Jason Forrest has spent 30 years working as a performing artist and educator across a variety of sectors internationally, interstate and locally. Prior to completing a Bachelor of Educational Theatre and a Graduate Diploma in Education in Adelaide, Jason was a member of touring acapella choir Before You Were Blonde and featured in several theatre productions including Caryl Churchill’s Cloud 9. During this time, Jason also worked as a freelance dancer, touring shows locally and interstate. As an experienced Drama, Media Studies and English teacher and educational leader, Jason has worked with primary and secondary school students in Adelaide, Melbourne, Japan, China, and United Kingdom to develop their expressive skills as performers and cultivate their aesthetic as emerging artists in film and theatre. Jason has directed and produced numerous theatrical productions and events with young people and their respective communities for a wide range of purposes. Most recently, Jason completed a Graduate Certificate in Journalism and undertook various radio, film and podcasting courses in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Jason commenced the Master of Fine Arts in Directing course at NIDA in 2025 where he has directed actors from Actors Centre Australia in a performance of Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story and he has served as an Assistant Director on Joel Tan’s No Particular Order directed by Nigel Turner-Carroll and Kate Mulvany’s adaptation of Mary Stuart directed by Marion Potts. Jason also directed Velvet Trip’s music video for their track Burnin’ Up as a part of the triple j/rage Unearthed competition.
Jason is excited to be directing Emma Rice and Anna Maria Murphy’s adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Red Shoes for NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists and as a part of Qtopia’s Mainstage Season in April, before heading to Dublin, Vienna and London for a Professional Placement in May and June.
Jason’s long and storied career in the Arts is testament to his creative drive, versatility and commitment to all aspects of theatre and film making.