David Burton
David Burton is an award-winning playwright and author based in Brisbane. His play April’s Fool (Playlab Press) was written in 2010 and it’s been touring around the country ever since. He is the author of over thirty professional plays and has worked with Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe, Queensland Theatre, La Boite Theatre Company, Queensland Music Festival and more.
A speaker and presenter in schools across Queensland, David is passionate about sharing his remarkable story with young people.
How to Be Happy is David’s first book winning The Text prize for best manuscript written for young adult and children’s writing awarded annually. “It’s a book that sets off in pursuit of those things that are true and real. It is a three-dimensional account of how to grapple with every kind of adolescent anxiety, and it’s bursting with humour and wit”. How to Be Happy was published in mid-2015.
David is the director and writer of several massive musical theatre projects with Queensland Music Festival, and the writer of many education plays for Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe.
In 2019, David will publish a new book and complete his doctorate.
TALKS
HOW TO BE HAPPY
His most popular talk, this inspirational story is derived from David's personal experience growing up. Typically called in for senior retreats, David tells his story with unflinching honesty and comedy, promoting responsibility, selfcare and community. Talk covers: sexual identity, mental health, depression, anxiety, intellectual disabilities and family relationships, and can be shaped in consultation with his intended audience. This is a funny, moving 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.
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 2018Your 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.David 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, 2015Dave 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, Writer
How To Be Happy
April's Fool
Lazarus Won't Get Out of Bed
