Teresa Crea was born to Italian parents and graduated from Flinders University Drama Centre with an Honours Degree in Film and a Master of Arts degree in Contemporary Italian Poetry. In 1986 she was seconded to The National Academy of Dramatic Arts (Silvio d'Amico Accademia Nationale Dell'Arte Dramatica) in Rome where she undertook theatre studies in directing. With an extensive background in film, radio and theatre direction, she co-founded Doppio Teatro, Australia's first professional bilingual theatre company, in 1983. Crea became the Artistic Director of Doppio Teatro in 1991 and has written many creative productions for the company.
She has written and directed theatre works for the Adelaide Festival of the Arts, Come Out Youth Festivals, Leeds International Festival of Youth Arts, Canberra Australian Theatre Festival and the South Australian Italian Festival. She has been guest director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Belvoir Street Theatre, SBS television and has received secondments to the State Theatre (South Australia) and the Queensland Royal Theatre companies. The ABC Radio National adaptation of her play The Migration of the Madonna, was a finalist in the New York Broadcasters Competition (1983).
She has served as an active member of the Drama selection committee, Australia Council and has spoken to, organized and facilitated a variety of seminars and conferences, including one at Salamanca Place, Hobart, on multiculturalism in the Arts. She has been an active advocate for the arts and cultural diversity and has held positions on several Boards including the Performing Arts Board and the Drama Committee of the Australia Council, which she chaired. She has served also as a member of the Board of the Adelaide Festival of Arts. In October 1995 she received the Federal Government's inaugural Cultural Diversity in the Arts Award from the Prime Minister, Paul Keating.
