In March 2001 Michael won the Green Room Award for Best Director for Matrix Theatre's multi-award-winning play "A BEAUTIFUL LIFE" (which he co-wrote with his wife, Helen Howard). 

Other directing credits include: OZ SHORTS, EXPLOSIONS (including two return seasons), BLITHE SPIRIT (Assistant Director), for Queensland Theatre Company; SALT for La Boite; CITIZEN JANE (co-written with Helen Howard) for Queensland Arts Council; THE KING AND THE CORPSE! (Matilda Award-winner), 1347, CUTTING LOOSE for Matrix Theatre; DANGEROUS OBSESSION for Robert Coleby productions (with Robert Coleby, Amanda Muggleton and John Stanton); THE CHERRY ORCHARD for 2nd Year students at QUT, JANE EYRE for 3rd Year students at USQ; ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD (Assistant Dir) for Opera Qld/QPAT/Qld Conservatorium; and MACBETH for Argonaut Theatre, London.

"Michael Futcher brilliantly directs a dream cast ... he directs with energetic precision, with fluid and precise character transitions evoking detailed characterizations..."
Veronica Kelly, The Australian, 31st August 1998, for "A Beautiful Life" (Matrix)

"A brilliantly staged theatrical masterpiece..."
Alison Cotes, The Courier Mail, 31st August 1998, for A BEAUTIFUL LIFE (Matrix)

"Good theatre moves, transforms and transports an audience.  A Beautiful Life does all this ... Michael Futcher and Helen Howard have created political theatre that challenges our often prejudiced and unfeeling treatment of refugees."
Kate Herbert, Herald Sun, July 11th, 2000, for A BEAUTIFUL LIFE (Matrix)

"Some shows are simply too good to be performed once ... Directed with loving energy and clarity by Michael Futcher, this is such a show. It's pure theatre."
Richard Waller, The Courier Mail, September, 1996, for THE KING AND THE CORPSE! (Matrix)

"Michael Futcher's inspired direction..."
Mary Nemeth, The Australian Financial Review, November 1997, for OZ SHORTS (QTC)