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Dan has been a theatre director, playwright, improvisor, street performer, actor, motivational speaker, and comedian since graduating from clown school in 2001.

He co-created cult improv sensations Perfuct Storm and Improv Seduction and is the creator of the bafflingly popular sleep-aid podcast Dan Bain’s Sleepy Time Mumbles. As a multi-award-winning standup his comedy reflects his unique perspective and cheerful vulgarity, all filtered through his desperate attempts to appear clever.

Dan's work as a writer for theatre includes Ivy Black: Axe Murder Girl and The Light in the Sky; the silent children's shows A Paintbox of Clowns, Why Are My Parents So Boring? and Cat Vs. Dog; the Young and Hungry commissions Gameplan and Uncle Minotaur; the comedy Stag Weekend (with Brendon Bennetts); high school musical The Invisibles (with Luke Di Somma); and his multiple versions of A Christmas Carol. His adaption of The Odyssey for three comedy actors won the Best NZ Play, Best Adaptation, and Best South Island Play in the 2024 Playmarket Awards.

His book on live performance technique ‘These Are NOT the Rules of Improvisation’ is available from the Playmarket bookshop and online at perfuct.co.nz.

One of Aotearoa’s most experienced theatre directors, his credits include Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, Titus Andronicus, Stephen King’s Misery, Ideation, and The Arsonists for The Court Theatre; Around the World in 80 Days and The Odyssey for CCC Summer Theatre; and Cancel Santa and O Little Town of Beckenham for Little Andromeda.

His acting credits at The Court Theatre include Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, Hamlet in Hamlet the Videogame, Louie in The Ladykillers, Tom Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Danny Lieberman in Backstage, and innumerable characters in Court Theatre kids shows from 2008 - 2010.

Dan was Associate Director of The Court Theatre from 2017 - 2020 and Artistic Director of The Court Jesters from 2014 - 2020. He was a core member of the Court Jesters Company from 2002 - 2020.

He is currently the Artistic and Programming Director of Little Andromeda Fringe Theatre and the Head of The Malthouse Drama School.

Court Shows