The musical chairs in the arts world will continue this year with JUTE Theatre Company’s founding artistic director and CEO Suellen Maunder set to step down after an extraordinary and transformative era in Queensland’s regional theatre.
JUTE chair Gill Townsend praised Maunder’s creativity, vision and tireless dedication, making the Cairns-based organisation a national leader in regional arts and a vibrant company that has empowered diverse voices and inspired audiences for 32 years.
Townsend says Maunder leaves JUTE and Australia’s regional arts industry with a great legacy.
“Since its inception in the early ’90s, JUTE has blossomed from a small ensemble into an award-winning theatre company known for its bold productions, community outreach and dedication to nurturing emerging artists,” Townsend says.
“Under Suellen’s guidance, JUTE has become a beacon of creativity and storytelling, awakening an entire theatre ecosystem across regional Queensland. Suellen’s artistic integrity has been at the heart of JUTE’s success. Her imprint is not only in the theatre we have built but in the many artists and audiences her work has inspired over the years.”
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She says Maunder also played a key role in establishing Bulmba-ja Arts Centre and has long championed regional voices on the national stage.
“Suellen’s contributions to Queensland’s arts community will resonate for generations,” Townsend says.
Maunder has been recognised with numerous accolades, including the prestigious Gold Matilda Award presented in 2024 for her outstanding contribution to Queensland’s theatre industry.
Notable initiatives under her leadership include the award-winning Dare to Dream program, which since its launch in 2016 has delivered mentorship and development opportunities to thousands of First Nations artists, and the Driving and Activating the Regional Theatre Sector (DARTS), a three-year, artist-led initiative (spearheaded by JUTE Theatre Company in collaboration with a cohort of 50-plus theatre makers living and working in regional Queensland).
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Reflecting on her journey, Maunder says “it’s been an incredible ride, and my passion for JUTE and regional theatre remains as strong as ever”.
“I’m so grateful and proud of our work together and excited to see the future unfold for JUTE and the incredible team of artists who will continue to push boundaries,” Maunder says. “I’m especially thankful to Kathryn Ash and Susan Prince for igniting the spark that created JUTE. Our partnership was the foundation of everything JUTE has accomplished.”
Maunder has been a transformative force in Queensland’s regional theatre for more than 30 years, helping JUTE become one of Australia’s most innovative and influential art institutions. Known for her dynamic approach to theatre-making, she has not only directed some of the company’s most significant productions, but she has also played a vital role in fostering emerging artists and shaping the cultural landscape of Cairns and beyond.
She has directed and produced numerous works at JUTE, including Queenslander, Flutter, Surviving Jonah Salt, Crackle Snap Pop, The Boathouse and Is My Lipstick on Straight?
Her skills in large-scale productions were exemplified by the direction of Beginnings, the Commonwealth Games celebration community musical production in 2018 – a feat that brought the community together through performance and celebration.
Her directing work also includes Insignificance, Slave, Demolition Pile Driving Hard Hats and Donkey Dick and Black White & Shades of Brown (BWASOB), demonstrating an ability to tackle diverse genres and subject matter. Her leadership in creative development programs has allowed her to nurture numerous new Australian works, ensuring that new voices have a space to flourish.
As she prepares to bow out in the coming months, the search for her successor has begun. The JUTE Board is working with specialist search firm AEGEUS to find a new executive artistic director to lead the company into its next chapter. Stay tuned.