Petra Kalive is driven to tell stories because they define us, connect us, and—when told at the right time—have the power to transform us.
She is the Artistic Director and Co-CEO of State Theatre Company South Australia. Her expertise as a director spans mainstage, independent, community, and education productions. Petra navigates these sectors with agility, bringing fresh insight and innovation to every project she undertakes.
A passionate advocate for inclusion, Petra has an unwavering commitment to championing diverse voices. As Associate Director of Melbourne Theatre Company, she directed a series of acclaimed works that foregrounded marginalised perspectives, successfully drawing in new audiences. Prior to that, she was Artistic Director of Union House Theatre, where she mentored and showcased student work—many of those students now have thriving careers in the industry.
Petra was also Co-Artistic Director of Melbourne Playback Theatre Company, where she deepened her commitment to community engagement. Working with the ensemble, she created performances drawn from real-life stories across varied community settings.
In addition to her leadership roles, Petra has consistently pursued her own creative practice as a writer and director.. She is also an experienced facilitator, having led workshops in educational and corporate contexts in areas such as presentation, improvisation, Shakespeare, acting, movement, voice, and character. In 2014, she co-designed and delivered the Leadership Experience for Qantas as part of its Service Culture Program.
Petra undertook her Masters by Research in Directorial Practice from the Victorian College of the Arts, studied acting at the Western Australian Acaedmy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), has an Advanced Certifiace in the Teaching of Shakespeare from the RSC, did her Solo Residency in Performance at Victoria University and has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne.
At Melbourne Theatre Company, her directing credits include Happy Days (Samuel Beckett), Laurinda (Diana Nguyen), Touching the Void (David Greig), The Lifespan of a Fact (Kareken, Murrell & Farrell), Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (Hannah Moscovitch, Green Room nominated for Best Direction), Hungry Ghosts (Jean Tong), Melbourne Talam (Rashma Kalsie, Green Room nominated for Best Direction), and Beached (Melissa Bubnic, winner of the 2010 Patrick White Award).
Beyond MTC, she has directed and developed work for Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir St Theatre, Canberra Theatre Centre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Essential Theatre, Arena Theatre Company, Complete Works Theatre Company, Union House Theatre, St Martins Youth Arts Centre, La Trobe University, Monash University, and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA).
Her notable independent credits include Taxithi (fortyfivedownstairs, Green Room nominated for Best Director), Oil Babies (Northcote Town Hall, shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2019), Emilia (Victorian Arts Centre and Canberra Theatre Centre), and the first presentation of the new Australian musical My Brilliant Career.
In 2023, Petra was awarded a Churchill Fellowship. Her research took her to the United States, the United Kingdom, and Chile to explore models of community-engaged and community-led theatre presented within professional theatre company settings. Her report is available here.