Iron Lung is a Melbourne-based independent theatre company. We produce classic and contemporary Australian, American and European text based work and create theatre of imaginative daring and emotional depth.

BRIONY DUNN

​

CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Briony has a Graduate Diploma in Directing from NIDA and a Master of Arts in Theatre from UNSW. She is Head of Course at AP Studio and co-Artistic Director of independent theatre company Iron Lung Theatre. She was a recipient of the Australia Council for the Arts professional development grant to teach and direct in the Palestinian Territories and Israel. Her 2019 production for Iron Lung Theatre of ‘night, Mother by Marsha Norman received critical acclaim and was reviewed as 'a restorative reminder of the power of theatre'.

​

Briony has directed for Belvoir Downstairs, Griffin Searchlight, Playwriting Australia, Big hArt and NIDA. Productions directed throughout her 25 year career include Der Hamletmachine by Heiner Muller, Electra.Heart.Orestes by Barton/Kavanagh, The Spirit Guard a Palestinian folktale, No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre, Life is a Dream by Calderon, La Dispute by Marivaux, Wild Honey by Michael Frayn, Are We There Yet by Vanessa O’Neil, The Threepenny Opera by Bertholt Brecht, dreamalittledreamalittle by Toby Schmitz, Dreaming Fire by Matt Edgerton, Ruffian on the Stair by Joe Orton, Summer of the Aliens by Louis Nowra and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. 

ESTHER VAN DOORNUM

​

CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Esther is a NIDA graduate and has worked in film, TV and theatre for the past 20 years. She has appeared in TV shows such as Water Rats, All Saints and Jack Irish. She recently completed four short films - Teddy, To the Sea, Louisa and Overshadowed. In 2001 she worked with the Bell Shakespeare Company appearing in main stage productions of Anthony and Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, both directed by John Bell.
 
In 2005 Esther appeared in the award-winning play Whale Music with the Darlinghurst Theatre Company. While at NIDA she performed in several shows including Whale Music, Top Girls, Boy's Life, Touched, Chaste Maid in Cheapside and The Libertine, which was directed by Richard Cottrell. In 2019 Esther played Jessie Cates in Iron Lung's inaugural show 'night, Mother by Marsha Norman. Esther also works extensively as a voice over artist. She recently worked with voice and acting teacher Patsy Rodenburg and the legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company.