# Darren Gilshenan

Darren Gilshenan is an Australian actor and writer. He is best known for his roles in television series The Moodys, Maximum Choppage, Chandon Pictures and Full Frontal.

## Early life

Growing up in Brisbane, Darren was first introduced to acting through performing in a Gang Show while a Boy Scout. He realised then that acting was his passion, "I just knew, I knew that's all I wanted to do. The hardest thing was trying to convince my father that my schooling TER mark didn't matter because I wanted to be an actor."

## Career

Gilshenan graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1988. He has also taught extensively at Australian Theatre for Young People, Bell Shakespeare and National Institute of Dramatic Art.
Gilshenan's early acting career includes guest roles in A Country Practice in 1992 and Police Rescue in 1993. He became a series regular (and writer) on the sketch comedy series Full Frontal in 1997. The show became Totally Full Frontal, where he remained as writer and actor in 1998 and 1999.
In 2002, he had a role in Dossa and Joe. He then had a major role in both seasons of Chandon Pictures, which aired from 2007 until 2009. In 2010 he guest directed Accidental Death of an Anarchist. In 2013, he starred in The Elegant Gentleman's Guide to Knife Fighting. In 2014, he starred in the comedy The Moodys and drama Rake. In 2016, he appeared on the sitcom Here Come the Habibs.
In 2023 Gilshenan was announced as part of the cast for Stan Australia series Thou Shalt Not Steal he was also starred in Stan series Population 11. On 22 November, it was announced that Gilshenan was a part of the filming for feature film Pickpockets.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2025 | Pickpockets | TBA | Post production |
| 2024 | Take My Hand | Peter | |
| 2024 | Audrey | Physio | |
| 2023 | Christmess | Nick | Feature film |
| 2023 | A Savage Christmas | Uncle Dick | Feature film |
| 2015 | Women He's Undressed | Orry-Kelly | Documentary |
| 2014 | Blood Pulls a Gun | Angry Motel Guest | Short film |
| 2013 | Bamboozled | Bamboozled Host | Short film |
| 2013 | Boarders | Sheppo | Short film |
| 2012 | Save Your Legs! | Colin | |
| 1998 | Gristle | Peter | Short film |
| 1998 | Dark City | Fingerprint Cop | |
| 1996 | Idiot Box | C.E.S. Man | |
| 1995 | Swinger | John | Short film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2024 | Thou Shall Not Steal | Mick | TV series |
| 2024 | Nautilus | Punch | TV series: 6 episodes |
| 2024 | Population 11 | Hugo Drivas | 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Plausible Deniability | Archbishop Muntz | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race | Billy Pope | TV movie |
| 2022-24 | Colin from Accounts | Professor Lee | 4 episodes |
| 2018-21 | Harrow | Lyle Ridgewell Livingston Fairley | 30 episodes |
| 2020 | Stateless | Brian Ashworth | 6 episodes |
| 2016 | Here Come the Habibs! | Jack O'Neill | 6 episodes |
| 2015–18 | No Activity | Det. Stokes | Main cast Writer |
| 2015 | Maximum Choppage | Mayor Crawford | 6 episodes |
| 2014 | Wonderland | Lyle Newell | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Devil's Playground | Father Lenken | Mini-series; 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Old School | John Stoyanov | Episode: "Easy Money" |
| 2014 | The Killing Field | Brian Fleet | TV movie |
| 2014 | Janet King | Alex Moreno | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Rake | Advisor Selwyn | 6 episodes |
| 2014 | The Moodys | Terry Moody | TV mini-series; 8 episodes |
| 2013 | The Outlaw Michael Howe | Lieutenant Governor Tom Davey | TV movie |
| 2013 | The Elegant Gentleman's Guide to Knife Fighting | Various Characters | 6 episodes |
| 2013 | Top of the Lake | Bob Platt | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | A Moody Christmas | Terry Moody | 6 episodes |
| 2007-2009 | Chandon Pictures | Nick Brenner | 16 episodes |
| 2002 | Dossa and Joe | Wayne | 6 episodes |
| 1998-1999 | Totally Full Frontal | Various Characters | 28 episodes |
| 1997 | Full Frontal | Various Characters | 20 episodes |
| 1993 | Police Rescue | Nick | Episode: "Wild Goose Chase" |
| 1992 | A Country Practice | Malcolm Fairfax | Episode: "Travelling South: Part 1" |

## Theatre
### As actor

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Insomnia | | SGIO Theatre, Brisbane |
| 1987 | The Man Who Came to Dinner | | NIDA Theatre |
| 1988 | Veneer 1 | | NIDA Theatre |
| 1989-1990 | Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn | Tom Sawyer | Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Festival Theatre, Adelaide |
| 1990 | Moby Dick | Captain Peleg | Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre Comoany, Marian Street Theatre |
| 1990 | Beach Blanket Tempest | Frankie / Ian Harpy | Q Theatre, Penrith |
| | Wild Garden Tales (seif-devised) | Performer | Stables Theatre, Sydney - Young at Art |
| 1991 | Hansel and Gretel | | Belvoir Street Theatre |
| 1992 | Wet and Dry | | Stables Theatre, Sydney |
| 1992 | 11 PM Sharp | | Stables Theatre, Sydney |
| 1992 | The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie | | Stables Theatre, Sydney |
| 1992 | Wild Garden Tales | | Stables Theatre, Sydney |
| | Ginger Meggs | Ginger Meggs | Victorian Arts Centre |
| 1993 | Daylight Saving | Jason Strutt | Q Theatre, Penrith |
| 1993 | Three Stories High / 1000 Nights (self-devised) | | Stables Theatre, Sydney - Young at Art |
| 1994 | The Taming of The Shrew | Grumio | Newcastle Civic Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, University of Sydney, Canberra Theatre, Regal Theatre, Perth, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Princess Theatre, Launceston with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1994 | Macbeth | A Weird Sister / Seyton / Third Assassin | Newcastle Civic Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, University of Sydney, Canberra Theatre, Regal Theatre, Perth, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Princess Theatre, Launceston with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1995 | Twelfth Night | Feste | University of Sydney, Monash University, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre, Playhouse Adelaide with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1995 | Pericles | Fisherman / Knight | University of Sydney, Monash University, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre, Playhouse Adelaide with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1995 | Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead | Player | Belvoir Street Theatre |
| 1996 | Much Ado About Nothing | Dogberry | Melbourne Athenaeum, Sydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1996 | The Players | Ensemble | Stables Theatre with Pork Chop Productions |
| 1996 | Coriolanus | Ensemble | Melbourne Athenaeum, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare |
| | The Popular Mechanicals | Snug | Riverina Theatre Company |
| 1997 | Titanic | | Cambridge Park Inn, Sydney |
| 1998 | Henry IV | Hotspur / Pistol - Soldier 1 | Sydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre, Malthouse Theatre, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Monash University, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with Bell Shakespeare |
| 1999 | Alive at Williamstown Pier | | Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga, Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |
| | The Venetian Twins | The Twins | Tilbury Productions for Olympic Arts Festival |
| 1999 | Henry V | Pistol | Melbourne Athenaeum, Playhouse Canberra, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2001 | The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) | Various characters | Sydney Opera House |
| 2001 | Julius Caesar | Lepidus / Trebonius | Sydney Opera House, Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Orange Civic Theatre, Playhouse, Melbourne, Playhouse Canberra, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Newcastle Civic Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2001 | Antony and Cleopatra | Clown / Eros / Lepidus | Sydney Opera House, IMB Theatre, Wollongong, Playhouse Melbourne, Playhouse Canberra, Riverside Theatres Parramatta with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2002 | Richard III | Rivers / Stanley | Sydney Opera House, Playhouse Canberra, Playhouse, Melbourne, New South Wales with Bell Shakespeare / Queensland Theatre Company |
| 2002 | The Comedy of Errors | Dromio of Syracuse | Playhouse Canberra, Ford Theatre, Geelong, Playhouse Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Riverside Theatres Parramatta, Orange Civic Theatre, IMB Theatre, Wollongong with Bell Shakespeare |
| | Last Cab to Darwin | Various characters | Pork Chop Productions |
| 2003 | The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) | | Sydney Opera House |
| 2003-04 | The Servant of Two Masters | Truffaldino | Australian national tour with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2004 | The Comedy of Errors | Dromio of Syracuse | Theatre Royal, Hobart with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2005 | Harry the Sixth | | Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2005 | Edward IV | | Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2005 | Wars of the Roses | Dauphin / Saunder Simcox / Richard, Duke of Gloucester | Sydney Opera House, Playhouse Canberra, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Playhouse, Melbourne with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2005 | Measure for Measure | Pompey, a pimp | Playhouse Melbourne, Playhouse, Brisbane, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Playhouse, Canberra, Orange Civic Theatre with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2005 | The Servant of Two Masters | Truffaldino | Sydney Theatre |
| 2006 | The Comedy of Errors | Dromio of Syracuse | Grand Theatre, Blackpool, Theatre Royal, Bath with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2006 | Urinetown | Mr McQueen | Sydney Theatre with Melbourne Theatre Company / Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2007 | The Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom | Cuddlepie | Theatre Royal, Sydney, Regal Theatre, Perth, Dunstan Playhouse Adelaide with Company B Belvoir |
| 2007 | The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) | | Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane |
| 2007 | Not Like Beckett | Beckett | Star Court Theatre, Lismore |
| 2007 | The Government Inspector | Various roles (including Klestakov) | Playhouse Canberra. Playhouse, Melbourne, Playhouse, Brisbane, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare |
| 2009 | Elling | Elling | Wharf 1 Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2008 | Strange Attractor | Colin | Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |
| 2009 | Tot Mom | Various characters | Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2010 | The Beauty Queen of Leenane | Pato Dooley | Wharf 2 Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2010 | Tragedy Workshop | Willy Loman | Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2010 | Our Town | Stage Manager | Sydney Opera House |
| 2011 | Don Parties On | Richard | Playhouse, Melbourne, Sydney Theatre with Melbourne Theatre Company |
| 2011 | The White Guard | Alexei | Sydney Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2011 | Loot | Inspector Truscott | Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2011 | Fool's Island | Fool (Gooden / Badden) | Bondi Pavilion with Tamarama Rock Surfers / Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2012 | Elling | Elling | Southbank Theatre |
| | The Beast (workshop) | Various characters | Melbourne Theatre Company |
| | The Waiting Room (workshop) | Raf | Sydney Theatre Company |
| | The Mayor's Nest (workshop) | Various characters | Riverside Theatre |
| | Helicopter (script reading) | HE | Griffin Theatre Company |
| 2014 | Absent Friends | Colin | Ensemble Theatre |
| 2014–15 | Mother and Son | Arthur | Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Playhouse, Brisbane |
| | The Man's Bitch (reading) | Frederick Wilson / Edward White / Radio Host | Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2015 | Strictly Ballroom the Musical | Doug Hastings / Merv | Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane |
| 2014–2015 | Monkey: Journey to the West | Piggsy / Heavenly Staffer / Monk | Brisbane Powerhouse, Riverside Theatres Parramatta, Sydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre Centre, Dame Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Geelong Arts Centre |
| 2016 | Machu Picchu | Paul | Wharf Theatre Sydney, Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2016 | Tartuffe | Tartuffe | Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth, Playhouse, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre Company / Black Swan Theatre Company |
| 2017 | Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? | George | Ensemble Theatre |
| | Once in a Blue Moon (workshop) | Various characters | CDP Productions |
| 2018 | The Hypochondriac | Argan | Darlinghurst Theatre Company |
| 2022 | The Caretaker | Davies | Ensemble Theatre |

### As writer / director

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | The Players | Writer | Stables Theatre with Pork Chop Productions |
| | Recital for Japan | Director | Bell Shakespeare |
| 2003 | Hamlet | Movement Director | Bell Shakespeare |
| | Last Cab to Darwin | Assistant Director | Pork Chop Productions |
| | The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) | Director | Spirit Entertainment |
| 2004 | The Comedy of Errors | Movement Director | Theatre Royal, Hobart with Bell Shakespeare |
| | A Midsummer Nights Dream | Co-Director | NIDA Theatre |
| | The Servant of Two Masters | Director | NIDA Third Year Actors |
| | The Popular Mechanicals | Director | NIDA Third Year Actors |
| 2010 | Accidental Death of an Anarchist | Director | NIDA Summer School |
| | The Jinglist | Director | The Edinburgh Festival |
| | Loot | Director | NIDA Third Year Actors |
| | The Chaos Fairy | Director | Monkey Baa |
| | The Birthday Boys | Director | NIDA Independent |
| 2016 | Poetry at Play | Director | Poetry in Action |
| 2016 | The Paper Tiger | Director | Poetry in Action |
| 2016 | The Poet's Quest | Director | Poetry in Action |
| | Parting the Red Curtain | Director | Neil Gooding Productions |
| 2020 | The Government Inspector | Director | NIDA Parade 2 Studio |