Arthur Frederick Dicks
Encyclopedia
Arthur Frederick Dicks was a designer working in the field of theater and dance, as well as an accomplished actor and artist. He became the first Head of Design at NIDA, (The National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Australia.
Born in London, Arthur lived through The Blitz
, eventually being rehoused in the country when his home was destroyed. In his teens he became involved in repertory theater and consequently acted with Lawrence Olivier and Judi Dench
, some of these he stayed in contact with for the rest of his life. As well as these drama skills he began work as an artist for a prestigious advertising agency.
He decided to travel in his 20’s and ended up in New York
where he went to work for a Leading Fashion magazine. An assignment in Louisiana
in 1951 saw him having a year long break in New Orleans, living in the Pontalba Apartments and a friend's plantation house at White Castle, where he began a series of travel painted diaries.
By the mid 50’s he was back in London where he signed up with the RAAF, he was assigned to bomb disposal and sent to Iraq
. Again he did many detailed drawings and photos of his travels.
After the RAAF Arthur returned to London where he married and returned to the theater, both he and his wife acted all over the United Kingdom
and had a daughter. He often not only acted but was involved in designing the sets and costumes. This new direction saw him working as a set & costume designer in England
, USA and Africa
, spending some time in Nairobi
.
By the mid 60’s Arthur was arrived in Hollywood with introductions to David Niven
and the English set of actors. He quickly started work with top designer Bill Travilla and liaised with Edith Head on two productions as well. By now he had two daughters, but his wife & children returned to London.
He was asked to come to Australia in the 70’s to become the Head of Design at NIDA, (National Institute of Dramatic Art), a position he held for years. Mel Gibson
, Cate Blanchett
and Nicole Kidman
all came from the strong acting base of NIDA. Angus Strathie
one of Arthur’s students went on to win an Oscar for Moulin Rouge
.
|website = www.nida.edu.au
He later became involved with the Q Theatre and was it’s Creative Director & Designer up until his death. He personally funded playreadings of young playwrights to get them seen & produced.
During the last years of his life Arthur promoted new plays every year during Sydney's Mardi Gras Festival. Through his personal endeavors and commitment many exciting new plays, actors & writers were showcased in his brilliant productions. This later became the nucleus of the "In The Pink Theatre Company".
His funeral was attended by a who's who of theater celebrities and his half page obituary was published in all Australian press.
Born in London, Arthur lived through The Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
, eventually being rehoused in the country when his home was destroyed. In his teens he became involved in repertory theater and consequently acted with Lawrence Olivier and Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
, some of these he stayed in contact with for the rest of his life. As well as these drama skills he began work as an artist for a prestigious advertising agency.
He decided to travel in his 20’s and ended up in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he went to work for a Leading Fashion magazine. An assignment in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in 1951 saw him having a year long break in New Orleans, living in the Pontalba Apartments and a friend's plantation house at White Castle, where he began a series of travel painted diaries.
By the mid 50’s he was back in London where he signed up with the RAAF, he was assigned to bomb disposal and sent to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Again he did many detailed drawings and photos of his travels.
After the RAAF Arthur returned to London where he married and returned to the theater, both he and his wife acted all over the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and had a daughter. He often not only acted but was involved in designing the sets and costumes. This new direction saw him working as a set & costume designer in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, USA and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, spending some time in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
.
By the mid 60’s Arthur was arrived in Hollywood with introductions to David Niven
David Niven
James David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was a British actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Lytton, a.k.a. "the Phantom", in The Pink Panther...
and the English set of actors. He quickly started work with top designer Bill Travilla and liaised with Edith Head on two productions as well. By now he had two daughters, but his wife & children returned to London.
He was asked to come to Australia in the 70’s to become the Head of Design at NIDA, (National Institute of Dramatic Art), a position he held for years. Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
, Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett
Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress. She came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in the 1998 biopic film Elizabeth, for which she won British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Golden Globe Awards, and earned her first Academy Award...
and Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
all came from the strong acting base of NIDA. Angus Strathie
Angus Strathie
-Biography:Angus Strathie has had a long professional career in costume design. A friend and longtime colleague of Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, one of his earliest projects was the cult favourite Strictly Ballroom, a romantic comedy produced in 1992...
one of Arthur’s students went on to win an Oscar for Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge is a cabaret built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The closest métro station is Blanche.The Moulin Rouge is...
.
|website = www.nida.edu.au
He later became involved with the Q Theatre and was it’s Creative Director & Designer up until his death. He personally funded playreadings of young playwrights to get them seen & produced.
During the last years of his life Arthur promoted new plays every year during Sydney's Mardi Gras Festival. Through his personal endeavors and commitment many exciting new plays, actors & writers were showcased in his brilliant productions. This later became the nucleus of the "In The Pink Theatre Company".
His funeral was attended by a who's who of theater celebrities and his half page obituary was published in all Australian press.
External links
- http://www.nida.edu.au/
- http://www.jspac.com.au/Qstory.html
- http://books.google.com.au/books?id=KCpEhrdarIMC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=arthur++Dicks+q+theatre&source=web&ots=4sz2By9X5k&sig=9kE_M-kPrYXWtUuaNhgp-LtcTP4&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result
- http://www.theatre.asn.au/venue/australia/the_q_theatre
- http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/the-q-story/2005/08/26/1124563021570.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=query&prop=links&pllimit=500&titles=http://www.nida.edu.au/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Dramatic_Art#References
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Dramatic_Art#References