About
David Burton is a writer based in Brisbane, Queensland. He is the author of over thirty professionally produced plays, two acclaimed books, and has contributed to some of Australia's most innovative theatrical and community arts projects.
David's career spans award-winning theatrical works (including April's Fool, published by Playlab Press), large-scale community commissions for Queensland Music Festival (The Power Within; The Mount Isa Blast), and significant literary accolades, including winning the 2014 Text Prize for How to Be Happy.
His recent work includes co-authoring Icarus (2026) with Maddie Nixon, Merlynn Tong, and Maxine Mellor for Queensland Theatre Company's The Scene Project, and writing Space Cowboy (2025) for QUT, which is set for publication by Playlab in 2026. In 2024 he wrote and co-directed Whitlam: An Australian Fantasy for UniSQ, and was a finalist in the Queensland Premier's Drama Award for The Good Dad. He has also served as Stage Director for QPAC's Spirit of Christmas since 2023, and his long-running collaboration with Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe continues, with their latest production Persuasive Voices touring in 2026.
David holds a doctorate in community-engaged theatre and regularly works across writing, consulting, and content creation for arts organisations. He also maintains a popular weekly blog with hundreds of loyal readers.
Alongside his creative practice, David works as a counsellor and coach, bringing a unique insight into community, creativity, and wellbeing.