Brett Sullivan is a London-based Australian filmmaker. Born in Sydney, Australia, 1971, Sullivan formed production company Steam Motion and Sound with Julian Chow in 1996. Steam established a UK office in 2003, and a New York office in 2014 with co-founder Clayton Jacobsen.
Sullivan has directed and produced stage to screen films or "pro-shots" for multiple Broadway and West End productions. His work includes Billy Elliot the Musical Live which was the first live event cinema release to top the UK box office and set a new box office record for live event cinema. Sullivan's next live film Miss Saigon surpassed Billy Elliot. In the USA, Disney's Newsies Live! set a new US box office record for a live musical event at the cinema. Frozen: The Broadway Musical reached number 1 streaming movies on Disney+ in Australia, UK, and USA in June 2025. In July 2026 Hadestown: The Musical surpassed Hamilton for the highest grossing weekend for a live theatre film.
He has directed and produced music videos, TV specials, commercials for David Byrne, Alicia Keys, Michael Bublé, Bruno Mars, Natalie Merchant, Jason Derulo, Phil Collins, James Blunt, Robert Plant, Madonna, REM, Linkin Park, Ed Sheeran, Seal, Bette Midler, Flaming Lips,Cher, Ben Folds, André Rieu, Muse, KD Lang, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rihanna, David Gray, LP, Idina Menzel, Nile Rodgers, Pablo Alboran, Josh Groban, Lenny Kravitz, Eric Clapton and others. Other commercial work includes Deezer, Vodafone, Pepsi, Reebok, Orange, Adidas, Ikea, and Coca-Cola.
Sullivan was a co-founder of Adstream (2001), digital media and asset management company for advertising agencies. It is located in 17 countries.
Contents
Film
As director
Aladdin - 2027 - Live on West End in London - Disney Theatrical Group - Disney+
Stranger Things: The First Shadow - 2026 - Live on Broadway in New York - Netflix
Starlight Express - 2026 - Live on West End in London - Universal Pictures
Hadestown - 2026 - Live on West End in London - Bleecker Street
Frozen - 2025 - Live on West End in London - Disney Theatrical Group - Disney+
Kiss Me, Kate - 2024 - Live at the Barbican - BBC / Trafalgar Releasing
The Prince of Egypt - 2023 - Live on West End in London - Universal Pictures/DreamWorks Theatricals - Cinema
Waitress - 2023 - Live on Broadway in New York - Bleecker Street - Cinema
Kinky Boots - 2019 - Live on West End in London - BroadwayHD - Cinema
Newsies - 2017 - Live in Hollywood - Disney Theatrical Group - Cinema/Disney+
Tour Stop 148 - Michael Bublé - 2016 - Warner Bros. Records - Cinema/Home Video
Miss Saigon - Live on West End in London - 2016 - Universal Pictures/Cameron Mackintosh - Cinema/Home Video
Billy Elliot the Musical - 2014 - Live on West End in London - Universal Pictures/Working Title Films - Cinema/Home Video
Love Never Dies - 2014 - Feature - Universal Pictures / Really Useful Group - Cinema/Home Video
Producer
Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical - Live in London - 2024 - David Treatman Creative
Heathers The Musical - 2022 - Village Roadshow / BK Studios / Roku
Audra McDonald - I Am What I Am - 2024 - PBS
Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Tour - Universal Pictures - DVD
The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall - Universal Pictures - Cinema/DVD
Les Misérables: The 25th Anniversary Concert Live - Universal Pictures - Cinema/DVD
Selected music work
Director - Michael Bublé - Cry Me A River, Crazy Love, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, To Love Somebody, You Make Me Feel So Young
Director - School of Rock The Musical - You're in the Band - 360 Video
Director - Seal - Everytime I'm With You, Do You Ever
Director - Hamilton - Alexander Hamilton featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda - in 3D for Hamilton Exhibition. Co-directed with Thomas Kail
Director - Emin featuring Nile Rodgers - Boomerang, Baby Get Higher, Got Me Good, Let Me Go featuring Robin Schulz
Director - Greg Holden - Boys In The Street
Director - Pablo Alborán - Recuérdame
Director - Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé - Baby, It's Cold Outside
Director - Robert Plant - Rainbow
Director - James Blunt - Satellites, Blue on Blue
Director - LP - Tokyo Sunrise
Co-Director - Michael Bublé's Day Off - ITV/Warner Music
Co-Director with Marc Klasfeld - Michael Bublé - Close Your Eyes
Director - Josh Groban - I Believe (When I Fall In Love), What I Did For Love, Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Director - Phil Collins - Going Back, Heatwave
Other
Sullivan wrote the book, music and lyrics for The Last Word, a musical staged at the 2016 New York Musical Festival. The musical was directed by Michael Bello, choreographed by Nick Kenkel, and additional lyrics by Ryan Cunningham. It was nominated for Best Choreography, and Best Supporting Actress in the festival awards. An episodic podcast of the musical was recorded and released in 2022. It received Silver at the 2023 The New York Festivals Radio Awards.
Sullivan played in Australian indie bands Broken Words, Mockingbird and Easy Brother.