Gavin Richards

Infobox actor


imagesize =
name = Gavin Richards
birthdate = Birth date and age|1946|9|20|
birthplace = London, England, UK

Gavin Richards (born September 20 1946 in London [imdb name|0724098|Gavin Richards] ) is a British actor, writer and director. His father is music critic Denby Richards, editor of Britain's oldest classical music magazine, Musical Opinion.

From 1987 to 1989 he played Captain Alberto Bertorelli in the sitcom "'Allo 'Allo!". He appeared in "Coronation Street" and as Terry Raymond in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders", and had a minor recurring role in series four and five of the BBC sitcom Hi-de-Hi! as general manager Harold Fox, where he was known as the Smiling Viper.

Trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Gavin has worked as an actor, director and writer in theatre, television and film for over 40 years. He is most familiar for his portrayal of Terry Raymond in the BBC TV Series "EastEnders", appearing in over 300 episodes. He is also remembered as Captain Alberto Bertorelli in the TV comedy hit "'Allo 'Allo" in which he appears in over 30 episodes. His television credits also include roles in "Coronation Street", "Hi-de-Hi", "The Bill", "Lovejoy", "Minder", "Inspector Morse", "A Touch of Frost", "Between The Lines" and "Pie In The Sky". He co-starred with Robert Powell in "Hannay", with Leigh Lawson in "Kinsey", Michael Kitchen in "The Reporters" and with Rowan Atkinson in "Full Throttle". He also starred in the series "Annie's Bar, Driving Ambition, Hardwick House", "Mike & Angelo" and many other programmes. He has appeared in films, amongst others, with Robin Williams in "Being Human", with Oliver Reed and Glenda Jackson in Michael Apted's "Triple Echo", and in the New Zealand film "Savage Play".

As a director and actor in the theatre, he is famous for translating the work of Dario Fo into the English language in his own West End hit production of "Accidental Death Of An Anarchist" (Wyndham's Theatre, 1980) for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award. He also directed and starred in the production for Channel 4 TV in the UK. Gavin played Face in Griff Rhys Jones’s production of "The Alchemist" at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith and toured in the lead role in Jack Shepard’s "Comic Cuts". He has worked as a guest artist on the BBC/SPP TV co-production of "Kidnapped", and the TVNZ production of "The Lost Children", both shot entirely in New Zealand. Gavin has performed at the London Palladium Theatre in the stage production of "'Allo 'Allo", which also toured New Zealand and Australia.

Gavin’s theatre career in began with 5 years working as a leading actor in repertory in Leicester, Manchester, Bolton, Liverpool and Bristol. He directed Shane Connaughton's first play, "Jenny" at the Roundhouse, London, in 1969. In the 1970’s he performed throughout Europe and Scandinavia with Ken Campbell’s "Roadshow", before becoming a founder member of the and Artistic Director of the Belt & Braces Theatre Company, touring Britain for over twelve years in political rock musicals. Belt & Braces also produced Brecht's "Mother Courage". As well as his own work, Richards' collaborations with writers John Arden, Margaretta D'Arcy, Adrian Mitchell, Trevor Griffiths and John McGrath were seen regularly at the Edinburgh Festival and transferred to London on several occasions.

In the early nineties, together with his New Zealand born wife, Tamara Henry, Gavin presented Richard Sparks's comedy, "The Crimson Lizard", in New Zealand with himself, Annie Whittle and Lloyd Scott, at the Court Theatre, Christchurch and the Fortune Theatre, Dunedin. The production was then remounted in the UK at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.

Gavin and Tamara went on to form their own theatre company, Theatre South, which toured a critically acclaimed New Zealand version of "The Drawer Boy" [http://www.downstage.co.nz/shows/archive/2005/shows_drawer_boy.asp] , by Michael Healey, to audiences at the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin, The Court Theatre in Christchurch, Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North and at Downstage in Wellington. The production also played in Blenheim, Invercargill, Whangarei, Tauranga and Hamilton. Theatre South is the only professional theatre company in Marlborough (disambiguation), New Zealand, where Gavin now lives. Past productions include a schools’ workshop production, "The Hole In The Sky", and "Tittle Tattle 1 & 2" by 'Emmerdale' TV script writer Lesley Clare O’Neill (December 2005 and October ‘06).

Recently Theatre South produced "War Child", written and directed by Richards. Dedicated to War Child Australia, part of the international relief and development agency working for the rehabilitation of child soldiers, the show featured a cast of 9-18 year olds from Marlborough, plus full professional crew, and was received enthusiastically by audiences over its eight day run, winning a local community award [http://www.marlborough.govt.nz/content/docs/community/TrustPower_Award_Results_2007-ljo1.pdf ] .

Gavin Richards has also appeared as Patrick in Tony McCaffrey’s (A Different Light Company) production of "The Night Season" by Rebecca Lenkiewicz at the University Theatre, Christchurch and as Claudius in both "Hamlet" and "Rosencranz & Guildenstern" for the Court Theatre, Christchurch, in April 2006. In 2007 he appeared as Creon in Tolis Papazoglou’s production of "Antigone" at Studio 77 in Wellington.

Gavin Richards' agents are: UK: Gordon & French. NZ: Gail Cowan Management. Gavin is now resident in Blenheim, New Zealand

Television Roles

Comedy

External Links

* [http://upload.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=4080272450 - Homepage for 'War Child' show cast and crew]

References