Gerald Chapman (director)
Encyclopedia
Gerald Chapman was an English theatre director and educator who was best known for his work with the Royal Court Theatre
, London, Gay Sweatshop, the New York City Young Playwrights Festival, the American Repertory Theatre
, the Circle Repertory Company
, and the Double Image Theatre.
, England, the younger son of hotelier Peter Chapman, whose father had been manager of the Savoy Hotel
, London in the early 1900s. He spent his early years at the Castle Hotel, Taunton
, Somerset
, where his father was manager, and which is now owned by his elder brother, Christopher (Kit) Chapman. His mother was of Greek origin, and his summers were spent with his mother’s family in Thessalonica.
, (along with his contemporary Ian McNeice
), and began his involvement with play production as a student at Cambridge University.
In 1974, at a time when Gay Liberation
was just beginning in the UK, Chapman joined other gay activists and playwrights to set up one of the first Gay Theatre seasons in the UK. The intention of the group was to counteract the prevailing conception in mainstream theatre of what homosexuals were like, therefore providing a more realistic image for the public. They realised that a great deal of hard work was required and came up with the name The Gay Sweatshop. This later became one of the best known gay theatre companies in the UK, with former members including Antony Sher
, Simon Callow
, Tom Robinson
and Miriam Margolyes
.
In the mid 1970s Chapman was appointed to the Royal Court Theatre
, London in charge of the Young People’s Theatre Scheme. This had been set up in 1966 to develop and produce the best new writing by young people under 25, encouraging writers from all sections of society to find their voice. He taught school, ran workshops, and organized the highly successful Young Playwrights’ annual festival
Stephen Sondheim
had been attempting for several years, without success, to set up a young playwright’s competition in New York City. He heard about the program at the Royal Court and went to England to see for himself.
“It was my first opportunity to see what I had only read about for so many years, and it was an experience so moving and exhilarating that I returned to the council with renewed vigor. I wrote to Robert Cushman
, the Observer
's theatre critic, to find out exactly how the event was organized, and asked Ruth Goetz, a council-member who lived in London at the time, to do some detective work at the Court. She came up with the key to it all: a fellow named Gerald Chapman”.
In 1980 Sondheim invited Chapman to New York to start a similar project in the United States. Chapman founded and directed the acclaimed New York Young Playwrights Festival, which won a Drama Critics Circle Award in 1983. In 1984 he directed the world premiere of the play Holy Wars - Morroco and The Road to Jerusalem by Allan Havis
, at the American Repertory Theatre. He also taught at New York University
, worked in the New York City schools, and directed productions at the American Repertory Theatre, the Circle Repertory Company, and the Double Image Theatre.
In 1985 he was invited to be Guest Director at the International Young Playwright's Festival in Sydney, Australia.
on 25 September 1987 at the Beth Israel Medical Center
, New York, USA. His life partner, Ivan Chatman, was by his side. The New York Times published a substantial obituary and there were long eulogies in the deaths columns from his friends and colleagues at the Dramatists Guild. After his death The Gerald Chapman Trainee Director Award was set up at the Royal Court Theatre, London.
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
, London, Gay Sweatshop, the New York City Young Playwrights Festival, the American Repertory Theatre
American Repertory Theatre
The American Repertory Theater is a professional not-for-profit theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1980 by Robert Brustein, the A.R.T. is known for its commitment to new American plays and music–theater explorations; to neglected works of the past; and to established classical texts...
, the Circle Repertory Company
Circle Repertory Company
The Circle Repertory Company, originally named the Circle Theater Company, was a theatre company in New York City that ran from 1969 to 1996. It was founded on July 14, 1969, in Manhattan, in a second floor loft at Broadway and 83rd Street by director Marshall W...
, and the Double Image Theatre.
Early life
Chapman was born in TorquayTorquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
, England, the younger son of hotelier Peter Chapman, whose father had been manager of the Savoy Hotel
Savoy Hotel
The Savoy Hotel is a hotel located on the Strand, in the City of Westminster in central London. Built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the hotel opened on 6 August 1889. It was the first in the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants owned by...
, London in the early 1900s. He spent his early years at the Castle Hotel, Taunton
Castle Hotel, Taunton
The Castle Hotel at Taunton is a hotel and restaurant located in the centre of Taunton, Somerset, England. The business is located in a Grade II listed 18th century reconstruction of the former 12th century Norman fortress, Taunton Castle.-Building:...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, where his father was manager, and which is now owned by his elder brother, Christopher (Kit) Chapman. His mother was of Greek origin, and his summers were spent with his mother’s family in Thessalonica.
Dramatic career
Gerald Chapman appeared in several school drama productions when he was a pupil at Taunton SchoolTaunton School
Taunton School is a co-educational independent school in the county town of Taunton in Somerset in South West England. It serves boarding and day-school pupils from the ages of 13 to 18....
, (along with his contemporary Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice is a prolific English screen, stage, and television character actor.-Early life:McNeice was born in Basingstoke in Hampshire. McNeice's acting training started at the Taunton School in Somerset, followed by two years at the Salisbury Playhouse...
), and began his involvement with play production as a student at Cambridge University.
In 1974, at a time when Gay Liberation
Gay Liberation
Gay liberation is the name used to describe the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement of the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s in North America, Western Europe, and Australia and New Zealand...
was just beginning in the UK, Chapman joined other gay activists and playwrights to set up one of the first Gay Theatre seasons in the UK. The intention of the group was to counteract the prevailing conception in mainstream theatre of what homosexuals were like, therefore providing a more realistic image for the public. They realised that a great deal of hard work was required and came up with the name The Gay Sweatshop. This later became one of the best known gay theatre companies in the UK, with former members including Antony Sher
Antony Sher
Sir Antony Sher, KBE is a double Olivier Award winning South African-born British actor, writer, theatre director and painter.- Early years :...
, Simon Callow
Simon Callow
Simon Phillip Hugh Callow, CBE is an English actor, writer and theatre director. He is also currently a judge on Popstar to Operastar.-Early years:...
, Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band...
and Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes, OBE is an English actress and voice artist. Her earliest roles were in theatre and after several supporting roles in film and television she won a BAFTA Award for her role in The Age of Innocence .-Early life:...
.
In the mid 1970s Chapman was appointed to the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
, London in charge of the Young People’s Theatre Scheme. This had been set up in 1966 to develop and produce the best new writing by young people under 25, encouraging writers from all sections of society to find their voice. He taught school, ran workshops, and organized the highly successful Young Playwrights’ annual festival
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
had been attempting for several years, without success, to set up a young playwright’s competition in New York City. He heard about the program at the Royal Court and went to England to see for himself.
“It was my first opportunity to see what I had only read about for so many years, and it was an experience so moving and exhilarating that I returned to the council with renewed vigor. I wrote to Robert Cushman
Robert Cushman
Robert Cushman was one of the Pilgrims. He was born in the village of Rolvenden in Kent, England, and was baptized in the parish church there on February 9, 1577/78. He spent part of his early life in Canterbury on Sun Street. Cushman married Sarah Reder on 31 July 1606...
, the Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
's theatre critic, to find out exactly how the event was organized, and asked Ruth Goetz, a council-member who lived in London at the time, to do some detective work at the Court. She came up with the key to it all: a fellow named Gerald Chapman”.
In 1980 Sondheim invited Chapman to New York to start a similar project in the United States. Chapman founded and directed the acclaimed New York Young Playwrights Festival, which won a Drama Critics Circle Award in 1983. In 1984 he directed the world premiere of the play Holy Wars - Morroco and The Road to Jerusalem by Allan Havis
Allan Havis
Allan Havis is a playwright with pronounced political themes and probes on colliding cultures. His works range from minimal language texts to ambiguous, ironic narratives that delineate the genesis, paradoxes, and seduction of evil. Several of his dramas involve Jewish identity, cultural...
, at the American Repertory Theatre. He also taught at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, worked in the New York City schools, and directed productions at the American Repertory Theatre, the Circle Repertory Company, and the Double Image Theatre.
In 1985 he was invited to be Guest Director at the International Young Playwright's Festival in Sydney, Australia.
Death
Gerald Chapman died of AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
on 25 September 1987 at the Beth Israel Medical Center
Beth Israel Medical Center
Beth Israel Medical Center is a 1,368-bed, full-service tertiary teaching hospital in New York City. Originally dedicated to serving immigrant Jews living in the tenement slums of the Lower East Side, it was founded at the turn of the 20th century. The main hospital location is the Petrie...
, New York, USA. His life partner, Ivan Chatman, was by his side. The New York Times published a substantial obituary and there were long eulogies in the deaths columns from his friends and colleagues at the Dramatists Guild. After his death The Gerald Chapman Trainee Director Award was set up at the Royal Court Theatre, London.