[4] Direen has appeared at Book Festivals in New Zealand, the USA and Eastern Europe, but is better known for his music and songs, recorded and performed with musicians in NZ and overseas.

[9] Direen directed the alternative Blue Ladder Theatre at 87 Cashel Street in 1984–85 [10] Christchurch,[11][12][13] and later produced a series of experimental "psycho-musicals" in Wellington.

[17] From 2006 to 2017 he edited a trans-cultural literary annual Percutio, "dedicated to aspects of the creative process and to works that bridge cultures".

[18] He edited a special anthology in 2021 to oppose cost-cutting depletion of New Zealand National Library's non-NZ books.

[19][20] He occasionally reads his works, and still performs music live, solo and in groups under the collective title Bilders.