About Kevin Jackson

Guest acting teacher for the Writing Program at AFTRS
(Australian Film and Television  Radio School), Macquarie University: 2004-2005;

Guest acting teacher for Professional Acting Classes with groups of former NIDA students, and graduates from other institutions (VCA, WAPPA, QUT, ACA), organised by graduate students Les Chantery, Adriano Cappelletta, Kate Box and Oliver Wenn: 2008 -2011, at Medium Rare Studio, Redfern.

• To teach across all three years of training.
• To direct play production projects as part of the training process.
• To assist in course structure of curricula and advise on play training repertoire.
• To mentor, shape and assess the development of each of the students across the three year process through tutorial both oral and written.

• Development of Acting Training in the first year program through the exploration of text work using Australian and International (English Speaking Text). This involves a flexible and an evolving contemporary usage of the core Stanislavsky System.
• Continued text work training in second year scene class with heightened language: The Greeks, Shakespeare, the Jacobeans, Shaw, Wilde, Stoppard etc.
• The training of the actor in play production, especially in Chekov cannon, Shakespeare (both Second Year) and the contemporary repertoire  (Usually Third Year). Responsibility with the development of Technical production and Design students as well.
• The preparation of the Third Year Showcase Agents Day.
• The Selection of Students for the incoming student cohort, Nationally.
• Featured in the NIDA/Channel 7 Documentary DRAMA SCHOOL (2002).

• Teaching of acting class across the three year course of the Master of Fine Arts. Work included character class and text based work.
• Directing of play-projects across the years, ranging across diverse historical and cultural themes and perspectives: THE WINTER’S TALE, THE MAN OF MODE, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, MAN AND SUPERMAN, OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD, THE MISANTHROPE, SUMMERFOLK, THE THREE SISTERS, DON JUAN COMES BACK FROM THE WAR, ACTION and ICARUS’S MOTHER.
• Developed New Works/Devised Workshops and presentation for third year students.
• Supervised, Directed A.C.T. Third Year Showcase for San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles.
• Participated as Actor in The A.C.T. New play workshops with the professional company: VENUS by Suzan-Lori Parks; THE DEATH OF MEYERHOLD  and THE FOREST WARS by Mark Jackson.
• Directed for TANTA Productions, DIVERSIONS AND DELIGHTS by John Gay, a one man play on the life of Oscar Wilde with Ken Ruta. Played at Stage Door Theatre San Francisco for 6 weeks and toured to Boston.
• Worked as an actor for the Sydney Theatre Company in THE LIFE AND TIMES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY , THE CRUCIBLE AND THE THREE SISTERS. At the Theatre Royal and The Sydney Opera House.

Note: Kevin began teaching at NIDA in 1983

• Supervised the stabilising and the organising of the Skill Curricula with assistance from Doreen Hogan in the Voice Studies and Keith Bain In the Movement Studies. Gale Edwards and Tony Knight in the Acting core team.
• Introduced a more intense application to the academic appreciation of the History of Theatre and Arts and Ideas with the employment of Ken Healey and May-Britt Ackerhold as supervising lecturers.
• Introduced into the Play Production Projects contemporary International  repertoire. These all Australian Premieres : e.g. BURIED CHILD by Sam Shepard; VICTORY by Howard Barker; CAMILLE by Pam Gems; UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY by Arthur Schnitzler, translated by Tom Stoppard; THE GREEKS, Parts One Two and Three, by John Barton; THE BEWITCHED by Peter Barnes; RESTORATION BY Edward Bond and 5th of JULY by Lanford Wilson.
• Revived ‘lost’ Australian texts  for play production e.g. THIS OLD MAN COMES ROLLING HOME by Dorothy Hewett; MOTHER AND SON and THE BRIDE OF GOSPEL PLACE by Louis Esson and O’HALLORAN’S LITTLE BOAT by Thomas Keneally.
• Selected and matched Industry Directors who were known for their skills with actors  and particular genres of theatre practice to direct projects with the students  e.g. John Tasker working on English Farce, THARK by Ben Travers; Peter Collingwood on Comedy of Manners BEDROON FRACE by Alan Ayckbourn; Terry Clarke on American Comedy THE MATCHMAKER by Thornton Wilder.
• Nurtured new work with a strong student led self-devised emphasis by promoting that work in the production schedule.
• Encouraged and sustained the expansion of students performance skills by maintaining the cabaret program called CORROBARET – established by Nick Enright: Music Theatre, Cabaret, Self-devised Sketch and Stand-up Comedy routines.
• Invited alternative theatre makers to develop and produce work with the student body e.g. Meryl Tankard  and Kim Carpenter.
• Organised a Production of a self devised work FAÇADE – A THREE PART WORK (Meryl Tankard (1987-1988), Kim Carpenter (1988) and Kevin Jackson) (1988) which toured to the Adelaide Arts Festival with the assistance of the other courses. 
• Responsible for the production of the nine hour version of John Barton’s THE GREEKS  (John Clark, Gale Edwards and Kevin Jackson) at NIDA and on a tour to Melbourne (1985). This with the facility of the other courses.
• Organised a cultural tour to Melbourne for the students to attend the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of RICHARD III (1985); and similarly to the Adelaide Arts Festival to attend the Peter Brook production of THE MAHABHARATA (1986).
• Kevin was part of the team that successfully organised the transition of the school body from the old campus in High Street (UNSW) to the new campus on Anzac Parade (1987 -1988.)
• Graduates of note from this period, who have made significant contributions to the Australian performing Arts:

Dean Carey, Antoinette Blaxland, Victoria Longley, Marcelle Schmitz, Rosalba Clemente, Baz Luhrmann, Catherine McClements, Andrea Moor, Sonia Todd, Jonathan Mill, Richard Roxburgh, Tara Morice, Christopher Stollery, Timothy Jones, Sancia Robinson, Anthony Weigh, Anna Broinowski, Ross Hall, Reginald Cribb, Jeremy Godwin,Mary Ann Jolley, Jacqueline McKenzie, Colin Moody, Miranda Otto and Jeremy Sims.

• Invited as Guest Teacher at the Shanghai Drama School (China) for six weeks.

Productions: MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD – Helen Edmundson, Old Fitzroy Theatre (2003); THE WOMEN OF LOCKERBIE – Deborah Brevoort, Parade Studio, NIDA, (2004); THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW- Alma de Groen, New Theatre (2005); BOX and QUOTATIONS FROM CHAIRMAN MAO TSE TUNG by Edward Albee, Parade Studio, NIDA (2006); MONSTER FORMING – a commissioned dance/theatre workshop with Samantha Chester at Queen St Studios (2007), I AM NOT EMILY DICKINSON, Adelaide Fringe Festival, 2010.

 ‘Q’ Theatre, Penrith 

• Actor with the company
• Director with the company
• Teacher with the company
• Community theatre development
• Member of the play selection committee
• Artistic adviser for new work development and community involvement.
• Front-of House management with the company

• Organised, supervised and took  10-week Community Workshops around the outer fringes of the Sydney Community, e.g. Penrith, Bankstown, St Mary’s, Parramatta, Wollongong, Campbelltown, 1975 -1977
• Director of Parramatta  “Q” Theatre Saturday Workshop for the “gifted”, 1975 -1977
• Ran front-of house for the “Q” Theatre lunch time performances at the AMP building Theatre, 1975 -1976
• Set up the “Q’ Theatre Workshop Teaching program and Play Production Company for the local community.
• Team responsibility in selection of plays, directing and casting for Lunchtime and the ‘Q’ Theatre move to Penrith.
• Using the model initated by Joan Littlewood Workshop, under the direction of Doreen Warburton and three other artists, set up and supervised the building of a theatre (literally – The Railway Theatre) and Company in Penrith (1977 inaugural season). Toured to Parramatta, Bankstown and Orange communities.
• Member of the “Q” Theatre core company, (actor): Productions include LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS; HAPPY END; THE DEPARTMENT; THE WARHORSE; WE CAN’T PAY, WE WON’T PAY; THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST; THE GOOD SOLDIER SCHWEICK; and WHAT THE BUTLER SAW.
• Directorial highlights: GHOSTS; A HARD GOD; THE FATHER; ON OUR SELECTION; and HAMLET.
• Set up a workshop for the development of New Australian work; e.g. MOLLY DIES by Martin Sharman; CHRISTINE by John Stone; a rock musical called ST MARY’S KID , which toured to Sydney, Mayfair Theatre.
• Wrote , adapted, directed and acted in Theatre Restaurant- Music Hall programs for the “Q” theatre at Bankstown: THE DRUNKARD; FRANKENSTEIN; and SWEENY TODD.
• Won the SYDNEY THEATRE CRITICS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS in1979.
• Awarded a Study Grant from the New South Wales Department of Arts in 1982, to study at THE AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE in San Francisco.
• Invited as  guest director by Nimrod Theatre company: THE CHRISTIAN BROTHER (Downstairs Belvoir St. Theatre); A HARD GOD – (Seymour Centre).
• Assistant director on THE NORMAN CONQUESTS by Alan Ayckbourn for the OLD TOTE COMPANY at the Seymour Centre.
• Invited guest teacher at the University of New England Summer Schools for two seasons. 1979 -1980.

• Member of the Acting Ensemble. E.g. BUTLEY, Sydney and Country Tour. Member of the Old Tote Company for the inaugural Season at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House-1973 and at the Parade Theatre, Kensington e.g. RICHARD II; THE THREEPENNY OPERA; WHT IF YOU DIED TOMORROW; CRADLE OF HERCULES;LOVE FOR LOVE; THREE MEN ON A HORSE; MACBETH; EQUUS; HOTEL PARADISO etc.
• Directed In studio for Old Tote young director’s development program.
• Other acting highlights include e.g. AFTER HAGGERTY at the Independent Theatre; MEASURE FOR MEASURE at Nimrod St Theatre; ROPE at Marian St Theatre, Killara.  Work with the AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION on both Radio (leads in radio serials) and Television (e.g. Norman Lindsay adaptations, THE COUSIN FROM FIJI). Guest actor at the Queensland Theatre Company; and THE NATIONAL HEALTH.