BAZ LUHRMANN is one of Australia’s most recognisable creative forces. His most recent film is the extraordinary 3-D adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire and Joel Edgerton. The director’s earlier films include the ambitious epic Australia (2008), starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, the Oscar®-winning Moulin Rouge! (2001) featuring Kidman and Ewan McGregor, his boldly luminous version of William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996), starring DiCaprio and Claire Danes, and the celebrated Strictly Ballroom (1992), starring Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice.Luhrmann is one of Australia’s most imaginative and strikingly original opera directors. His production of La bohème on Broadway in 2002 was lauded by critics for its sensuality and glorious production design. It was nominated for seven Tony® Awards, including Best Revival and Best Director for Luhrmann. Luhrmann comes full circle to direct the stage musical adaptation of Strictly Ballroom at the Sydney Lyric in April 2014.