Lindsay Farris

Early life

Farris grew up on the New South Wales Central Coast where he trained as a classical pianist from the age of five. He went on to attend the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music and Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, representing both institutions in numerous performing arts festivals and competitions around Australia. Farris studied acting with the New South Wales State Drama Company, touring to Sydney, Europe and England performing in A Property of the Clan and The Norman Conquests. He continued his training with the National Institute of Dramatic Arts Young Actors Studio.

Stage work

Farris has an extensive background in Australian theatre having worked for several leading Australian theatre companies including the Sydney Theatre Company under Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton's Artistic Direction, La Boite Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, The Production Company and Christine Dunstan Productions.

Farris' recent theatre credits include the critically acclaimed title role of Hamlet in Sport For Jove Theatre Company production at the Seymour Centre for which he received a 2012 Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in an Independent Production. Farris received rave reviews with iconic Sydney arts reviewer and co-founder of the Sydney Theatre Awards Diana Simmonds stating "Lindsay Farris' Hamlet is the most electrifying, memorable, sustained and intelligent realisation of the tragic Prince of Denmark I've ever seen". In 2011 he appeared in the Australian premiere of Anthony Neilson's play Edward Gant's Amazing Feats of Loneliness, a co-production between the Sydney Theatre Company and La Boite Theatre Company.

Farris appeared as Dakin in the Alan Bennett play The History Boys at the Sydney Opera House.

In May 2013 Farris reprised his critically acclaimed role of the Danish Prince in Sport For Jove Theatre Company's return season of Hamlet. Farris appeared in Noises Off and Mojo, both for Sydney Theatre Company.

Farris wrote the stage plays Sugar Bowl and Touch in 2006. Farris is also author of A Young Actor's Guide to Becoming a Wanker.

Farris was founder and Artistic Director of the National Youth Theatre Company.

Film and television

Farris appeared in Peter Templeman's 2005 short film Splintered, which won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2005. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film (Live Action).

In 2009 Farris appeared in Rene Hernandez’s short film The Ground Beneath, which was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Film.

Farris starred in the Joseph Sims feature film Bad Behaviour alongside John Jarratt. The film was selected as the closing night feature for the 2010 Melbourne Underground Film Festival, and received five awards including Best Actor for Lindsay. Bad Behaviour also appeared at the 2011 Cinequest Film Festival, making its North American premiere and has since appeared at Cannes and Another Hole in the Head Festival in San Francisco.

In 2010 Farris worked alongside Sunny Abberton to develop a documentary on youth theatre in Australia. Lindsay is also Executive Director of The Australian Ministry of Theatre, a company dedicated to the development of cultural initiatives for the sustainability of theatre practitioners and audiences.

In 2015 Lindsay worked alongside Geoffrey Rush, Nikolaj Coster Waldau, Brenton Thwaites and Gerard Butler on Gods of Egypt for Lionsgate Entertainment. Prior to this, Farris appeared in the Australian component of Geography of the Heart.

In 2016 Farris starred in Joseph Sims-Dennett's feature film Observance alongside John Jarratt, Roger Ward, Stephanie King and Tom O'Sullivan which was released in 2016. He worked on Alan Ball's HBO pilot Virtuoso, and appeared as Dom Loneragan on Home and Away for The Seven Network.

In 2017 Lindsay appeared as Declan Brannan in David Zabel and Ridley Scott's Civil War drama, Mercy.

Music

As composer, classical pianist and burlesque artist, Farris has performed at venues and clubs across Australia including the Sydney Opera House, Vanguard, Metro and Spanish Club.

Directing

Farris has taught regularly at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and has worked with students in performing arts at primary, secondary and tertiary schools across Australia including National Institute of Dramatic Arts and Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Farris is a regular lecturer at intensive education programmes, including the NSW State Drama Camp, NSW Riverina School's Drama Camp, Big Day Out, National Institute of Dramatic Art Young Actors Studio, NSW State Drama Company and NSW State Drama Ensemble. He also lectures regularly at schools and community centres on the importance of film, theatre, acting, and drama in education.

Charity work

Farris was co-founder and Chair of the National Youth Theatre Company Foundation.