Kerry Jordan
(****-****). Actor. Performed in Misalliance (with PACT), Ross (with PACT), Windmills of the Mind (with PACT), Doctor on the Boil (with A.T. Productions), Kismet (with PACT). (SACD 1980/81)
JORDAN, Kerry (19**-) Actor from New Zealand. Quoted from the programme of Rattle of a Simple Man in 1961 wherein he played the role of Ricard: 'Studied law for 4 years, then became a fruit farmer and broadcaster for New Zealand Broadcasting Service before going to England on a double scholarship to RADA. Spent 1 year under contract for English Stage Co. at the Royal Court. Played Toby Belch and Bottom in Regents Park. Just played in The Mousetrap for two years. Featured in many television series and films.' **EDIT Acted in the Cockpit Players’ productions of Beyond the Fringe (1961), The Birthday Party (1962) and The Night of the Iguana (1962). Also acted under Leonard Schach in the PACT production of Heartbreak House (1967) and the CAPAB production of The Alchemist (1975). He starred in an imported British production of Rattle of a Simple Man, presented by Taubie Kushlick, with Pauline Stroud, Edward Woodward and stage director Valda Blumberg in 1961. He joined the touring cast of Beyond the Fringe, which Leonard Schach had presented at the Hofmeyr Theatre and then the Playhouse starring David Beattie in 1962.
He starred in Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party, followed by Tennessee Williams’s The Night of the Iguana which was staged at the Playhouse by the Cockpit Players in 1962. Leonard Schach directed, and in his company of actors for these plays were Michael McGovern, Margaret Inglis, Marjorie Gordon, Diane Wilson and Siegfried Mynhardt. He was kept in steady employment by PACT in 1966. He starred in Leonard Schach’s production of Shaw’s Heartbreak House for PACT at the Alexander in 1967. It also starred Siegfried Mynhardt, Alec Bell, Elizabeth Meyer, Joan Blake, François Swart, Frank Lazarus and Maggie Soboil. She starred in A Month in the Country, which Leonard Schach directed for PACT at the Alexander in 1969. It also starred Erica Rogers, Vivienne Drummond and Siegfried Mynhardt. She directed The Secretary Bird which was staged at the Intimate Theatre by Shirley Firth, Pieter Toerien and Basil Rubin in 1969. It starred Jeremy Hawk, Shelagh Holliday, Ivan Berold and Firth.
Starred in Kismet, the first PACT musical to be staged together with Gé Korsten, Barbara Veenemans, Lawrence Folley and Iris Chapple at the Civic Theatre in late 1973. It was directed by Anthony Farmer who also designed the sets and Neels Hansen did costumes. Starred in The Company’s production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular, designed by Anthony Farmer and co-directed by John Hussey and Mannie Manim. It also starred Graham Armitage, Naomi Buch, Wilson Dunster, Diane Appleby and Gay Lambert and was staged at the Market Theatre in November 1977. He starred in John Pank’s Windmills of the Mind with Michael McCabe, John Hussey and Bobby Heaney with direction by François Swart for PACT in 1979. ***(Tucker, 1997)
Sources
Programme notes of Rattle of a Simple Man in 1961.
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