Ensemble Theatre has named emerging directors Jules Billington and Jessica Fallico as the recipients of the 2026 Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Award, one of the sector’s key career-development opportunities for early-career artists.

The pair will each receive $8,000 and work on two productions in Ensemble’s 2026 season.

Jules Billington and Jessica Fallico

Artistic director Mark Kilmurry said the 11th edition of the award had attracted “amazing entries”, reflecting the strength of emerging talent across the industry.

“Jules Billington and Jessica Fallico have made great inroads into the industry, and we’re excited they will be working on two plays each alongside more established directors,” he said. “The Award is not only us welcoming creatives into our theatre space but also a conversation between like-minded artists engaged in storytelling.”

Billington, a NIDA graduate whose recent credits include People Will Think You Don’t Love Me and The Swell, was “delighted and incredibly honoured” to follow in the footsteps of previous award recipients. “Opportunities to learn through practical experience under the guidance of established directors are hard to come by.”