Jennifer Irwin

Costume Designer

Australian costume designer Jennifer Irwin’s career spans 40 years designing for drama, opera, dance and ballet as well as the largest spectacular events ever staged in Australia.

2023 Jennifer was awarded ‘Outstanding Contribution to Australian Design’ at the APDG Awards.

Jennifer was nominated for Best Costume Design 2016 AACTA Awards for her work on Spear the feature Film. She designed the costumes for Dirty Dancing, the musical, still playing to packed audiences worldwide after 19 years. Dirty Dancing broke all pre box office records for any show ever staged on London’s West End.

Costume commissions in Australia include 36 ballets for Sydney Dance Company, 32 years of repertoire for Bangarra Dance Theatre, multiple works for Sydney Theatre Company, The Australian Ballet, Melbourne Theatre Company, Belvoir Theatre Company, Australian Dance Theatre, West Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet and Opera Australia. Jennifer designed costumes for the Awakening segment of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, co-designed all the costumes for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony and the official ceremony commemorating the Federation of Australia in 2001.

Jennifer’s work has been seen on stage in over 70 countries, over 500 cities and venues including the Royal Opera House, Lincoln Centre, City Centre NYC, Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Sydney Opera House.

Jennifer has been recognised for her contribution to Australian design with multiple Helpmann, Green Room, Australian Dance awards and nominations.

View her work in dance, theatre, opera and the Olympics here.