Gary Gordon

Gary Gordon (19**-) is an actor, dancer, choreographer, director, academic and teacher.

Biography

Training

He trained at the University of Natal (Durban) Department of Speech and Drama, before going to England and the Laban Centre for Movement & Dance in Europe where he both trained and taught.

Also experience in Britain and Europe as choreographer.

Career

The leading proponent of physical theatre in South Africa in the 1990s and early 21st century. In 1992 he returned to South Africa to become professor and head of the Rhodes University Drama Department (until 2009?). There he also founded the First Physical Theatre Company in 1993 and began to train numerous young practitioners in the field.

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

As director

1974: Six Characters in Search of an Author (Rhodes University Drama Department)

1977: The Trojan Women (Rhodes University Drama Department)

As choreographer

Gary Gordon has choreographed a number of works. Some of these include:

1977: Candide (Baxter Theatre)

1979: The Relapse (CAPAB)

1985: Annie Get Your Gun

1999: The Fall of the House of Usher (Rhodes University Drama Department)

Original works

Gordon has created and choreographed a number of physical theatre productions and documentary danceplays. Some of these include:

1994: On the Light Side of the Moon

1994: Surround her With Water: An Epiphany

1996: Dead: A Slight History of One Called Ivan (created with Reza de Wet)

1996: The Unspeakable Story (created with Reza de Wet)

1998: Icons (created with Reza de Wet)

1998: Lilith (created with Reza de Wet)

1998: Portraits

2000: Bessie's Head (created with Reza de Wet)

2002: Rockabye for a Sleeping Man and a Barking Dog

2002: Ozymandias (created with Jenni-Lee Crewe)

2002: Ceremonial on Leaving (Third year repertory, Rhodes University Drama Department)

2003: This Beautiful House is Un-made (created with Juanita Finestone-Praeg)

2003: Re-collections (First Physical Theatre Company)

2003: Three Tales from Unfolding the Skin (Third year repertory, Rhodes University Drama Department)

2006: 6 Kinds of Emptiness (National Arts Festival)

2006: Vrypas (with Francois Toerien, First Physical Theatre Company)

As performer

He appeared in a number of works, including:

Ozymandias (2002), Songs that seep into forgetfulness (2002), Vrypas (First Physical Theatre Company, 2006)

Awards, etc

Winner of the first Standard Bank Young Artist Award for contemporary dance (1989). Awarded Choreographer of the Year in 1994 for On the Light Side of the Moon & Surround her With Water: An Epiphany. The Unspeakable Story - “Mirror” (1996) with Andrew Buckland & Reza de Wet received the FNB Vita prize for the most exceptional portrayal of a contemporary dance work.

Sources

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

Rhodes Drama Review 2003. https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/drama/documents/review_2003.pdf

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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