Dan Bain is a multi-award-winning playwright, director, writer, and standup comedian based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. Since graduating from clown school in 2001 he has somehow become “..one of New Zealand’s most experienced theatre practitioners.” (Radio New Zealand).
His comedy adaptation of The Odyssey received the 2024 Adam Award for Best New Zealand Play, the Dean Parker Award for Best Adaptation, and the McNaughton Award for Best South Island Play, cementing his reputation as one of the country’s leading playwrights. His writing has also been recognised through the Plays for the Young Award for The Ferocious Animals Petting Zoo.
Alongside his work for the stage, Dan is the creator and writer of Dan Bain’s Sleepy Time Mumbles, an internationally successful sleep podcast that has amassed hundreds of thousands of listens and received Gold for Creativity and Silver for Comedy at the 2024 New Zealand Podcast Awards.
Dan is currently the Artistic and Programming Director of Little Andromeda Fringe Theatre, where he continues to champion new writing while developing his own work across stage, page, and audio.
