Tony Knight was educated at Sydney Grammar School, trained at the Drama Centre London, and is a B.A. (Hons.) graduate from Sydney University. He was the Head of Acting at Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), training some of Australia’s most celebrated national and international actors, such as Cate Blanchett, Sam Worthington, Murray Bartlett, Sarah Snook, and Anna Torv.
Tony has taught, directed, and lectured in many parts of the world, including Australia, the USA, Japan, Romania, Singapore, and Tonga. He has spoken at numerous international and national conferences. In January 2018, he delivered three public lectures at the Australian National Portrait Gallery on ‘The Identity of the Australian Actor’ and ‘The Australian Actor in Film’.
Currently living in Port Willunga, South Australia, Tony continues to teach, direct, and produce work of the highest standard, as well as regularly writing theatre reviews for the national Australian theatre magazine, Stage Whispers. He has worked for SA Casting, Angela Heesom Casting, TAFE CPA, the NIDA Open Program, University of South Australia, Type Talent, and the University of Adelaide. Tony has also worked as a guest teacher at various high schools, including Pembroke College and Cornerstone College (Mt. Barker).
In 2018, he co-founded a new professional theatre company, STARC PRODUCTIONS. He has co-produced and directed several productions for STARC, including Gardner MacKay’s Toyer, Jim Cartwright’s Two, Terence McNally’s Frankie & Johnnie in the Clair de Lune, David Ives’ Venus in Fur, Nick Ward’s Constellations, and the Australian premiere of Suzie Miller’s award-winning play, Reasonable Doubt.
Tony has also recently directed Shakespeare’s As You Like It for Lakespeare, Canberra, and Lucy Kirkwood’s The Children for Chaika, Canberra. Furthermore, Tony has held four highly successful photographic exhibitions for the SALA Festival in Adelaide, in 2028, 2019, 2021, and 2022.
He is currently doing a PhD at Flinders University, as well as working in several schools in Adelaide and regional and rural South Australia. Tony also operates his own studio, The Actors Studio, in Adelaide. His motto for his theatre and photographic work is: “Making the Ordinary Extraordinary!”