Benjamin Davies (actor)
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Davies is a Laurence Olivier award winning actor.
Davies grew up in Scotland, Devon, Cornwall, Sussex and London, he is of Welsh/Scots descent.
His earliest performances were at Theatre Royal, Plymouth
, National Youth Theatre
, Glyndebourne Opera House where he was a member of their young companies.
In 1997 Davies won entry to the prestigious Drama Centre London aged 17, where in 1998 he began his training under Yat Malmgren
, Christopher Fettes and Reuven Adiv.
where in 2002 he won a Laurence Olivier Award for his portrayal of Danny in Grae Cleugh's "Fucking Games". In 2003 he appeared at the Traverse Theatre
to work with Wilson Milam
, then to the National Theatre Studio. In 2004 he played "Dill" in Harper Lee
's To Kill a Mocking Bird. Later that year he worked with the avant-garde film director Peter Greenaway
on The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 1: The Moab Story and The Tulse Luper Suitcases,Part 2: Vaux to the Sea. In 2005 he played Dominic Morrison in "Sea of Souls
" for BBC Television, then Davies played "Lawrence" in the first ever staged production of "Lovely Evening" by Peter Gill (playwright)
, for Daniel Evans (actor)
directorial début for the Young Vic Theatre. Later that year he joined the Oxford Stage Company now Headlong Theatre, appearing in "Rookery Nook" by Ben Travers
for Dominic Dromgoole
final show with the OSC. In 2007 he played "Mickybo" in "Mojo Mickybo" by Owen McCafferty
at the Trafalgar Studios
in the West End. In 2008 he played "Ken" in the first revival of Howard Brenton
's Weapons of Happiness
. In 2010 he played "Elliot" in the UK premiere of the American play Nerve.
Davies grew up in Scotland, Devon, Cornwall, Sussex and London, he is of Welsh/Scots descent.
Education
He was educated at Tavistock College (Devon), Lewes Priory (Sussex) and the Drama Centre,(Chalk Farm London).His earliest performances were at Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
The Theatre Royal in Plymouth, Devon, England is "the largest and best attended regional producing theatre in the UK and the leading promoter of theatre in the south west", according to Arts Council England...
, National Youth Theatre
National Youth Theatre
The National Youth Theatre is a registered charity in London, Great Britain, committed to creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts....
, Glyndebourne Opera House where he was a member of their young companies.
In 1997 Davies won entry to the prestigious Drama Centre London aged 17, where in 1998 he began his training under Yat Malmgren
Yat Malmgren
Yat Malmgren was a Swedish dancer and acting teacher, born in Gävle, Sweden to Gustaf Sigurd Eriksson and Signe Emma Maria Malmgren....
, Christopher Fettes and Reuven Adiv.
Career
After graduating in 2001 Davies went on to work at the Royal Court TheatreRoyal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
where in 2002 he won a Laurence Olivier Award for his portrayal of Danny in Grae Cleugh's "Fucking Games". In 2003 he appeared at the Traverse Theatre
Traverse Theatre
The Traverse Theatre is a theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1963.The Traverse Theatre commissions and develops new plays or adaptations from contemporary playwrights. It also presents a large number of productions from visiting companies from across the UK. These include new plays,...
to work with Wilson Milam
Wilson Milam
Wilson Milam is an American theatre director from Bellevue, Washington. He is a founding member and Artistic Director of The Hired Gun Theatre Company....
, then to the National Theatre Studio. In 2004 he played "Dill" in Harper Lee
Harper Lee
Nelle Harper Lee is an American author known for her 1960 Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which deals with the issues of racism that were observed by the author as a child in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama...
's To Kill a Mocking Bird. Later that year he worked with the avant-garde film director Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway
Peter Greenaway, CBE is a British film director. His films are noted for the distinct influence of Renaissance and Baroque painting, and Flemish painting in particular...
on The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 1: The Moab Story and The Tulse Luper Suitcases,Part 2: Vaux to the Sea. In 2005 he played Dominic Morrison in "Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls is a BBC paranormal drama series, based around the fictional activities of a group of investigators into psychic and other paranormal events. Produced in-house by BBC Scotland, initially in association with Sony Pictures Television International, the series debuted on BBC One in the UK...
" for BBC Television, then Davies played "Lawrence" in the first ever staged production of "Lovely Evening" by Peter Gill (playwright)
Peter Gill (playwright)
Peter Gill, theatre director, playwright and former actor, was born in Cardiff, Wales, on 7 September 1939, son of George John Gill and his wife Margaret Mary .He was educated at St Illtyd's College, Cardiff.-Career:...
, for Daniel Evans (actor)
Daniel Evans (actor)
-Background:Evans started acting early in life, going to the Urdd Eisteddfod, and beginning to compete there from the age of 5 or 6, as well as going to many amateur productions. He realised it was what he wanted to do aged 8, and aged 17, he won the Richard Burton Memorial Prize at the National...
directorial début for the Young Vic Theatre. Later that year he joined the Oxford Stage Company now Headlong Theatre, appearing in "Rookery Nook" by Ben Travers
Ben Travers
Ben Travers AFC CBE in London) was a British playwright best remembered for his farces.Born in the London borough of Hendon, Travers was educated at Charterhouse, where today there is a theatre named for him...
for Dominic Dromgoole
Dominic Dromgoole
Dominic Dromgoole is an English theatre director and writer about the theatre. He is married with three daughters, and lives in London.-Early life:...
final show with the OSC. In 2007 he played "Mickybo" in "Mojo Mickybo" by Owen McCafferty
Owen McCafferty
Owen McCafferty is a playwright from Northern Ireland.Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, McCafferty held several jobs, including tiling and working in an abattoir, before becoming a full-time writer...
at the Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios, formerly The Whitehall Theatre until 2004, is a West End theatre in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of Westminster, London....
in the West End. In 2008 he played "Ken" in the first revival of Howard Brenton
Howard Brenton
-Early years:Brenton was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, son of Methodist minister Donald Henry Brenton and his wife Rose Lilian . He was educated at Chichester High School For Boys and read English Literature at St Catharine's College, Cambridge. In 1964 he was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal...
's Weapons of Happiness
Weapons of Happiness
Weapons of Happiness is a 1976 political play by Howard Brenton about a strike in a London crisp factory. The play makes use of a dramatic conceit whereby the Czech communist cabinet minister Josef Frank is imagined alive in the 1970s , and his hallucinations of life in Stalinist Czechoslovakia...
. In 2010 he played "Elliot" in the UK premiere of the American play Nerve.
External links
- http://www.playbill.com/news/article/144027-Olivier-Winner-Benjamin-Davies-to-Star-in-London-Premiere-of-Nerve
- http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/servlet/file/LOA_fullist.pdf?ITEM_ENT_ID=101095&ITEM_VERSION=1&COLLSPEC_ENT_ID=8
- http://www.benjamindavies.org/data/pages/awards.html
- http://www.spotlightcd.com/interactive/cv//2051-0167-7992