Gavin Robins is an internationally acclaimed director of visual and physical theatre. His work combines daring physical performance with emerging technologies including digital content, animation, animatronics, automation, aerial performance and transformative scenic design.

Most recently Gavin was the Creative Director of the UAE Presidents Cup, and the Movement and Aerial director for the award winning production of King Kong on Broadway.

Creative Director Credits include

  • The Presidents Cup Opening Ceremony (Al Ain 2024)
  • Most Human Post Human ( Adelaide Fringe Festival 2024 )
  • The Presidents Cup Opening Ceremony (Abu Dhabi 2023)
  • Police Centenary Celebrations (Bahrain 2019)
  • Man with the Iron Neck, with Legs in the Wall, 2019 Sydney, Adelaide and Darwin Festivals.
  • Souk Okaz (Saudi Arabia)
  • Clusters of Light (Sharjah, Cairo),
  • Opening of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest (Baku, Azerbaijan),
  • Sydney Festival First Night’s High Flyers,
  • Bush Mechanics Live Mbantua Festival,
  • At First Sight National Institute of Circus Arts
  • Born in Sawdust National Institute of Circus Arts

Gavin has worked as the Live Action Director for a myriad of award winning theatrical productions, opening events, films, television commercials, and music videos.

Including the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023  United Arab Emirates National Days, Mother of the Nation (Abu Dhabi), Clusters of Light (Sharjah, Cairo), 70th Anniversary of Ferrari in Fiorano Modenese Italy, Opening of the European F1 in Baku, The Opening of Eurovision in Baku, Dubai National Day 2012 and 2015, Opening of Ferrari World (Abu Dhabi), Dreamworks Arena Spectacular How to Train Your Dragon (World Tour), and WarHorse Australian Tour (Global Creatures).

In 2000 Gavin was a key performer and choreographer for the Sydney Olympic Opening Ceremony. From 1994 to 2000 Gavin was a performer Legs on the Wall physical theatre company. He has created and performed acrobatic and aerial works for theatre festivals across the globe.

Theatre Credits, Movement Director

  • The Sydney Opera House – Club Swizzle
  • Global Creatures – King Kong, How to Train Your Dragon, War Horse,
  • The Sydney Theatre Company – Banging Denmark, Mosquitos, Harp in the South, Cyrano de Bergerac, Mojo, The Crucible, Gallipoli, BlackBird, Tales From the Vienna Woods, Riflemind, The Art of War, Ruby Moon, Season at Sarsaparella, Troupers, The Bourgeois Gentleman, Fat Pig, Woman in Mind, The Lost Echo, Mother Courage, The Three Sisters, The Cherry Orchid.
  • Company B Belvior – The Promise, Reuben Guthrie, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf, Conversations With the Dead, Spook, The Chairs,
  • Bell Shakespeare Company – Henry V, Much a do About Nothing, Julius Caesar, Antony & Cleopatra, R&J, Tempest, Richard lll, Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, Servant of Two Masters, A Mid Summers Night Dream, Wars of the Roses, Romeo and Juliet, Merchant of Venice and As You Like It , Pericles.
  • Opera Australia, La Fanciulla del West
  • Adelaide Festival, Wrong Skin
  • Television: Spirited, The ARIA Awards, The AFI Awards, Australian Idol, Farscape
  • Film: How to Train Your Dragon 2, Madagascar 4, Australian feature Prime Mover.

Gavin has been a recipient of numerous awards including a Helpman for Outstanding Theatrical Achievement, An Outer Critics Award on Broadway and was a part of the team for a Special Tony Award for King Kong on Broadway.

Gavin is a senior lecturer in acting and the Head of Movement at the National Institute of Dramatic Art , Sydney. He has been the recipient of  a Churchill Fellowship, Mike Walsh Fellowship, Asialink Grant and OZCO Directors Development Grant.