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Janice directs theatre and opera  and collaborates as a writer, dramaturg and producer. 

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Recent opera credits include associate director to Sarah Giles La Traviata, Opera Queensland, State Opera South Australia and WA Opera; director, world premiere of Ned, composer Luke Styles, libretto by Peter Goldsworthy Lost and Found opera/Perth Festival, The Mill, Jarradale and director, world premiere Biographica, composer Mary Finsterer, libretto by Tom Wright (Sydney Chamber Opera/Sydney Festival).

 

Theatre credits include: Oedipus Doesn't Live Here Anymore by Daniel Evans (National Theatre St Kilda), Australian Realness by Zooey Dawson (Malthouse Theatre). Good Muslim Boy, co-adapted with Osamah Sami (Malthouse, Queensland Theatre), Revolt She Said. Revolt Again by Alice Birch (Malthouse); Lake Disappointment by Luke Mullins and Lachlan Philpott, (Carriageworks), nominated for 5 Sydney Theatre Awards and The Tribe (co- adapted with Michael Mohammed Ahmad) (presented within ‘Bankstown Live’ UTP/Belvoir/Castlemaine State Festival/The Substation.)

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In 2016 she was Director in Residence at Malthouse Theatre Melbourne and directed the 2016/2017 touring education show, Turbine by Dan Giovannoni. 

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Janice's work has won or been nominated for several awards and she's the recipient of several scholarships including the inaugural Playwriting Australia & Goethe Institute Dramaturgy Fellowship, the Keith & Elisabeth Murdoch Travelling Fellowship (VCA) and an Australia Council stipend to attend the international residency at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 2001. 

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Janice is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (1998), the University of New South Wales (1996) and AFTRS radio broadcasting course (1989). From 2018 to 2022 she served as a board member for Arena Theatre Company. 

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Janice has a broad range of earlier professional experience including teaching business English in Berlin,  five years  as a radio journalist, news reader and broadcaster in New South Wales including at ABC Radio News, three years as a media adviser at the City of Melbourne, and part time administrative roles at the Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Film Festival and in television production. 

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Janice lives in Naarm/Melbourne.

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CONTACT: mullerjanice@gmail.com

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EDUCATION

 

current-           Diploma of Languages, German, UNE

1998                Graduate Diploma Theatre Directing, Victorian College of the Arts  

1992-1996       BA Arts, UNSW, Sydney

1989                Certificate in Radio Broadcasting, AFTRS

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SHORT COURSES

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2021                Introduction to Screenwriting, Jonathon Ogilvie, AFTRS

                        Writing for Television, Susan Bowers, AFTRS

2002                TESOL certificate, IFS Berlin

 

 

CREDITS

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2023

director, Garage Girls, La Mama Courthouse, created with The Shift Theatre & Three Birds Theatre

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2022

associate director to dir. Sarah Giles, La Traviata, Opera Queensland, WA Opera, State Opera South Australia

director, Leviathan by Julian Lenarch, creative development, La Boite Theatre, Brisbane

director, Oedipus Doesn't Live Here Anymore by Daniel Evans, graduate production, National Theatre School St Kilda

acting coach, ACCOCo Young Artists, Melbourne

 

2021    Nov-Dec - Internship, Komische Oper, Berlin, Katya Kabanova by Leoš Janáček, directed by Jetkse Mijnnsen.                   

director, creative development Chasing Elevation, by Jean Tong, Malthouse Theatre

casual tutor, MA directing course, VCA School of Drama.

 

2019    director, world premiere, Ned composer Luke Styles, libretto by Peter Goldsworthy, Perth Festival/Lost & Found Opera

director, world premiere, Australian Realness by Zoey Dawson, Malthouse Theatre

 

2018    director & co-adaptor, Good Muslim Boy, from Osamah Sami’s award-winning memoir Malthouse Theatre & Queensland Theatre. 2018 VCE list.
Nibble, Nibble, Little Mouse…  an immersive theatrical experience based on Hansel & Gretel for primary school children, presented over two weekends at the Newstead ArtsHub

Guest lecturer, directing program, VCA School of Drama

 

2017    director, world premiere, Biographica, composer Mary Finsterer,  libretto Tom Wright, Sydney Chamber Opera/Sydney Festival
on tour, The Tribe, Castlemaine State Festival & The Substation, Melbourne. 
director, Revolt, She Said. Revolt Again by Alice Birch, Australian Premiere, Malthouse Theatre (Green Room Award Nomination for Best Ensemble)

director, Turbine, return season Malthouse Theatre & regional tour Victoria

 

2016    Director in Residence, Malthouse Theatre

return season, The Tribe, Belvoir (2 Surry Hills backyards)

director Lake Disappointment, Carriageworks. Nominated for 5 Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Director, Best new Work. Winner Best Lighting Design. Nominated: FBI SMAC Awards, Best on Stage
director - Turbine by Dan Giovannoni, Suitcase Series, Education Program, Malthouse

 

2015    director & co-adaptor of The Tribe, with Dr. Mohammed Michael Ahmad (Sweatshop Sydney) from his novella. Presented at Bankstown Live curated by Rosie Dennis, Urban Theatre Projects for the Sydney Festival. Nominated for FBI SMAC Awards, Best on Stage.

director/dramaturg - creative development & moved reading, Lake Disappointment at PWA National Conference.

assistant director, Death and the Maiden, MTC, dir. Leticia Cáceres

 

2014    dramaturg, creative development, Mantle, My Darling Patricia, Campbelltown Arts Centre
assistant director to John Bell, A Winter's Tale, Bell Shakespeare, SOH
dramaturg, The Piper, My Darling Patricia, Sydney Festival, (Winner: Best Production for Children 2014 Sydney Theatre Awards)
participant inaugural Women Directors' Program, Melbourne Theatre Company.

 

2013    director, Milawa Monologues by Margaret Hickey, The Old Chaff Barn, Milawa
concept and artistic direction, Quay to the City, atyp a theatrical walking tour through The Rocks featuring 30 young performers. (in partnership with Sydney Living Museums, SHFA and The Big Dig)
curator, White Rabbit, Red Rabbit by Iranian writer Nassim Soleimanpour, Malthouse Theatre

Facilitator - writing workshop, 'B Side' 'Writing for Radio', UTP Bankstown.

 

2012    dramaturgy, Miss Julie, dir. Cristabel Sved, Darlinghurst Theatre

 

2010    director, Alaska by DC Moore, atyp Under the Wharf independent program
mentor, Fresh Ink Writers Program, Australian Theatre for Young People.

director, remount, A Woman in Berlin, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne

 

2009    director & co-adaptor with Meredith Penman, A Woman in Berlin TRS, at the Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney

 

2008    assistant director to Chris Kohn Antigone, Belvoir, Sydney

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1999-2006 Regular script assessment for Playwriting Australia
Recipient of the Goethe Institut & Playwriting Australia's Dramaturgy Scholarship: 3 week attachment at the Maxim Gorki Theater, Berlin, focusing on rehearsal for The Prince from Homburg directed by Artistic Director Armin Petras; 1 month language scholarship at Goethe Institute in Berlin; 3 week observation rehearsals for Karl Marx: Band Eins with German theatre group Rimini Protokoll; dramaturgy conference, hosted by Nordscen, Vilnius.

 

2005    devised short audio work, Room 806, for X-Wohnungen Suburbs 2005, HAU

Full-time: Business English language teacher: Linguarama SprachenInstitut, Berlin

 

2003    director, The Country by Martin Crimp (Australian Premiere) B Sharp, Belvoir

Awarded the biannual VCA Keith & Elisabeth Murdoch Travelling Scholarship

Sept/Oct 2003: El Rey de Algeciras, Centre Teatro de Andaluz, Seville. Observed rehearsals for a new play dealing with illegal immigration and police brutality on the coast of Spain. dir:Julio Fraga; Oct 2003 & April 2004 : Observed rehearsals for Eraritjaritjaka, Musee des Phrases, by Heiner Goebbels based on the writings of Elias Canetti. Premiere: Theatre-Vidy, Lausanne. Interview with Heiner Goebbels for RealTimeArts, October 2004; Nov & Dec 2003: participated in day to day activities of The Company Theatre, a small not-for-profit theatre touring company in Mumbai.

 

2002    director, Moved Reading, Seeking Djiran by Linda Jaivin, Playbox Theatre

director, Psychopathia Sexualis by John Patrick Shanley, Red Stitch Theatre

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2001    Selected to participate in 4 week International Program, Royal Court, London. Supported by Ausco and ArtsVic.  During residency, directed a moved reading of Her Mother and Bartok by Meredith Oakes
director, Crave by Sarah Kane, B Sharp, Belvoir

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2000    director & producer, Crave by Sarah Kane, The Storeroom, Melbourne Fringe
co-director, with Elena Vereker, Dead Girls Are Fantastic by Lally Katz, Next Wave Festival

​1999    director moved reading, Horsegirl and Her Young Gentleman Friend by Lally Katz,

St Martins' Theatre Young Playwrights Competition

director, Kindertransport by Diane Samuels (Australian Premiere), Saltpillar Theatre

assistant director, The Misanthrope, trans. Martin Crimp, dir. Simon Phillips, MTC

 

1997      director & producer, The Mandragola by Machiavelli, PACT, Sydney

 

1996     co-founder of physical theatre company TILT. Performed and devised new works:

            Loving the Alien (The Stables) and Moving Stills (Melbourne Fringe)

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PAST PROJECTS

 

2019

  • World Premiere, Ned, composer Luke Styles, libretto Peter Goldsworthy, presented by Lost and Found Opera and Perth Festival

  • World premiere, Australian Realness by Zoey Dawson, Malthouse Theatre

 

2018

  • Good Muslim Boy, adapted by Janice Muller and Osamah Sami from his memoir, Malthouse Theatre & Queensland Theatre, (Green Room Award nomination for Rodney Afif - Outstanding performance in featured role.)

  • ‘Nibble, Nibble Little Mouse…’  - an immersive theatrical experience for primary school aged children, inspired by Hansel and Gretel, ArtsHub Newstead (Supported by Regional Arts Victoria)

 

2017

  • World premiere, Biographica, composer Mary Finsterer, libretto Tom Wright, Sydney Chamber Opera/ Sydney Festival, Carriageworks.

  • The Tribe, Castlemaine State Festival & The Substation, Melbourne

  • Australian premiere of Revolt, She Said. Revolt Again by Alice Birch, Malthouse Theatre (Green Room Award Nomination: Best Ensemble)

  • Turbine by Dan Giovannoni, Suitcase Series, Malthouse Theatre & regional Victoria.

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2016

  • Director in Residence, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne

  • The Tribe, return season, Belvoir.  (Winner FBI Smac Award for Best on Stage)

  • Lake Disappointment, by Lachlan Philpott & Luke Mullins. Carriageworks, Sydney. (Nominated for 5 Sydney Theatre Awards: Best director mainstage work, Best male actor in leading role, Best new Australian work, Best Sound Design, Best lighting design (won). Nominated: FBI Smac Awards Best on Stage

  • Turbine by Dan Giovannoni, Suitcase Series, Malthouse Theatre Education program.

 

2015

  • assistant director, Death and the Maiden, MTC, dir. Leticia Caceres

  • Director & co-adaptor with Mohammed Michael Ahmad of his novella The Tribe, for Bankstown Live, Sydney Festival. Produced by Urban Theatre Projects

 

2014

  • dramaturg, Mantle, My Darling Patricia, Campbelltown Arts Centre

  • assistant director, dir. John Bell, A Winter's Tale, Bell Shakespeare, Drama Theatre, SOH

  • dramaturg, The Piper, My Darling Patricia, Sydney Festival, (Winner: Best Production for Children, 2014 Sydney Theatre Awards)

  • Participated in the inaugural Melbourne Theatre Company's Women Directors Program

 

2013

  • Milawa Monologues, by Margaret Hickey, The Old Chaff Barn, Milawa, Victoria

  • Concept and direction, Quay to the City, a theatrical walking tour through The Rocks with 30 young performers for Australian Theatre for Young People, in partnership with Sydney Living Museums, SHFA and The Big Dig.

  • Curator, White Rabbit, Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour, Malthouse Theatre.

 

2012

  • dramaturgy, Miss Julie, by Strindberg, dir. Cristabel Sved, Darlinghurst Theatre

 

2010     

  • Alaska by DC Moore, atyp’s Under the Wharf independent program

  • Mentor, 12 mth program, Fresh Ink, Australian Theatre for Young People.

  •  A Woman in Berlin, remount, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne as part of the Goethe Institute festival

 

2009      

  • A Woman in Berlin, directed & co-adapted with Meredith Penman, Old Fitzroy Theatre, Sydney​

 

2008     

  • Assistant Director, Antigone, dir. Chris Kohn, Company B Belvoir, Sydney​

 

2006

  • 1999 – 2006 – regular script assessor for Playwriting Australia

  • Recipient of the Goethe Institute & Playwriting Australia's Dramaturgy Scholarship

Study Plan included a 3 week attachment at the Maxim Gorki Theater, Berlin, focusing on rehearsal for The Prince from Homburg directed by MGT Artistic Director Armin Petras; one month language intensive Goethe Institute in Berlin; 3 weeks with German theatre group Rimini Protokoll, in lead up to premiere of their production Karl Marx: Band Eins in Düsseldorf; attendance at a dramaturgy conference hosted by Nordscen in Vilnius.

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2005

  • Created Room 806 for  X-Wohnungen Suburbs 2005, HAU (Hebbel-am-Ufer Theater) a project of Matthias Lilienthal. 

 

2003      

  • Australian premiere, The Country by Martin Crimp B Sharp, Belvoir, Sydney​

  • Awarded bi-annual VCA Keith & Elisabeth Murdoch Travelling Scholarship

Sept/Oct 2003: Observation, El Rey de Algeciras dir. Julio Fraga,  Centre Teatro de Andaluz,

Oct 2003 & April 2004 : Observation, dir. Heiner Goebbels, Eraritjaritjaka, Musee des Phrases, Premiere: Theatre-Vidy, Lausanne. (Interview with Heiner Goebbels for RealTimeArts, October 2004)

Nov & Dec 2003: participated in day to day activities of The Company Theatre, Mumbai, a small not-for-profit theatre touring company in Mumbai.

 

2002      

  • Moved Reading, Seeking Djiran by Linda Jaivin, Playbox, Melbourne

  • Psychopathia Sexualis by John Patrick Shanley, Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Melbourne​

 

2001      

  • Participant, 4 week Royal Court International Residency London (Supported by AusCo)

  • Crave by Sarah Kane, B Sharp, Belvoir

 

2000      

  • Australian Premiere, Crave by Sarah Kane, The Storeroom, Melbourne Fringe Festival

  • Dead Girls Are Fantastic by Lally Katz, co-director Elena Vereker, Next Wave Festival

 

1999      

  • Horsegirl and Her Young Gentleman Friend by Lally Katz, Moved Reading, St Martin’s Young Playwrights Competition (Winner)      

  • Australian Premiere, Kindertransport by Diane Samuels, Saltpillar Theatre Co

  • assistant director, dir. Simon Phillips,  The Misanthrope, trans. Martin Crimp, MTC

 

1998 

  • Graduate Diploma Theatre Directing (High Distinction),  Victorian College of the Arts. During this year, I directed/performed in Between teh Mask and the Naked Face, a Howard Barker/Irene Fornes project; directed Distant Lights from Dark Places by Andrew Bovell; assistant to dir. Robert Meldrum The Cherry Orchard; Created a performance piece in response to war atrocities in Bosnia.

 

1997      

  • director, The Mandragola by Machiavelli, Doubletake Theatre, PACT, Sydney

 

​1996     

  • Co-founder of physical theatre company TILT. Performed & devised new works: Loving the Alien, The Stables, Sydney and Moving Stills, Melbourne Fringe Festival

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