Kerry James Casey (9 November 1954 – 25 November 2015) was an Australian actor, writer, director, and performance teacher. He worked in bilingual theatre in Australia with companies using Greek, French, Vietnamese, and Italian languages and cultures in performance.

Biography

Kerry Casey was born on 9 November 1954 in

Wagga Wagga Wagga Wagga (; informally called Wagga) is a major regional city in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, with an urban population of more than 57,003 as of 2021, it is an important agricultural, m ...

. He was the third child of James Casey and Joan (nee Gaffney). He grew up primarily in country New South Wales (Wagga Wagga,

Captains Flat Captains Flat is a town in the Southern Tablelands of rural New South Wales, Australia, in Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council. It is south of Queanbeyan. Captains Flat township is bounded by the non-urban parts of the locality of Captains Flat ...

, Milton) before his parents moved to the

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

suburb of

Bondi Junction Bondi Junction is an Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is 6 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and is part of the Local government in Australia, local governm ...

in the late 1960s. He was educated at

St Gregory's College, Campbelltown St Gregory's College Campbelltown (abbreviated as SGC or Greg's or St Greg's) is an Independent school, independent Catholic Single-sex school, single-sex and Mixed-sex education, co-educational comprehensive and specialist Primary school, prim ...

Marcellin College Randwick Marcellin College Randwick is an independent systemic Catholic secondary day school for boys, located in Randwick, a suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded by the Marist Brothers in 1923, the college is o ...

and Vaucluse Boy's High School (where contemporaries included George Smilovici). He undertook a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

with a Diploma of Education at the

University of New South Wales The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was established in 1949. The university comprises seven faculties, through which it offers bachelor's, master's and docto ...

. It was during this time he met his future wife, Maria Moutoudis. He had three children by her. Aside from teaching, he had a career as an actor and director for over thirty years. He completed a Master of Arts in Creative Writing towards the end of his life at the University of New South Wales. In 2014, he published his Masters Thesis, ''The diggers and the IRA: a story of Australian and New Zealand Great-War soldiers involved in Ireland’s war of independence,'' exploring his Irish family's WW1 history and the stories of members of the Irish diaspora from Australia and New Zealand who fought for Ireland in its war of Independence from the United Kingdom. He died on 25 November 2015, following a long battle with cancer.

Professional background

Movie appearances

*2007 '' Thursday's Fictions'' Friday *2003 ''George of the Jungle 2'' Grouchy Gorilla *2001 ''Dil Chahta Hai'' Clown *2001 ''

Moulin Rouge! ''Moulin Rouge!'' (, ) is a 2001 jukebox musical romantic drama film directed, produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It follows an English poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and courtesan ...

'' Audience Member *1995 ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie'' Goldar

Theatre appearances

* 1981–95 Hat, Cane and Suitcase 14 years as a street and event performer –character based improvisations incorporating audience participation, original texts, mime, juggling, acrobatics, magic and rope walking. * 1981 Mannequins Too Australian Nouveau Theatre * 1982 The Giant, Theatre of the Deaf.

Stables Theatre, Sydney The Stables Theatre is a 105-seat theatre in Darlinghurst, Sydney. The intimate theatre has a kite-shaped stage. The theatre was built in , converting an old stables. It was originally called the Nimrod Street Theatre, giving its name to the Ni ...

* 1982 The Cheated, The Father, directed by Kai Tai Chan; One Extra Co. TPS * 1983 Adriana le Coeurvreur,

Opera Australia Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, New South Wales, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House accompanied by the Opera Australia Orchestra runs for approximately eight months of the year, with t ...

* 1983 Beautiful Tigers, Picasso, Tightrope Theatre Co * 1983 The Smile at the Foot of the Ladder, Tightrope Theatre Co. Sydney * 1983 Dialogues of the Carmelites, Poulenc, Opera Australia * 1983 La Traviata, Opera Australia * 1983 Fidelio, by Beethoven, Opera Australia * 1985 Dodo in Love. Yank, Erskineville Hotel,

Erskineville Erskineville (previously known as Macdonaldtown) is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located 6 kilometres south west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the Local government in Australia, ...

* 1985 Dimboola. Bayonet, NSW clubs tours * 1985 Alpha/Zero Unlimited. A

Sydney Festival Sydney Festival is a major arts festival in Australia's largest city, Sydney, that runs for three weeks every January since it was established in 1977. The festival program features over 100 events from local and international artists and inclu ...

commission * 1986 Fat City Circus,

Adelaide Fringe Adelaide Fringe, formerly Adelaide Fringe Festival, is Australia’s biggest arts festival and is the world's second-largest annual arts festival (after the Edinburgh Festival Fringe), held in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Between ...

, performer and co-producer * 1986 The Men Who Stole the Sky. a Sydney Festival commission * 1986 Pierrot and the Detective. The Detective; Sydney Festival commission. * 1986 Manichino, directed by Don Mamouney Fortune NCT and The Wharf Theatre, Sydney * 1987 Not I, by Samuel Beckett, directed by Edmund Falzon, Fortune NCT * May 1987 The Cherry Orchard Fortune Theatre Company * July 1987 Tartuffe Fortune Theatre Company * May 1988 The Intruder Series A * September 1988 Les Enfants du Paradis

Company B Belvoir Belvoir is an Australian theatre company based at the Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney, Australia, originally known as Company B. Its artistic director is Eamon Flack. The theatre comprises two performing spaces: the Upstairs Theatre and the smalle ...

* 1988 A Piece of Monologue, by Samuel Beckett. Harold Park Hotel * April 1989 Medea Freewheeels Theatre Company * November 1989 Under Threat/Black River Sydney Metropolitan Opera & the

Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust (AETT) is an Australian theatre and performing arts company based in Sydney established in 1954. It is today especially known for its music scholarship program. History The Australian Elizabethan Theatre ...

* 1989 The Remedy, Giallo, Sydney Metropolitan Opera. The Parade Theatre * 1990 Witnesses, Cicada Theatre Co * 1992–1995 The Leaping Loonies. 4 years with the MO AWARD winning. Slapstick/acrobatic/improv troupe completing 2 national tours, live TV appearances and countless performances in schools, clubs, pubs, parks, stadia, theatres and country shows. * August 1996 Conversations With Charlie Citymoon & Variasians Theatre Festival * October 1996 Coriolanus

Bell Shakespeare Bell Shakespeare is an Australian theatre company specialising in the works of William Shakespeare, his contemporaries and other classics. Founded by actor John Bell and based in Sydney, it is Australia's only national theatre company. Apart f ...

* 1997 Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare in the Botanic Gardens * 1999 Toss, directed by Paul Rogers * 2000 Inland, male voice, directed by Gretchen Miller * 2000 A Lifetime Slapping Water Buffalo on the Arse. Lead, directed by Paul Rogers. Sidetrack Theatre. Co-producer. * January 2002 Mobile Short+Sweet * 2002 King Lear Harlos Productions * 2002/2004 Runners-up.; Played the armchair fanatic; directed by Debra Iris-Batten for Legs on the Wall.

Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue Performing arts center, performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive b ...

and National Tours. * 2005: La Princesse et la Revolution, played Madame Tussaud. National Maritime Museum Theatre for Les Genies de la Mer * 2005 The Ghost Gum Short+Sweet * 2006: Party Political, played

Kim Beazley Kim Christian Beazley (born 14 December 1948) is an Australian former politician and diplomat. Since 2022 he has served as chairman of the Australian War Memorial. Previously, he was leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and Leader of the ...

; Newtown Theatre; Sydney * 2006: Political Fiction.; lead;

Old Fitzroy Theatre The Old Fitzroy Theatre (also called the Old Fitz Theatre) is a pub theatre in Woolloomooloo Woolloomooloo ( ) is a harbourside, inner-city eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1.5 kilometres east of the central business ...

; Sydney. * 2009: La Princesse et la Revolution, played Madame Tussaud; Melbourne tour; Theatre LOTE Fantastique * 2010 An Inspector Calls

Television appearances

* 1985 G.P. Tom Scarhall * 1986

Five Times Dizzy ''Five Times Dizzy'' is a children's novel by Australian author Nadia Wheatley It was first published in 1982. In 1986 it became an Australian children's television series. Plot summary ''Five Times Dizzy'' is about the comedy and drama of a ...

* 1990 English at Work * 1992

Police Rescue ''Police Rescue'' is an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV (Australian TV channel), ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC and Southern Star Entertainment, Southern ...

Target 1 Episode: Stakeout * 1998 Water Rats Patrick McGuire Episode: Switchback * 1999

Murder Call ''Murder Call'' is an Australian television series, created by Hal McElroy for the Southern Star Entertainment and broadcast on the Nine Network between 1997 and 2000. The series was inspired by the ''Tessa Vance'' novels by Jennifer Rowe, ...

.; 'Grave Matters', Carlo Ghilberti, director Richard Sarrell, West Street Productions * 2000

All Saints All Saints' Day is a Christian holiday. All Saints, All Saints Day or Feast of All Saints may also refer to: Art and entertainment * ''All Saints'' (film), a 2017 Christian drama film * ''All Saints'' (TV series), an Australian hospital drama * ...

. Detective Layton, Amalgamated TV. * 2009

Gangs of Oz ''Gangs of Oz'' is an Australian television documentary series on the Seven Network narrated by actor Colin Friels Colin Friels (born 25 September 1952) is an Australian actor of theatre, TV, film and presenter. Early life Friels was born ...

Series 2. Channel 7. Directed by Katie Hides * 2013

Deadly Women ''Deadly Women'' is an American true crime documentary television series produced by Beyond International Group and airing on the Investigation Discovery (ID) Television, network. The series focuses on murders committed by women. It is hosted ...

Series 6. Episode 12: Vengeance, Dr. Herman Tarnover

Directing

*2011 Coco, Curie et Jeanne d'Arc. Theatre LOTE Fantastique. *2009 Cellodiva. *2003 La Princesse et la Revolution, for Theatre LOTE Fantastique. *2003 Bouncers. Empire Hotel, Kings X. 'an astounding night out' – Kings X Times. *2002 Le Bossu (de Notre Dame). Writer/director for Theatre LOTE. Winner of the Frater Award for Excellence in Performances for Students. *1999 Homer Rules …the Odyssey, an original, demotic adaptation of Homer's Odyssey, for Take Away Theatre and Carnivale. *1988 Silent Partners, a mime/cabaret touring nationally. *1981–95 Hat, Cane and Suitcase, street, event and outdoor performances. *1986 Pierrot and the Detective, Sydney Festival commission, 2BL's Pick for 'Best of the Festival'. *1986 The Men Who Stole the Sky. Sydney Festival commission. *1984 Alpha/Zero Unlimited. Sydney Festival commission.

Writing

*2003 La Princesse et la Revolution, with Louise Hall. *2002 Le Bossu (de Notre Dame), with Louise Hall after Victor Hugo. *2002 Legs on the Wall with Deb Batten and ensemble. *1999 Homer Rules …the Odyssey, with Freida Kritas and ensemble. *1992-5 Leaping Loonies, skits and texts including the hit narrative poem, How I Joined the Loonies *1981–95 Hat, Cane and Suitcase. *1986 Manichino, with Don Mamouney and ensemble. *1986 Pierrot and the Detective. *1986 The Men Who Stole the Sky with David Horton. *1985 Alpha/Zero Unlimited with Brian Keogh and Maggie Craigie. *1982 The Giant, with Margie Brown after Oscar Wilde. *1982 The Cheated, with Louis Nowra, including the song, Her Voice is Gone. *1981 Mannequins Too, poems, scenes and texts with Jim Hughes.

Academic teaching background

*2011 HSC Drama at

Sydney Secondary College Sydney Secondary College is a multi-campus Urban area, urban Education in Australia#Government schools, government-funded, Mixed-sex education, co-educational, dual modality, partially Selective school (New South Wales), academically selective ...

*2008 Drama coordinator

Fort Street High School Fort Street High School (FSHS) is a Education in Australia#Government schools, New South Wales government run, Mixed-sex school, co-educational, Selective school (New South Wales), academically selective, secondary school, secondary day school, ...

*2008 Rehearsal classes for Sidetrack Production of Checkpoint Zero. *2008 NIDA workshops in Meyerhold Biomechanics. *2006-7 Director of Australian Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA). *2004-6 NIDA: Film and the Actor's Body. Movement for film acting and Meyerhold Biomechanics. *2004-6 Australian Institute of Music tutor in Music Theatre and Acting. *1983–2005 Ensemble Studios classes in Mime, Mask and Commedia dell'Arte. *2003-4 Centre for Cross Cultural Relations, ANU; lectures and workshops with Greg Denning in Academic Performance and Making Theatre. *2003/4 Classes at Aerialize and Legs on the Wall in Voice, Speech and Text in Physical Performance. *1998–2001 Conservatorium of Music High, created program and gave lectures and classes in The Instrumentalists Use of the Body in Making and Playing Music. *1996

, classes in Mime for Steven Berkoff and company. *1995 Odyssey House, The Body, Performance and Addiction, for recovering addicts. *1990 Arundel House, RPAH, Performance Therapy. *1989 Sydney Metropolitan Opera, Commedia dell'Arte and Opera Buffa. *1987

, rehearsal classes. *1987 Conservatorium of Music, lectures and workshops in Contemporary Performance for Composition and Music Theatre. *1986-7 Fortune National Capital Theatre, company trainer. *1984-6 The Drama Studio, classes in Mask & Commedia dell'Arte and the research project Shakespeare and the Commedia dell'Arte. *1985 Hellenic Art Theatre, Mask and Chorus for production of Lysistrata. *1983 Macquarie University, classes in Mime..

Honours and awards

*2014 Master of Arts from the Australian Defence Force Academy *2002 Frater Award Excellence in Performance for Students for Le Bossu (de Notre Dame) *1991 Mo Award Specialty Act with the Leaping Loonies plus three further nominations. *1986 Radio National's Best of the (Sydney) Festival for Pierrot and the Detective. *1986 Adelaide Festival Fringe. 4 stars for Fat City Circus.

References

External links

*
The Diggers and the IRA
by Kerry Casey {{DEFAULTSORT:Casey, Kerry 1954 births 2015 deaths Australian theatre directors People from Wagga Wagga University of New South Wales alumni People educated at Marcellin College Randwick