William Direen (born 1957) is a New Zealand writer and performer. He graduated from Canterbury University (Christchurch) with the John Tinline Prize (1980) and M.A. Hons. (1st). His masters thesis was titled The influence of Japanese noh, Balinese dance-drama and the Kathakali on four twentieth century western playwrights. He directed Blue Ladder Theatre at 87 Cashel Street, Christchurch, and later produced a series of experimental "psycho-musicals" in Wellington. Later writing (1994–present) ranges from criticism and speculative fiction to poetry sometimes performed with collaborating musicians. From 2006 to 2017 he edited the trans-cultural literary annual Percutio, "dedicated to aspects of the creative process and to works that bridge cultures". He edited a special anthology in 2021 to