2026 Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Award Announcement
We are delighted to announce Jules Billington and Jessica Fallico as the recipients of the 2026 Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Award!
“I am thrilled that in this 11th year of the SBDA we have two fabulous creatives joining the ensemble team next year. Jules Billington and Jessica Fallico have made great inroads into the industry, and we’re excited they will be working on two plays each alongside more established directors. The Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Awards is not only us welcoming creatives into our theatre space but also a conversation between like-minded artists engaged in storytelling. This year we had amazing entries and it’s heartening to see so many talented directors working on our varied theatre stages.” – Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry
JULES BILLINGTON
A NIDA graduate, Jules has worked as an actor, director, and performance and movement coach in the Australian theatre and film industry for over twenty years. Their directing credits include: the World Premiere of the award-winning People Will Think You Don’t Love Me by Joanna Erskine at KXT Theatre produced by Little Trojan (2024), the Australian Premier of The Swell by Isley Lynn at The Old Fitz Theatre produced by Akimbo & co (2024); and We’ll Dance On The Ash Of The Apocalypse by Melissa-Kelly Franklin as part of Desert Festival in Alice Springs (2021). Jules was also the Associate Director on A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2024) for Bell Shakespeare, directed by Peter Evans. Jules is passionate about nurturing emerging artists, and is proud to have taught at NIDA, Actors Centre Australia, and Sydney Actors School. They are currently directing Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare for Actors Centre Australia second years, and in 2023 devised a new Australian work with Sydney Actors School titled EVOL written by Joanna Erskine. Jules is also a regular director for Bell Shakespeare’s theatre-in-education program The Players, having directed over twenty emerging actors in five shows for the company since 2020.
“I am delighted and incredibly honoured to be awarded the ETSBDA for 2026 and follow in the footsteps of some of Australia’s most exciting and respected theatre makers. Opportunities to learn through practical experience under the guidance of established directors are hard to come by, and I am so grateful to Jinnie and Ross Gavin for their generous support of the ETSBDA, and also to Ensemble Theatre for their commitment to nurturing Australia’s emerging Directors.”
JESSICA FALLICO
Jessica is an experienced interdisciplinary artist—an award-winning director, writer and dramaturg. Recently, Jessica directed the black comedy, gothic horror The Moors, the gender-bending musical FUCCBOIS: Live in Concert, and the cabaret Blacklisted, to rave reviews. Jessica directed the award-winning play Nothing Scares Us Anymore as part of the Martin Lysicrates Prize and is the resident drama director for Pulse Alive at the Ken Rosewell Arena, Olympic Park. Jessica has directed several main-stage musical theatre productions at Riverside Theatre, winning a Broadway World Award for ‘Best Direction of a Musical’ on Kinky Boots. Selected for an associate secondment (directing) with Theatre Works, Jessica was the Assistant director to Beng Oh supporting the debut of (the Premier’s Literary Award-winning novel) Soldier Boy by Anthony Hill.
“It’s an absolute joy to be an Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Awards winner, joining the list of remarkable directors who have come before me. The Ensemble Theatre is creating vital opportunities for artistic development and support and I am thrilled to be working with this wonderful network of talented and inspiring creatives, delivering extraordinary theatre.”
Supported by Jinnie and Ross Gavin.