Harvest Rain Theatre Company: CEO Tim O’Connor on daring and dreaming

Tim O’Connor always knew he was destined for the theatre. So much so, that at the age of 15 he had already mapped out the not-for-profit youth arts organisation he would one day lead.

For Tim O’Connor, walking into his office is a pretty big deal.

“This was my dream,” he exclaims, “We are sitting in it right now. It all came from my mind and I think about that every time I walk in here.”

We are at the headquarters of Harvest Rain Theatre Company, the world’s largest not-for-profit youth arts organisation, of which Tim is CEO.

The 38-year-old grew up dreaming he would one day run his own theatre company, and remarkably the visions in his mind were so clear that at the age of 15 he sat down to draw a building plan.

It turned out to be the exact blueprint for the building at Stafford in which we now sit.

Although he had no idea of the heights to which he would soar, Tim puts his success down to daydreaming and bravery – a magical combination he is sharing with everyone in his book Daredevil Dreamer.

Daredevil Dreamer by Tim O’Connor

“I put these words together because it’s easy for people to say, ‘I am a dreamer’,” he says. “The dream is just one part, but it’s the daring that allows the dream to become a reality and that is the crux. I’m both. I dared to trust in my dream.”

Five years in the making, the book encourages people to realise their dreams and also features stories relating to Tim’s own personal journey, which began when he left school and started volunteering at Harvest Rain – then an amateur community theatre company.

“I worked as a cleaner in Fortitude Valley between 5am and 8am and then I volunteered every day for three years on the front desk answering phones,” he says.

“By the end of that period I was running the company.”

In the past 20 years, the dad-of-two has built an impressive career as a director and producer working with leading performers including Daryl Somers, Rhonda Burchmore and Eddie Perfect.

He is also the founder of Harvest Rain’s Brisbane Academy of Musical Theatre – a 12-month performance course for emerging young artists – and in 2014 he launched his arena productions, which allow Harvest Rain fledglings to perform alongside some of the country’s biggest stars.

Harvest Rain Theatre Company CEO, Tim O'Connor

Previous productions have included Grease and The Wizard of Oz.

To top it all off, Harvest Rain now has 25,000 active young members Australia-wide and Tim won a Gold Matilda Award in 2014 for his hard work.

“It snowballed over the years,” he says.

“There are now so many people involved that I can go into a McDonald’s or Dunkin’ Donuts in any city and a young person serving me will say, ‘I was in Grease, do you remember me?’ That’s when I realise how big it’s become.

“As a child I just knew the things I wanted to do I would do. I think it’s about letting your mind take itself to the fullness of your idea and exploring that. It’s not enough to just write down your dream and stick it on the wall.”

So what’s Tim dreaming of now?

Aside from plans to take Harvest Rain “beyond the bounds of Australia”, he says his dreams are “a little bit more personal and much smaller”.

“I dream about places I’d like to visit and also about peace. I’ve built this and now I’m enjoying it, but I will never stop dreaming.

“It would be a dull existence if I did.”