Susan Mary Provan AO is an Australian performing arts producer, who was director of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from 1994 to 2026.
Early life and education
Susan Mary Provan studied a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne.1
Career
Provan credits comedy producer John Pinder and his business partner Roger Evans with giving her her first job in comedy, and for introducing her to Circus Oz.2 She became the manager of the Last Laugh Theatre,1 a restaurant and comedy venue in Melbourne run by Pinder and Evans from 1976 until the mid-1980s.34
In 1985 Provan joined Circus Oz as general manager. In 1993, she became an associate producer at the State Theatre Company of South Australia, before taking up the directorship of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 1994.1
After thirty years as Comedy Festival Director, Provan said she was thinking about leaving the role in 2025, saying she couldn't stay on "forever". She had started discussing plans for her eventual departure with the Festival Board, though a timeline had not been decided.5 She officially announced she was stepping down in late April 2026, following the festival's fortieth anniversary. A new Director is expected to be announced by August 2026.6
Recognition
- 2017: Added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women7
- 2018: Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours, "for distinguished service to arts administration through festival leadership and governance, to the tourism sector in Victoria, and to the promotion of Australian comedy"8
References
References
- Who's Who in Australia 2018, ConnectWeb, 2017.
- Bennett, Steve (27 May 2015). "Australian comedy kingpin dies : News 2015". Chortle. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- Pinder, John (14 July 2003). "Last Laugh". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Interview). Interviewed by Negus, George. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
- "John Pinder". Theatre Australia. 3 (5): 15-16. December 1978. Retrieved 10 September 2024 – via Issuu.
- Quinn, Karl (18 August 2025). "'I can't do this forever': Comedy festival boss to hand over baton". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- Lallo, Michael (27 April 2026). "Motel evictions, comics falling off stage and clueless reviewers: Outgoing festival boss has seen it all". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
- "Susan Provan (2017)". Victorian Honour Roll of Women. State Government of Victoria. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- "PROVAN, Susan Mary". Australian Honours Search Facility. Australian Government. Retrieved 12 June 2018.