STAGES Episode 547: JOHN GADEN

John Gaden is one the theatre’s cherished elders, having contributed to the Australian stage over several decades as actor and director. 

He commenced his career studying arts and law at the University of Sydney, but when he joined the Sydney University Players, he was bitten by the theatrical bug - chiefly through the works of William Shakespeare. All thoughts of the bar were abandoned for the bard!

Early forays in the theatre saw John work during the foundation days at the Octagon Theatre in Perth. Working with Sir Tyrone Guthrie there, he toured with King Oedipus and then joined the Old Tote in 1972, playing in many productions including The Taming of the Shrew, Tartuffe, Love Labour’s Lost, Love For Love and Richard II.

He’s been a part of seminal chapters in a developing Australian theatre including the early days of Nimrod, the Paris Theatre Company (with productions of Visions and Pandora’s Cross) and the experimental Actor’s Company at the Sydney Theatre Company.

He spent three years as associate director of the new Sydney Theatre Company, including the direction of their celebrated production of Nicholas Nickleby. From 1986-1990, John was Artistic Director of the State Theatre Company of South Australia. 

His performances as actor are lengthy and legendary and include The Sunny South, Close of Play, The Man From Mukinupin, Hamlet, Amadeus, As You Desire Me, The Way of the World, Kold Komfort Kaffee at Nimrod (with Robyn Archer), Patrick White’s Signal Driver (the first production at the Belvoir), Pericles and Henry IV for Bell Shakespeare, Cloudstreet with Company B, The War of the Roses for STC and No Man's Land. He’s played King Lear at three different times in his career.

John has appeared in the premieres of many new Australian plays including Flash Jim Vaux, Kabul, An Awful Rose, A Handful of Friends, The Man Who Shot The Albatross and Money and Friends.

Most recently there have been productions of Uncle Vanya, Do Not Go Gentle and Mr Bailey’s Minder. But soon, he is back on the boards in Damian Ryan’s new adaptation of Shakespeare’s History plays in Player Kings with Sport For Jove.

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