Director/ Producer

Cheryl specialises in the creation of deconstructed opera and multi-art form chamber music works, often with socio-political themes.

She was most recently Associate Director with Neil Armfield on the highly acclaimed production Watershed (Joe Twist, Alana Valentine, Christos Tsiolkas) for the Adelaide Festival of Arts and for Opera Australia.

Cheryl has created and directed many works as Artistic Director of Various People Inc, as well as being invited to direct for a number of other arts organisations, including Tutti Arts with State Opera of South Australia and Adelaide Chamber Singers.

During her tenure as Chair of Chamber Music Adelaide, Cheryl created the award-winning annual event On The Terrace, attracting over 1200 people each day to curated chamber music performances within Adelaide’s four North Terrace cultural institutions.

Cheryl’s PhD, for which she received an Australian Postgraduate Award, explores ethics, authenticity and aesthetics in the creation of socio-political multi-art form work.

Selected media

Various People Inc has presented some quite outstanding shows in recent years, way out of the ordinary in content, innovative in production, sophisticated in performance. ~ The Advertiser

I found it deeply moving. I emerged from the experience almost speechless. It had touched my innermost being… All the elements of the production were of the highest artistic quality and executed with the greatest restraint to create an aesthetic of rare beauty and depth. ~ Frank Ford AM

superb musicianship … wears its wit and politics lightly … memorable … will crush your heart. ~ The Advertiser

truly adventurous… intense and memorable ~ Australian Book Review

…overflowed with creativity. Theatrically vivid and studded with some exceptional singing… ~ The Adelaide Review

Cheryl Pickering’s excellent Various People has produced many of the most interesting events on the local scene these past couple of years ~ The Advertiser

…this is an aesthetic work of art... original and moving, and probably the most memorable theatrical production I’ve seen in years... ~ InDaily

...beautifully crafted miniatures with only hints of dissonance and darkness… the ideal balance between tension, melancholy, and cantabile... ~ Limelight Magazine

...an exuberant, physical take on Mozart’s much-loved work... gob-smackingly good... ~ InDaily

Director Cheryl Pickering (has) fashioned a show that radiates colour and warmth…full of memorable moments…a host of exhilarating images… ~ The Advertiser - Ewart Shaw

...real entertainment for real people and Mozart, I'm sure, would be delighted with this ingenious take on his masterpiece... adapted with a generous helping of creativity and wit... Director Cheryl Pickering has achieved an amazing balancing act and delivered a genuinely entertaining show that should put a smile on anyone’s face. ~ Adelaide Theatre Guide - Tony Busch

…artistic, theatrical, funny, tender ~ The Advertiser