Richard Bruce Wherrett AM (10 December 1940 – 7 December 2001) was an influential and successful Australian theatrical director, whose career spanned 40 years.
Richard Wherrett was born in 1940. He attended the University of Sydney with Clive James, Germaine Greer, Bruce Beresford (film director), Ken Horler, Mungo McCallum, Bob Ellis, John Bell, John Gaden, Laurie Oakes (journalist), and Les Murray (poet).
He was the founding director of the Sydney Theatre Company. He directed 127 professional theatre productions, including Hag by Sally Morrison at the 1976 National Playwrights Festival, and was the creative director for the lighting of the torch segment of the Opening Ceremony for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1984 for his services to the theatre.[1]
Richard was the brother of motoring journalist Peter Wherrett, with whom he wrote a memoir, "Desirelines".
Richard Wherrett died on 7 December 2001 of liver failure, after 15 years warding off the effects of HIV.