Danielle Micich to Step Aside as Artistic Director of Force Majeure After a Decade of Visionary Leadership

Force Majeure has announced that Danielle Micich will step aside as Artistic Director and CEO at the end of 2025, closing a remarkable ten-year tenure that has redefined movement-based theatre in Australia and beyond.

Since her appointment in 2015, Micich has led the company with bold artistic vision, deep integrity, and a collaborative spirit that has inspired hundreds of artists nationally and internationally. Under her leadership, Force Majeure has grown into a powerhouse of interdisciplinary performance, celebrated for visceral storytelling and courageous themes.

A Legacy of Risk-Taking and Innovation

“I’ve been deeply inspired by the artists I’ve had the privilege to collaborate with,” said Micich. “Their generosity, curiosity, and brilliance have shaped me as a leader and maker. There are other artistic possibilities I’ve long wanted to explore, and now I’m making space to follow those paths.”

Force Majeure Chair Julieanne Campbell praised Micich’s contribution:
“Danielle has been an extraordinary leader and visionary for the company — taking the reins from founding Artistic Director Kate Champion and forging a distinctive style, depth of practice, and unshakeable commitment to inclusion and honouring First Nations artists and artists of all disciplines.”

Groundbreaking Works

Across her tenure, Micich premiered signature works that interrogated contemporary questions:

You Animal, You explored taboos and raw human behaviour.
The Last Season brought together Paul Capsis, Pamela Rabe, Olwen Fouéré and thirteen child performers in a powerful intergenerational dialogue on climate crisis and survival.
idk examined boundaries and consent with tenderness and play.

She also championed pathways for emerging voices through the Associate Artist program, supporting artists including Margaret Harvey, Liesel Zink, and Ghenoa Gela. Gela’s GURR ERA OP was later commissioned by four major festivals through Creative Australia’s Major Festivals Initiative.

Expanding Artist Pathways

Micich’s leadership has expanded Force Majeure’s methodology of embodied storytelling through the acclaimed INCITE artist development program, which has engaged over 620 artists to date. More than 66% of participants seeded new works from their INCITE experience.

She also introduced Consent & Boundaries Workshops to promote safe creative practice and prioritise artist wellbeing across the performing arts sector.

Looking Ahead

Micich will continue to lead the company through 2025, including the premiere of her final work as Artistic Director: Gardener’s Apprentice, a poetic and provocative new piece debuting in October at Carriageworks and Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre.

In 2026, she will embark on new projects across theatre, opera, and film. Meanwhile, Force Majeure’s Board will begin a leadership search to ensure a smooth transition and honour the company’s legacy of excellence, experimentation, and inclusion.

Upcoming Performances & Programs

Gardener’s Apprentice