Timothy Conigrave
Encyclopedia
Tim Conigrave was an Australian actor
, writer
, and activist. He was born in Melbourne
, and after attending the Jesuit Xavier College
and Monash University
he moved to Sydney
to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Art
(NIDA), from which he graduated in 1984. Two years later he was instrumental in initiating the acclaimed Soft Targets (1986) project at Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company
, where for a period he served on the board of directors.
He appeared in such plays as Brighton Beach Memoirs, As Is, and On Top of the World. He was also a playwriter, producing works including Thieving Boy, Like Stars in your Hands and The Blitz Kids.
He was a member of The Globos, a musical comedy cabaret group, performing at Sydney's Kinselas nightclub in the mid 1980s.
His major work is the autobiographical Holding the Man
(1995), the story of his 15-year love affair with John Caleo. They met at Xavier when John was captain of the football team and Tim wanted to be an actor. Conigrave finished the book shortly before dying of an AIDS
-related illness. The book was published by Penguin Books
in Australia in February 1995, and also in Spain and North America. It won the 1995 United Nations Award for Non-Fiction
.
The book has been adapted into a multi award-winning play by Tommy Murphy. The premiere production, directed by David Berthold
, is one of the most successful Australian theatre productions in recent years. It completed a sell-out season in November-December 2006 at Griffin Theatre Company, becoming the company's highest-grossing production in its 28-year history. It later played a return season at Griffin, 7 February - 3 March 2007, where it also sold out, before transferring to the Sydney Opera House
for a third sell-out season, 9-26 May 2007. Company B
at the Belvoir St Theatre
hosted a fourth season 22 September-4 November 2007. A fifth season played at the Brisbane Powerhouse in early March 2008, with a sixth following as part of Melbourne Theatre Company
's 2008 season, 19 March-26 April 2008. In 2010 it had a successful run in London's Trafalgar Studios
. There have also been productions in San Francisco and Auckland, New Zealand.
Conigrave and his lover, John Caleo, were diagnosed with HIV in 1985. They remained relatively healthy until 1990. In 1991, John was diagnosed with cancer. Conigrave nursed John, despite fighting his own illness. Caleo died on Australia Day (26 January) 1992.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and activist. He was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and after attending the Jesuit Xavier College
Xavier College
Xavier College is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, with its main campus located in Kew, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
and Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
he moved to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Art
National Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
(NIDA), from which he graduated in 1984. Two years later he was instrumental in initiating the acclaimed Soft Targets (1986) project at Sydney's Griffin Theatre Company
Griffin Theatre Company
Griffin Theatre Company is an Australian theatre specialising in new writing. It is the resident theatre company at the SBW Stables Theatre in Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia...
, where for a period he served on the board of directors.
He appeared in such plays as Brighton Beach Memoirs, As Is, and On Top of the World. He was also a playwriter, producing works including Thieving Boy, Like Stars in your Hands and The Blitz Kids.
He was a member of The Globos, a musical comedy cabaret group, performing at Sydney's Kinselas nightclub in the mid 1980s.
His major work is the autobiographical Holding the Man
Holding the Man
Holding the Man is the best-selling memoir by the Australian writer, actor, and activist Timothy Conigrave. It was adapted for the stage by Tommy Murphy in 2006, and has become one of the most successful Australian stage productions in recent years.Holding the Man was published in February 1995 by...
(1995), the story of his 15-year love affair with John Caleo. They met at Xavier when John was captain of the football team and Tim wanted to be an actor. Conigrave finished the book shortly before dying of an AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-related illness. The book was published by Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
in Australia in February 1995, and also in Spain and North America. It won the 1995 United Nations Award for Non-Fiction
United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights
The United Nations Prizes in the Field of Human Rights were instituted by United Nations General Assembly in 1966.They are intended to "honour and commend people and organizations which have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of the human rights embodied in the...
.
The book has been adapted into a multi award-winning play by Tommy Murphy. The premiere production, directed by David Berthold
David Berthold
David Berthold is a leading Australian theatre director. He has directed for most of Australia's major theatre companies, as well as internationally. Since November 2008, he has been Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of La Boite Theatre Company...
, is one of the most successful Australian theatre productions in recent years. It completed a sell-out season in November-December 2006 at Griffin Theatre Company, becoming the company's highest-grossing production in its 28-year history. It later played a return season at Griffin, 7 February - 3 March 2007, where it also sold out, before transferring to the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
for a third sell-out season, 9-26 May 2007. Company B
Company B (theatre)
Belvoir is an Australian theatre company based at the Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney, Australia. Its Artistic Director is Ralph Myers.Belvoir receives government support for its activities from the federal government through the Major Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council for the Arts and...
at the Belvoir St Theatre
Belvoir St Theatre
Belvoir St Theatre is an Australian theatre venue in Sydney. The venue in Belvoir Street, Surry Hills previously operated as the Nimrod Theatre, and was founded as "Belvoir St" in 1984 by Sue Hill and Chris Westwood...
hosted a fourth season 22 September-4 November 2007. A fifth season played at the Brisbane Powerhouse in early March 2008, with a sixth following as part of Melbourne Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne. Founded in 1953, it is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia, and has its own theatre, The MTC Theatre – which houses the 500-seat Sumner Theatre and the 150-seat Lawler Studio – located in Melbourne's Arts...
's 2008 season, 19 March-26 April 2008. In 2010 it had a successful run in London's 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....
. There have also been productions in San Francisco and Auckland, New Zealand.
Conigrave and his lover, John Caleo, were diagnosed with HIV in 1985. They remained relatively healthy until 1990. In 1991, John was diagnosed with cancer. Conigrave nursed John, despite fighting his own illness. Caleo died on Australia Day (26 January) 1992.