Terence Clarke

Composer

After graduating from Sydney University with Honours in Music, Terence Clarke AM taught for a time, ending as Senior Mathematics Master at Cranbrook School before returning to music and theatre. Terence composed music to Nick Enright’s book and lyrics for Summer Rain and The Venetian Twins (both of which have had several revivals) and Variations (winner of the NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Drama, 1983, and never since performed). Other major work includes the music to book and lyrics of Dorothy Hewett (Catspaw, Perth, and Jarrabin, NIDA), of Ron Blair (Flash Jim Vaux, Nimrod), and of John Croyston (Lysistrata, Old Tote). He has acted in English repertory, for Nimrod (Horatio/Rosencrantz to John Bell’s Hamlet), and for the National Theatre Company, Perth, where he was for over two years Aarne Neeme’s Associate Director. He was foundation Artistic Director of the first regional professional theatre company in Australia, the Hunter Valley Theatre Company in Newcastle, and has been the Artistic Director of the Playwrights Conference and Head of Directing at NIDA.

Terence has directed the premieres of a number of Australian plays, most notably John O’Donoghue’s A Happy and Holy Occasion (HVTC) and Janis Balodis’ Backyard (Nimrod). He has directed over 120 productions and workshopped some dozen: the companies include the Melbourne and Queensland Theatre Companies, Nimrod, and Playbox; the music theatre works include Madam Butterfly (for State Opera of SA, twice), Annie, Anything Goes, The Pirates of Penzance (with Reg Livermore, Canberra), HMS Pinafore, and The Yeomen of the Guard. Other work for the STC: The Venetian Twins (composer/pianist/MD); Summer Rain (composer); The Sunny South (composer/arranger); A Happy and Holy Occasion (director). Terence is a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to the performing arts as a director, actor, writer, composer and educator. Terence has directed many productions at NIDA.

For enquiries regarding Terence Clarke please contact us via email or on (02) 9319 7199.