Philip Mitchell is an award-winning director and puppeteer with nearly three decades experience working in puppetry in Australia. He has been Artistic Director of Spare Parts Puppet Theatre for 20 years.

As an Artistic Director Philip’s passion is to create and commission contemporary puppetry works that explore the boundaries of the artform. Emotional literacy is at the heart of all the work Philip creates believing it is essential for the development of a healthy community.

Large scale works, interactive and experiential puppetry and the tension between the performer and the puppet drives his exploration in puppetry.

For SPPT he has directed award winning shows including  The Arrival, winner of the WA Equity Guild Awards Best Production. Farm nominated for six PAWA Awards, On Our Beach an interactive immersive work Best Production in the 2020 PAWA Awards. The One Who Planted Trees, 2022 PAWA award for best Mainstage production, Beanstalk, 2022 PAWA award for best New Work

Prior to his move to Western Australia, Philip trained as a teacher, at the University of New England, and has facilitated literally thousands of workshops and artist in residencies for young people over his 30 year career. He also studied with Josef Krofta and Petr Matasek in the Czech Republic and attended the Prague School of Alternative Theatre and Puppetry at DAMU. He worked for more than 10 years as a puppeteer, teaching artist, performer, director, and co-devisor in Tasmania.