Brendan O'Connor

Brendan O’Connor began his acting career in Townsville, trained by the late Jean-Pierre Voos, and was a founding member of Tropic Line Theatre Ensemble, performing with the company for 6 years. Brendan carved out an enviable career in Melbourne combining both regular television appearances & major national advertising campaigns with a Shakespearean stage career, working with the Australian Shakespeare Company for 18 years, playing lead roles in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, RICHARD III, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW & MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. In 2012, he made the decision to return to Townsville and devote more time to the development of TheatreiNQ.

The decision to leave behind his career in Melbourne for the uncertainty of launching a regional independent theatre company wasn’t an easy one. Luckily for Brendan, TheatreiNQ has been a resounding success. In addition to the main-stage shows, Brendan and his partner Terri Brabon, also launched the actor-training programme, The Bridge Project with many young regional actors now studying at NIDA, WAAPA, QUT, VCA and other prestigious schools around the country.

What makes Brendan’s achievements even more remarkable, is the fact that not only does he take on leading roles for the company, he is also the chief Lighting and Set Designer. And if that wasn’t enough to admire, he is also the chief Builder and technician for the company – literally doing the job of at least 8 people. In the past 10 years, Brendan has played over 40 leading roles, designed & built over 30 Sets and designed and implemented more than 25 Lighting Designs.