Michael Colgan (actor)
Encyclopedia
Michael Colgan is a Keady
, County Armagh
, Northern Ireland
-born actor.
Born as Michael Hughes, he was educated at Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh
, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford
, where he read English. After studying at l'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq
in Paris
, he now lives in London
.
A notable early performance in Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh
was the role of Harpagon in Molière
's L'Avare, which was performed entirely in French. After theatre school in Paris he went back to Ireland
to work with his younger brother, film director Enda Hughes, in 1996 in the feature film, The Eliminator.
He starred in the 2002 feature film This is Not a Love Song
, directed by Bille Eltringham
. He also spent a year working in the Abbey Theatre
in Dublin and has appeared in a number of television productions, including Rebel Heart and Sunday (2002) for the BBC
.
He has worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company
and in productions at the Royal Exchange, the Abbey Theatre, the Lyric Players' Theatre
, Belfast
, the Everyman Theatre
, Liverpool
, the Young Vic and the Tricycle Theatre
.
As of May 2009 he was appearing at the Young Vic in Rupert Goold
's critically acclaimed production of King Lear
, starring Pete Postlethwaite
.
as there was already a Michael Hughes registered with AEA.
Keady
Keady is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is situated south of Armagh city and very close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. The town had a population of 2,960 people in the 2001 Census....
, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
-born actor.
Born as Michael Hughes, he was educated at Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh
Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh
St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh, is a Roman Catholic boys' voluntary grammar school in the city of Armagh, Northern Ireland. The present-day school was officially opened on Thursday 27 October 1988 by the late Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, the then Chairman of the Board of Governors, and was the...
, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
, where he read English. After studying at l'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq
L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq
L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq is a school of physical theatre situated in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. Founded in 1956 by Jacques Lecoq, the school is a professional two-year course...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he now lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
A notable early performance in Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh
Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh
St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh, is a Roman Catholic boys' voluntary grammar school in the city of Armagh, Northern Ireland. The present-day school was officially opened on Thursday 27 October 1988 by the late Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, the then Chairman of the Board of Governors, and was the...
was the role of Harpagon in Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's L'Avare, which was performed entirely in French. After theatre school in Paris he went back to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to work with his younger brother, film director Enda Hughes, in 1996 in the feature film, The Eliminator.
He starred in the 2002 feature film This is Not a Love Song
This is Not a Love Song
This is Not a Love Song is a 2003 British film directed by Bille Eltringham, the first film to be streamed live on the Internet simultaneously with its cinema premiere....
, directed by Bille Eltringham
Bille Eltringham
Bille Eltringham is an award winning British film and television director. She is a graduate of Bournemouth Film School.Her most recent film is Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution...
. He also spent a year working in the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
in Dublin and has appeared in a number of television productions, including Rebel Heart and Sunday (2002) for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
He has worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
and in productions at the Royal Exchange, the Abbey Theatre, the Lyric Players' Theatre
Lyric Players' Theatre
The Lyric Players' Theatre, more commonly known as The Lyric Theatre, or simply The Lyric, is the main full-time producing theatre in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The theatre was first established as the Lyric Players in 1951 at the home of its founders Mary and Pearse O’Malley in Derryvolgie Ave.,...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, the Everyman Theatre
Everyman Theatre
The Everyman Theatre stands at the north end of Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. Established in 1964 in a former cinema, it encouraged local talent and played a part in the development of new artistes and writers. The theatre was rebuilt between 1975 and 1977, and was closed again for...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, the Young Vic and the Tricycle Theatre
Tricycle Theatre
The Tricycle Theatre is located on Kilburn High Road in Kilburn in the London Borough of Brent, England. During the last 30 years, the Tricycle has been presenting plays reflecting the cultural diversity of its community; in particular Black, Irish, Jewish, Asian and South African works, as well as...
.
As of May 2009 he was appearing at the Young Vic in Rupert Goold
Rupert Goold
Rupert Goold is an English theatre director. He is the artistic director of Headlong Theatre and from 2010 he will be an associate director at the Royal Shakespeare Company.- Early years :...
's critically acclaimed production of King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
, starring Pete Postlethwaite
Pete Postlethwaite
Peter William "Pete" Postlethwaite, OBE, was an English stage, film and television actor.After minor television appearances including in The Professionals, Postlethwaite's first success came with the film Distant Voices, Still Lives in 1988. He played a mysterious lawyer, Mr...
.
Name change
He was forced to adopt the acting name, Michael Colgan, by Actors' Equity AssociationActors' Equity Association
The Actors' Equity Association , commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing the world of live theatrical performance, as opposed to film and television performance. However, performers appearing on live stage productions without a book or...
as there was already a Michael Hughes registered with AEA.