Welcome to Bearfoot!

Located in Newcastle, NSW Australia, Bearfoot Theatre is the Hunter Region’s leading queer theatre company and specialises in the development and production of original work. Bearfoot has a mission to generate ‘Stories for a New World’ by generating relevant theatre that challenges audiences and gives a voice to those unheard. Bearfoot assists the development of our writers by providing opportunities to workshop their scripts. 

Since their inception in 2017, Bearfoot has fostered a diverse and inclusive community of creatives from all facets of the industry, generating opportunities for them to apply their skills in a safe, supportive and professional setting. 

Bearfoot has received City of Newcastle Drama Association awards for Best Dramatic Production, Best New Work, Best Direction, Best Theatrical Event, Beat Lighting Design, Best Online Series and Best Performance and has received nominations in almost every category of the ceremony. 

The Bearfoot Original Projects to date include:

(2017) ‘Do Your Parents Know You’re Straight?’ Written and directed by Riley McLean. Assistant directed by Cassie Hamilton. 

(2018) ‘Take Me to Neverland’ Written by Riley McLean and directed by Riley McLean and Cassie Hamilton. Assistant Directed by Genevieve Lawson. 

(2018) ‘DYPKYS the Musical Concert’ A fundraising concert with a devised plot. (2018) ‘I Hope it’s Not Raining in London’ Written by Nicholas Thoroughgood and directed by Riley McLean. 

(2019) ‘Hermit Crabs and Meteors’ Written by Tyler Atcheson and directed by Riley McLean. Assistant directed by Molly Hersee. 

(2019) ‘I Hope it’s Not Raining in London’ Written by Nicholas Thoroughgood and directed by Riley McLean. Toured to venues in Newcastle, Central Coast, Sydney and Melbourne. 

(2019) ‘SPECTRUM’ A devised collaboration between Bearfoot and Knock and Run Theatre. 

(2019) ‘Playing Face’ Written and directed by Cassie Hamilton. Toured to venues in Newcastle and Sydney. 

(2020) ‘The Bearfoot Pride Concert’ An online celebration of pride. 

(2020) ‘Bearfoot Readings’ An online series of play readings and feedback sessions with the playwrights. 

(2021) ‘Do Your Parents Know You’re Straight?’ Written and directed by Riley McLean. Assistant directed by Harry Lyddiard. This production was commissioned as part of the Civic Theatre subscription season. 

(2021) ‘Here, There and Everywhere’ Written and directed by Nicholas Thoroughgood. Assistant directed by Zoe Walker. 

(2021) ‘2021 Pride Celebration’ An online celebration of pride. 

(2022) ‘I Hope it’s Not Raining in London’ Written by Nicholas Thoroughgood and directed by Riley McLean. 

(2022) ‘Sorry Mum’ Written by Zac Smith and Directed by Allison Van Gaal.

(2022) ‘Take Me to Neverland’ Written by Riley McLean and Directed by Samuel Jenkins. This production was commissioned is partnership with The Lock-Up

(2024) ‘C*ckhead’ Written by Tallulah Eden| Directed by Rylee O’Rourke and assisted directed by Josie Boyd

(2024) ‘Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood’ Written and Directed by Riley McLean and assisted by Zippie Tiffenright

An introduction to Bearfoot Theatre.
2021 in 2 Minutes.
Trailer for our 2021 production, Do Your Parents Know You’re Straight?