Judith Gibson

Judith Gibson (19**-). Actress.

Also known as Judy Gibson.

Biography

She began her acting career in Britain at the age of twelve at the B.B.C. in Manchester and London. At seventeen she gained an honours degree at the RADA. After graduating she was in Repertory and toured throughout England, and did radio work. known for Paul of Tarsus (1960 - 3 episodes) and BBC Sunday-Night Play (1960).

In 1961 she was invited to join Donovan Maule Theatre, Nairobi, Kenya, a monthly repertory company, and there met her future husband, actor Michael Newell, who had also arrived there from London, just two days after her. They worked together there for their year's contracts.

In 1963 she met Mike again during a performance of Hamlet at Maynardville (1963), followed by joint roles in Ring Round the Moon (Anouih) (1964). They were married on 6th June, 1964.

After a two year stint in Johannesburg and Cape Town, they returned to England, to live on a houseboat on the Thames in Chelsea, while Michael toured the country with a Shakespeare company and they touted the idea of rebuilding the Globe Theatre in London.

In 1965 they returned to Cape Town, invited to perform in Shakespeare productions again, and in 1968 their daughter Amanda was born there.

Michael gradually became very involved in Real Estate as an agent with RE/MAX.

In 2002, Mike having retired, the couple emigrated to America to join their daughter and their two grandchildren near Richmond, in rural Virginia.

Over the years a great deal of travel was enjoyed touring Europe, the Middle East, the length and breadth of Africa, as well as India, Australia, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

On stage she played Ophelia in the 1963 Hamlet, the lead in Ring Round the Moon for CAPAB (1964) and Cordelia in King Lear, 1966.

Her radio and television work included roles in a radio version of Wings

Awards

In 1984 she was a winner of the SABC's annual Artes Award for outstanding contributions to television and radio for her performance in Wings ( Best acting performance in a dramatic work (radio)).

Sources

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7268515/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

King Lear theatre programme, 1966.

The Star, 26 March 1984.

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