Who is Neill Gladwin?
Theatre Director, Writer, Event Producer, Creative Director and comedian.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
Invest in Apple.
Who inspires you and why?
Steve Jobs, Philip Glass, Robert Wilson, my son – maybe because they all think outside of the box.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Pay teachers the same amount as major CEOs.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I’d love to go back to Ithaca in Greece, ride Vespa Scooters across the island and harvest olives in the summer. Bliss.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
The Albert Park Deli and let them taste great coffee, eat fantastic Greek Food and let them feel a true cultural community hub that has existed over two generations. A truly Melbourne experience.
What are you currently reading?
Stage plans, lighting grid designs, rehearsal schedules for The Victorian State Schools Spectacular 2014 and also reading fantastic music suggestions for 2015 Spectacular coming from the young artists.
What are you currently listening to?
Currently listening to those musical suggestions – from Beyonce to Beethoven and back again.
Happiness is?
Seeing a young artist empower themselves through hard work and commitment to their performance at the Spectacular. Knowing that lives are being changed through that experience and knowing that audiences are moved by those young artists’ work.
What does the future hold for you?
I’m looking forward to the 2014 Victorian State Schools Spectacular at Hisense Arena on September 13, and then starting the 2015 show.
Neill Gladwin has worked in both the subsidized, commercial theatre and festival industries in Australia and internationally. He was one half of the internationally acclaimed comedy duo Los Trios Ringbarkus – the first Australian comedy act to win the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Perrier Comedy Award for Best Comedy.
His performance work also includes feature films and television. He has directed productions for many of Australia’s major theatre companies, including a Green Room Award for the production Verona. Neill wrote, directed and performed Lawnmower Man in the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games and was also Artistic Director for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Closing Ceremony.
Neill is currently the Creative Director of the Victorian State School Spectacular, produced by the Performing Arts Unit of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
The 2014 Victorian State Schools Spectacular will be held on Saturday 13 September at Hisense Arena. For more information, visit: www.ticketek.com.au/spectacular for details.
Image: Neill Gladwin