Image of Gavin Richards

Gavin Richards

After training at the Bristol Old Vic, Gavin Richards worked at the Liverpool Everyman and then with radical playwright John McGrath, in 7:84. Joining the Ken Campbell Roadshow in the early 70s he got performance experience working outdoors, in pubs and clubs. A lucrative German tour gave him and a group of colleagues the financial security to set up Belt and Braces Roadshow Company, formed with Eugene Geasley, Marcel Steiner and Jeni Barnett. Their leftist political and musical roadshows were taken to trade union meetings, working-men’s clubs, colleges and schools as well as traditional theatres and arts centres. Richards was Artistic Director, writer and performer for this collective inspired by the work of Alan Dosser at the Everyman and Ken Campbell and John McGrath of 7:84 Theatre Company. With 7:84 Richards had also directed Arden/D’Arcy’s Ballygoimbeen Bequest and Adrian Mitchell’s Man Friday and worked with both Richard Eyre and Trevor Griffiths. Many B&B members had worked for one or more of those companies and over the course of its 12 years on the road some of its members went on to form other companies like Monstrous Regiment. John Fiske, B&B’s musical director and Paul Kessel formed their own company in Sweden, still working today. B&B also collaborated on joint productions with both 7:84 and Roland Muldoon’s CAST. Others involved in the early years included Shane Connoughton, Sylvester McCoy, Vari Sylvestre, Andy Andrews, Gillian Hanna, David Bradford, Derek Thompson, Jim Carter and Colm Meaney. As well as writing original scripts with the company, Richards directed and adapted other political plays, most famously Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist based on a translation by Gillian Hanna which ran in the West-End for two years after an extensive tour starring Alfred Molina. He also oversaw the Belt and Braces production of Steve’ Gooch’s version of Brecht’s The Mother directed by Paul Hellyer which helped to launch the career of Maggie Steed. In the 80s and 90s Richards was a successful television and film actor (again working with Trevor Griffiths on Central TV’s Oi For England and with Paula Milne on the BBC series Driving Ambition). Assisted by Paula Milne and other ex members of B&B Richards produced A Night For A Nuclear Free Europe for the Labour Party at Wembley Arena in 1984 at the height of the miner’s strike. In the 90’s he also worked with Jack Shepherd on Comic Cuts, Griff Rhys Jones onThe Alchemist and Richard Sparks on The Crimson Lizard. His work on BBC’s ‘Allo ‘Allo and EastEnders is something he would rather forget. More recently, with Tamara Henry, he formed a theatre company in New Zealand called Theatre South whose youth production for the child soldier’s charity War Child won several awards. His recent book of poetry entitled 200 Weeks was published by Muswell Press in North London in 2015.


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Born:
Jul 3, 1946 In London, England
Movie/TV Credits:
29
First Appeared:
In the movie The Ken Campbell Roadshow 1971-01-01
Latest Project:
Movie The Lock-In 2024-05-25
Known For
Poster of 'Allo 'Allo!
Poster of The Miners' Campaign Video Tapes: The Lie Machine
Poster of Crystal Gazing
Poster of The Triple Echo
Filmography
Movie The Lock-In Terry Raymond 2024-05-25
Movie Kidnapped Captain Hoseason 2005-02-27
Series Kidnapped Capt. Hoseason 2005-02-27
Movie The Student Prince Chief Superintendent 1998-11-22
Movie The Locksmith Max Parker 1997-09-25
Movie Savage Play Kim 1995-01-01
Movie Being Human Da Cunha 1994-05-06
Series A Touch of Frost Unknown 1992-12-06
Series Between the Lines Unknown 1992-09-04
Series Mike and Angelo 1989-03-16
Series Hannay Unknown 1988-01-06
Series Hardwicke House Mr. Flashman 1987-02-24
Series Inspector Morse Unknown 1987-01-06
Series Lovejoy Unknown 1986-01-10
Movie Whoops Apocalypse Donald 1986-05-06
Series Call Me Mister Unknown 1986-09-05
Movie The Caucasian Chalk Circle Doctor Loladze/Yussup/Doctor/Lawyer 1 1985-01-01
Series EastEnders Unknown 1985-02-19
Movie Titus Andronicus Lucius 1985-04-25
Movie The Miners' Campaign Video Tapes: The Lie Machine Presenter 1984-01-02
Movie Driving Ambition Ken Lark 1984-03-03
Series The Bill Unknown 1984-10-16
Series 'Allo 'Allo! Captain Alberto Bertorelli 1984-09-07
Movie Oi for England The Man 1982-04-17
Movie Crystal Gazing Neil Holt 1982-09-15
Series BBC Television Shakespeare Unknown 1978-12-03
Movie The Reporters Des 1972-10-09
Movie The Triple Echo Stan 1972-11-16
Movie The Ken Campbell Roadshow Self 1971-01-01