benny (a modern faerietale).
She has also worked in TV production with BBC Television London in both their Music & Arts and Commercial Channels Depts., on program strands such as Bookmark, Bard On The Box and One Foot In the Past, during which time she Chaired the BBC Alternative Program and Australian Program Development Units, submitting several successful television program proposals to the Controllers of BBC1 & 2. She has additionally worked for Channel 9 as Audience & Production Coordinator, Melbourne Live Nights for Comedy Inc. and on the TV shows The X-Factor, Big Brother – Hunt for a Housemate and Australian Idol.
Sally’s current work in progress is the WWII stage play, Bayonets & Bully Beef, (companion play to PS I Love You, this time set on the War Front of WWII), which was showcased in July 2005 at the Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne under her direction.
Chasing Pegasus marked Sally’s debut as a writer/director for theatre in 2003. She wanted to explore the concept of hope and the theme of chasing dreams, through the experience of everyday people. She feels these subjects are just as important to explore as the darker side of our society. For what is society if it cannot dream?
Visit Sally online at http://www.sallymclean.com/