ANDREW UPTON: FROM STAGE TO PAGE

Andrew Upton does not stay in his lane. He has written for theatre, film and television in Australia and abroad, and his stage adaptations have toured internationally. During his tenure as co-director at the Sydney Theatre Company with his wife Cate Blanchett, they channeled their passion for theatre, sustainability and teaching into an award-winning green performing arts hub and produced a podcast on climate change.  

Across these many creative pursuits, Andrew has had several jobs, but just one calling: storytelling. 

Andrew’s debut novel Krank Fuss is a modern-day Animal Farm and follows the titular character, a chicken with a deformed foot on a farm in Nazi Germany on the eve of World War II. As both the chicken heroine and her homeland hurtle towards their inevitable fates, this fable reminds us of the importance of hope under the creeping shadow of authoritarian catastrophe. 

In praise of Krank Fuss:  

“Layered and beautifully written” – Susan Chenery for the Guardian 

Join Andrew in conversation with Michaela Kalowski, as they explore how to live a life rich with creative purpose. From the inspiration he draws upon, to moving between artistic disciplines to thinking about how the arts should be for all, this is a rare look behind the curtain of a powerful storyteller whose work has shaped the Australian and international creative landscape.