Benjamin Kilby-Henson

Benjamin is one of New Zealand’s busiest theatre directors, forging a diverse career, spanning form, scale and medium including original works, scripted premieres and opera. Prior to New Zealand, Benjamin worked for one of the UK’s largest youth arts organisations, leading participatory projects for primarily at-risk youth, including taking six productions a year to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for nine consecutive years. Ben later trained in theatre direction at the Mountview Academy of Theatre arts, London, while continuing to direct for the London fringe and cabaret circuit. Following projects in Germany and France, Ben was director in residence at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford.

In NZ, Ben teaches in Auckland’s drama schools and is Artistic Manager of The Actors’ Program. Under theatre collective Fractious Tash, Ben has received critical acclaim for Earnest, Not Psycho and Titus, which was then remounted for a sell-out season at the Pop-Up Globe (featuring Beyoncé covers by Aotearoa’s only steelpan band...). The company presented the NZ premiere of Lucy Prebble’s The Effect to great acclaim and were set to collaborate with The Fortune Theatre on a new adaptation of Hansel and Gretel before the theatre’s closure.

Ben’s Auckland Theatre Company credits include Red Speedo by American playwright Lucas Hnath, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead, and King Lear. The award-winning production of Last Tapes’ Valerie toured throughout NZ, following dates in Australia and Edinburgh, adding to its accolade the coveted Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 2021 saw Ben’s first production for The Court Theatre with Little Shop of Horrors, followed by Something Rotten! in 2023 and Strictly Ballroom The Musical in 2024.