- Jim Sharman
Jim Sharman was born
12 March ,1945 inSydney ,Australia , as James David Sharman. The son of boxing tent entrepreneurJimmy Sharman , he worked as a director and writer for film and stage, where he has worked on over 70 productions [http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=608067 Sharman relives his musical journey] . He is probably best known for his work onThe Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975 ) and its sequelShock Treatment (1981 )Biography
He spent much of his young life at the circus, where his father and grandfather ran a travelling boxing sideshow. Taking an interest in theatre, he attended the
National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, graduating in 1966. Sharman became interested in directing experimental theatre and he soon made a name for himself in Sydney with his groundbreaking productions at theOld Tote Theatre Company .While directing the original Sydney production of "Hair" in 1970, he met a young architectural student named
Brian Thomson , who would become his longtime set designer. Sharman's first film, a low-budget sci-fi rock musical titled "Shirley Thompson Versus the Aliens," was shot in early 1971 and released in June 1972. [Stratton, David (1980). "The Last New Wave: The Ausralian Film Revival." Sydney: Angus & Robertson. 44.] Sharman and Thomson both worked on the acclaimed original Sydney production of "Jesus Christ Superstar " in 1972, which brought Sharman to the attention of lyricistTim Rice , who brought him and Thomson to London in 1972 to stage the production, which includedRichard O'Brien .Through his meeting with O'Brien, Sharman played a major role in developing the award-winning 1973 London production of "
The Rocky Horror Show ", and he also directed the film versionThe Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and its sequelShock Treatment (1981). Sharman went on to become one of Australia's most respected theatre directors, and also directed the films "Summer of Secrets" (1976) and "The Night the Prowler..." (1978). [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm078940/bio James Best (I) - Biography ] ]After a break due to
clinical depression starting around 1995, Sharman returned two years later with an acclaimed production ofThe Tempest for theBell Shakespeare Company . His most recent success and has been at the helm productions includingStephen Sewell ’sThree Furies , for which he won a "Helpmann Award". [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24076207-5012694,00.html Solitary man ]In August 2008, Jim Sharman's memoirs Blood and Tinsel [http://www.bloodandtinsel.com] were published by
Melbourne University Publishing , where he talks about his childhood on the road with Jimmy Sharman's Boxing Troupe and also speaks out for the first time aboutThe Rocky Horror Picture Show and his many productions.References
External links
*imdb name|id=0788940|name=Jim Sharman
* [http://www.hlamgt.com.au Jim Sharman's Agent]
* [http://www.bloodandtinsel.com Blood and Tinsel website]
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