<p>Hayden Tonazzi is an award-winning director and creative producer who in 2025 was appointed the Artistic Director &amp; CEO of the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP). </p><p>A graduate of the 2019 NIDA MFA Directing Program, for over eight years’ they have worked across new writing in theatre and musical theatre, most notably <em>Saplings </em>by Hannah Belanszky for the 2024 Sydney Festival (Winner of Best Production for Young People, Sydney Theatre Awards), <em>Pickled </em>كبيس for PYT Fairfield &amp; Downstairs Belvoir, <em>the last train to madeline </em>by Callum Mackay for Fever103 and MeatMarkets Melbourne, and <em>Converted!</em> by Vic Zerbst with Oliver John Cameron for the 2025 Sydney Festival.</p><p>In 2022 they were awarded the inaugural <em>Backing The Future Award</em> from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), which allowed them to build skills in artistic and organisational leadership through the role of Artistic Associate for ATYP. During this time, they were responsible for <em>Generator: Regional Connections Program</em> with the Office for Regional Youth, mentoring 12 teaching artists across regional NSW, and supporting them in the delivery of free drama workshops for over 700 young people. Shortly after they were offered the role of Associate Director &amp; Creative Producer as an acknowledgement of their role in the company, specifically their work across a slew of credits including  <em>Shack </em>by George Kemp, the tour of  <em>Cusp</em> by Mary Anne Butler, the tour of <em>Past The Shallows</em> based on the novel by Favel Parret adapted by Julian Larnach, and <em>Follow Me Home</em> by Lewis Treston. </p><p>Outside of ATYP, their directing credits also include <em>This Genuine Moment</em> by Jacob Parker for La Mama and the Old 505, <em>Significant Other</em> by Joshua Harmon for the New Theatre, <em>Tell Me Before The Sun Explodes</em> by Jacob Parker for the Kings Cross Theatre, and <em>Stop. Drop. And Listen.</em> for Shopfront Youth Arts. From 2022 to 2024, Hayden was also the Co-Artistic Director and Creative Producer for the Lysicrates Foundation, where he ran both the Lysicrates Prize and Martin-Lysicrates Prize, commissioning and developing two new plays a year, including <em>Ripple</em> by Jacob Sgouros, <em>Nothing Scares Us Anymore</em> by Joseph Brown, and <em>Murder, Murder, Hair!</em> by Suvi Derkenne.</p><p>Their associate/assistant directing credits include Heroes Of The Fourth Turning for OutHouse Theatre, CAMP and The End Of Winter for Siren Theatre Co, and 21 Forster St for Steps &amp; Holes Theatre. Their directorial secondments include Moulin Rouge: The Musical with Global Creatures, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: La Traviata with Opera Australia, and The Bridges of Madison County for the Hayes Theatre.</p><p><em>The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).</em></p><p><a href="http://www.stagespodcast.com.au/">www.stagespodcast.com.au</a></p>