|
Peter Lathan
Peter Lathan's first experience of theatre was at the age of twelve
when he play Marion in Sean O'Casey's Cock-a-Doodle Dandy (he
was at an all-boys school).
In the ensuing 50 years he has been deeply involved in all aspects
of theatre.
Acting
He has never acted professionally, but as an amateur he has played
parts as varied as Sparky in John Arden's Serjeant Musgrave's Dance,
Henry VIII in A Man for All Seasons and the Doctor in Chekhov's
The Three Sisters. His most recent performance was as Mr Badger
in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (which he directed),
when one of his cast fell ill during the first night.
His performances nowadays are restricted to doing poetry and prose
readings in concerts by various choral groups. His most (to him!)
memorable recent performance was of I Am the Very Model of a Modern
Major General at breakneck speed and the complete play within
the play from A Midsummer Night's Dream in which he played
all the parts. His great regret is that he never got to play Hamlet
and that, although he is now old enough to play Lear, he couldn't
learn the words!
Directing
He directed his first play (Chekhov's one-act play The Anniversary)
in 1996 while at university. Since then he has directed school and
youth theatre goups, and professionally for a number of small companies,
most recently for his own company KG Productions.
Productions include Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors,
Teechers, Antigone (Anouilh), Steel Magnolias,
Educating Rita, Adult Child Dead Child, and Return
to the Forbidden Planet. He both wrote and directed The South
Tyneside Story for performance at the Millennium Dome.
Producing
He hates producing but has found himself producing two pantos - with
more to come!
Writing
Apart from theatre/entertainment journalism, which included a spell
writing for The Stage, Musicians Only and Cabaret
and Variety Revue and a period as theatre correspondent for BBC
Radio Newcastle, he has written numerous plays which have been performed
in a number of countries and his book, It's Behind You: The Story
of Pantomime, was published in November 2005 by New Holland Publishers.
He began regular theatre reviewing in 1997.
Teaching
He retired from his teaching post of Head of Drama in September 2003
at King George V School, after eighteen years, but still teachers
an adult evening class in Drama and does occasional masterclasses
for children. He has also run a drama course in a drugs rehabilitation
centre.
Other Theatre Involvement
He has also served on council and other committees, including a number
of years as the chair of the Drama Panel for the Sunderland Arts Centre
and the chair of the Wearabout Theatre Company. He is currently a
Trustee of the Customs House, South Shields, and chair of its Arts
Development sub-committee.
In his career to date he has been involved with over 80 productions.
|
