In an announcement this afternoon, State Theatre said Butel – a four-time Helpmann Award winner who has acted in and directed more than 150 theatre productions – will return to his hometown of Sydney to take up the position of artistic director at Sydney Theatre Company.

Highlights of his tenure in SA include the premiere of The Dictionary of Lost Words, an adaptation of Adelaide author Pip Williams’ bestseller that was co-produced with Sydney Theatre Company and became the highest-selling Dunstan Playhouse show in State Theatre’s history, and the commissioning and production of other new Australian works such as Hibernation, Euphoria, Welcome to Your New Life (based on Anna Goldsworthy’s memoir) and, most recently, The Questions.

In a statement, Butel thanked State Theatre Company executive director Julian Hobba and the organisation’s board, foundation, staff and supporters “who believe so strongly in the transformative power of theatre”.

“I have loved creating new works with brilliant, daring and diverse artists from South Australia and beyond, and seeing those works dazzle audiences while helping to lead the company into a period of increased national touring, innovative and extensive collaborations, and organisational growth and security.”

Butel relocated from Sydney to Adelaide after being appointed to the role with State Theatre Company in late 2018 following the departure of former artistic director Geordie Brookman. The first full season he programmed for the company, in 2020, was interrupted by COVID-19, but he collaborated with ActNow Theatre on the Ruby Award-winning online project Decameron 2.0. State Theatre then became one of the first Australian theatre companies to return to the stage with the Victorian thriller Gaslight at the newly reopened Her Majesty’s Theatre in September 2020.­

Butel is known not only for his work behind the scenes, but is a familiar face to local audiences through his performances in shows such as Candide, The Normal Heart and Dance Nation. Since moving to Adelaide he has also directed a succession of sold-out Variety Gala events for the Cabaret Festival.

Mitchell Butel (centre) in the 2022 production of The Normal Heart. Photo: Matt Byrne

State Theatre board chair Joe Thorp said Butel had brought “warmth and vim” to the company, adding that it had seen strong growth in audiences during his tenure – including three of the highest-selling shows in the company’s 50-year history.

Julian Hobba said he would be greatly missed as AD: “He goes with the great respect of our staff, board and the whole community of the company, including artists, audiences, industry and supporters. He is an exceptional artist, a beloved member of the local theatre community, and an outstanding colleague and leader. His appointment to be artistic director at Sydney Theatre Company is a source of pride and happiness for the company and we wish him every possible success.”

Butel, who describes Sydney Theatre Company as his training ground as a young actor, said he was eager to develop more collaborations between the harbour city and Adelaide.

“Sydney may be my birthplace but the great love I have for Adelaide and State Theatre Company South Australia will be the lighthouse for the next part of my journey,” he said.

“To have been part of its history and legacy is a deep honour and I cannot wait to share with SA audiences the cracker shows we have programmed for my final season in 2025.”

South Australia’s arts sector has seen considerable change amid its leadership in the past two years, with recent movements including the departure of Rhana Devenport (director) and Lisa Slade (assistant director, artistic programs) from the Art Gallery of SA, the appointment of a new artistic director at Port Adelaide-based multidisciplinary arts company Vitalstatistix, and the announcement last week that Adelaide Festival’s artistic director Ruth Mackenzie was leaving midway through her tenure to take up a new arts leadership role with the State Government.

State Opera welcomed a new artistic director (Dane Lam) at the end of 2023, while Brink Productions, Windmill Theatre and Carclew have all undergone a changing of the guard in the past 18 or so months.

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