Dr David Megarrity

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Doctor of Philosophy (Queensland University of Technology), Master (Queensland University of Technology)

Dr David Megarrity is a writer, composer, musician and performer converging music, performance and projected image. Recipient of a Lord Mayor’s Performing Arts Fellowship in 1998, his performance inventions include Backseat Drivers (QT’s first overseas tour), Ukulele Mekulele (La Boite), Show (QTC), The Empty City and Bear with Me for Metro Arts and Windmill. His works have played at the Sydney Opera House, around Australia and abroad. Publications include plays for young people such as Gate 38 and anthology Destinations (Playlab). He’s been finalist in the George Landen Dann Award, Inscriptions Edward Albee Scholarship, Queensland Premier’s Drama Award and Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award (2016). Created with Jonathon Oxlade, picture book The Empty City (Hachette) was selected by the Children’s Book Council of Australia as a Picture Book of the Year ‘Notable Book’ (2008). His stage adaptation was a finalist in the 2012 Queensland Theatre Company’s Queensland Premier’s Drama Award (QPDA) and premiered at the Brisbane Powerhouse. David won the QPDA for his play The Holidays. This show premiered in 2020. Having played in many bands and composed songs and soundtracks for stage, screen and radio David has released 13 albums of original music in various audio incarnations. Recent music-driven performances include faux folk duo Warmwaters, “the surprise hit of the Queensland Cabaret Festival” (Brisbane Times 2014), and Tyrone and Lesley whose album Optimism was dubbed Ukulele Record of the Year by Ukulelehunt. David’s short film collaborations won a number of awards and nominations, including Official Selection Cannes International Film Festival 2000. Full time artist and part-time Senior Lecturer in Drama at the Queensland University of Technology, he received the 2008 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence (Innovative and Creative Practice), and completed his PhD in 2015. ‘as close as Brisbane has to a Renaissance Man’ Rave Magazine David blogs about music in performance at https://lifeinthelongtail.wordpress.com/

Projects (Chief investigator)

Additional information

Having been published,  produced, programmed and performed across music, theatre, film,  television and children's literature, David has specialized in teaching creative practice units. His industry experience in a many roles, from teacher to writer, to director, to performer,  to composer,  to independent producer enables him to apply expertise and versatility to his teaching portfolio,  which has seen him master the teaching of elements of drama, playwriting, community cultural development, theatre history,  Work Integrated Learning and much else.

Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2018
Details
Winner of the 2018 Queensland Premier's Drama Award
Type
Funding Award
Reference year
2017
Details
Arts Queensland (Individual) grant to attend Grand Northern Ukulele Festival in UK
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2012
Details
Finalist Inscriptions Edward Albee Playwriting Scholarship
Type
Other
Reference year
2012
Details
Finalist, Queensland Music Awards
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2011
Details
Finalist in the 2012/3 Queensland Premier's Drama Award
Type
Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
Reference year
2019
Details
QUT Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence (Innovative and Creative Practice)
Type
Other
Reference year
2008
Details
Picture Book of the Year Notable Book