Williams also expects an “electrifying night of acting” when Weaving stars alongside Irish actor Olwen Fouere (Riverrun) in Austrian playwright Thomas Bernhard’s The President. They play the president and first lady of a small, unnamed country that is on the cusp of a revolution, in a co-production with Gate Theatre in Dublin.

Williams says the pair have always wanted to work together on stage, and landed on this “scarily resonant” classic of modern European theatre.

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“[We thought] wouldn’t it be extraordinary to do a cross-cultural collaboration on this work, and to give the production a chance to be seen in both cultures and to give the artists from both Ireland and Australia an opportunity to have their work seen on other sides of the world?”

For Dear Evan Hansen, STC is working with musical producer Michael Cassel (who is touring Dorian Gray to London’s West End in 2024).

Williams says he couldn’t resist the opportunity to work with a local creative team to create a new production for Australian audiences – especially young people. “It’s a great opportunity to get young people into the theatre and to get them hooked on the live experience,” says Williams.

These tent pole productions are joined by two recent Pulitzer Prize winners, Sweat by Lynn Nottage (Clyde’s) and Cost of Living by Martyna Majok.

But what Williams is most proud of is the season’s focus on Australian playwrights. Eleven out of 15 plays were written or adapted by Australians, including Angus Cerini (The Bleeding Tree), Van Badham (Banging Denmark) and Anchuli Felicia King (White Pearl), who will each be premiering new work.