Award-winning director, filmmaker and producer Anna Marbrook brings 36 years of experience to the national performing arts charity, with a focus on ambitious new work and creative pathways for performers of all abilities.

A photo of Anna Marbrook new Artistic Director at Glass Ceiling

Director, filmmaker and producer Anna Marbrook, whose credits include directing more than 150 episodes of Shortland Street, co-creating and directing Waka Odyssey (the 1,000-performer opening event of the 2018 New Zealand Festival of the Arts) and writing, directing and producing the internationally award-winning documentary LOIMATA: The Sweetest Tears, has been appointed Artistic Director of Glass Ceiling Arts Collective.

Glass Ceiling is a national performing arts charity where Disabled, neurodivergent and non-disabled people learn, create and perform together, with programmes across Auckland, Whangārei, Tauranga and Christchurch.

“I’m thrilled to be stepping into this role. What impresses me most about Glass Ceiling is its philosophy, a lived experience of connection, creativity, joy and community. This company knows how to build truly inclusive spaces, and that is invaluable. I’m excited to support these unique voices authoring work that opens up worlds we don’t often get to experience as audiences.”

Anna brings 36 years of professional experience across theatre, film, television, documentary and large-scale live performance. Her work has centred on collaborative storytelling, bringing large and varied groups of people together and taking underrepresented voices to wider audiences. Alongside her creative practice, she has spent more than three decades teaching, mentoring and developing artists, with organisations including Toi Whakaari, the University of Auckland, Massive Theatre Company and Auckland Theatre Company, and has helped build sustainable structures and programmes for arts and community organisations.

“My role is to bring everything I’ve learned to this space, so we can keep growing artistically and create the ambitious, groundbreaking work Glass Ceiling is becoming known for. I’m working alongside outstanding teaching artists and directors within the company, and we’ll be programming some fantastic projects in the months ahead.”

"Anna joins us at a really important point in our journey," says Executive Director Michael Eaglesome. "We've spent our early years building something quite extraordinary from the ground up. Now we're strengthening what we've established and creating the foundations for the organisation's next stage of development. Anna brings a wealth of experience and an unwavering commitment to excellence in the performing arts, and we can’t wait to see what we create together.”

Anna succeeds Charlotte Nightingale, who co-founded Glass Ceiling and led its creative direction as Artistic Director from the organisation's beginnings in 2020.

A strong believer that "success is succession", Anna is passionate about developing people and supporting the next generation of artists and creative leaders. She sees potential for Glass Ceiling to develop pathways that allow people to explore their creative interests and progress into a range of artistic opportunities, whether as performers, writers, filmmakers, directors, musicians, designers or tutors.

“Joining Glass Ceiling feels like coming home. Theatre is where I began and I’ve felt a strong call to return to my roots, to a company and to the spaces and places where people make work together. At a time when connection and community are fraying, theatre is an antidote, a place where we can feel alive, and be seen. Glass Ceiling does this every week, all over Aotearoa.”

Anna was formally welcomed into the Glass Ceiling whānau with a mihi whakatau held during the Adult Theatre class's regular workshop in the Freemans Bay Community Centre in Auckland. The welcome was led by the participants themselves. For Glass Ceiling, it was a fitting way to begin: not in an office or boardroom, but alongside the people at the heart of the organisation.

Her first Glass Ceiling event is just around the corner, and it's a grand one. The organisation's annual end-of-year variety shows bring together classes from across Auckland and Northland, with participants from as far afield as Hikurangi and Whangārei travelling to Auckland to take part.

Anna says “I’ve started this week at a sprint, with Glass Ceiling in the throes of preparing its end-of-year festival and showcase. It’s a great way to begin, seeing the work being made across our classes and some of the incredible talent we have here in Aotearoa.”

Through the Roof is a youth arts festival and takes place in the Bruce Mason Theatre in Takapuna on Saturday 21 November 2026 at 11am. Meanwhile, Sky's the Limit is an adult arts showcase and takes place later in the day at 4pm. Both events are free and everyone is welcome to attend. (click below to learn more)