David Burton
David Burton is a writer from Brisbane, Queensland. He’s the author of over thirty professionally produced plays, two acclaimed books, and has been a core part of some of Australia's most innovative theatrical projects. He’s also a Dad and has a doctorate in community-engaged theatre, and his weekly blog has hundreds of loyal readers. In 2024, he was short-listed for the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award.
In 2014, he won the Text Prize for Children and Young Adults' Writing for his memoir How to be Happy, published in 2015. He followed this up with the 2019 release of the young adult mystery novel The Man In The Water. David is also known for his award-winning theatrical work, including April's Fool, a verbatim play concerning illicit teenage drug use, published by Playlab Press. In 2016, his work St. Mary's in Exile premiered as part of the 2016 Queensland Theatre Company MainStage season. He’s gone on to write and direct Queensland Music Festival’s signature community works, including The Power Within (2017, in partnership with the Isaac Regional Council) and The Mount Isa Blast (2019, in partnership with the Mount Isa City Council).
David obtained his doctorate in 2021. He continues to write theatre-in-education touring pieces of the Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe. He is a qualified and practising counsellor and coach.
TALKS
Help! I'm a teenager!
This talk builds off David's inspirational story of growing up, utilising some of the latest research in psychology to provide listeners with key insights into navigating some of the most turbulent times of life. Talk is shaped in collaboration with intended audience, and can include: sexual identity, mental health, depression, anxiety, neurodivergence, family relationship ,academic pressures. Funny, moving and helpful exploration of adolescence.
Unleashing Creativity
David has created a living out of channeling his creativity. In this talk, suitable for all ages, David talks through the most common hurdles for anyone’s creative spark: self-doubt, no ideas, lack of motivation and more. This is a talk designed to get even the most reluctant artist enthusiastic about exploring the imagination.
How to Write a Play
Taking lessons from Shakespeare, Brecht and Marvel and Disney films, David unpacks the crucial elements for any dramatic story. With a crash course in structure, character, dialogue and theatricality, this is an essential talk for any drama student.
WORKSHOPS
Introduction to Verbatim Theatre
David is the author of several award-winning verbatim theatre works and is one of the leading verbatim theatre practitioners in the country. This workshops takes students through formulating interview questions, interview technique, data collection, editing and staging.
Mental Hygiene
As a qualified coach and counsellor, David can provide practical skills and exercises in navigating burnout, motivation and anxiety.This workshop provides students with rich resources and a suite of practical tips for painting mental wellbeing.
Testimonials
David catered for our audience well. He was engaging and entertaining. The students have provided feedback expressing their enjoyment of the visit.
Palmview State Secondary College - August, 2023We recently held a Literature & Arts Festival at St. Catherine's Catholic College, The Whitsundays for our Secondary students. All the authors that attended were entertaining, engaging and inspiring. I have had so much positive feedback from students, staff and library colleagues. The students have all been raving about how excellent the festival was, and they were disappointed at the thought of returning to classes for the rest of the week. I have had reluctant readers coming into the library to borrow books, more students are writing stories. I would definitely recommend David Burton, Josh Donellan, Kathy Hoopmann, James Moloney, Giulio Saggin, and Edwina Shaw to anyone looking at having authors present for their Secondary students.
St Catherine's Catholic College Literature and Arts Festival - May 2018Dave Burton was fantastic! We received very positive feedback about Dave’s talk, and the question and answer session. He was very inspirational.
David Burton - Gold Coast City Council, WriterDavid was very good catering to our requests, well organised and really good with the kids. He was able to adapt to the kids and their moods. He used his experience in theatre to inspire the kids and would be fantastic for playwright workshops.
I would highly recommend him to other schools.
David Burton - Woodcrest State College, August, 2015Your keynote presentation and the way you interacted with the students was outstanding and I was so pleased with what you did on the day. Wonderful! We cannot wait to buy your book!
It is not easy to put together an event such as this and with your support and help it was extremely successful.
David Burton - Positive Leadership Student Conference, Aquinas College, May, 2015.
The Man in the Water
How To Be Happy
April's Fool
Lazarus Won't Get Out of Bed
Queensland
Speaker type
- Author
- Motivational
- Playwright
- Virtual visits
Links
