Campion, Richard Meckiff Biography 1991

CAMPION, Richard Meckiff
Theatre Director
Born Wellington, 13 December 1923, son of John Stanley Campion and Eleanor (née Wright); married (1) Edith Hannah (see Campion, Edith), daughter of George Hannah, 1945 (dissolved 1987); (2) Judith Margaret Thompson, daughter of Lincoln Collier and Gertrude Thompson; one son two daughters.
Education: Clyde Quay Primary School, Wellington; Wellington College; Wellington Teachers Training College Teachers Certificate; Victoria University, BA; Old Vic Theatre School.  Wellington Repertory Scholar, 1941; dev acting, directing at Wellington Training College, Unity Theatre, Victoria University with Bruce Mason; first major production, King Lear at Victoria University; studied Old Vic Theatre School, 1948-1949, advanced course 1950-1951 under Michel Saint-Denis, Glen Byam Shaw, George Devine; Stage Director, Young Vic Co, touring Europe, England, 1950-1951; co-founder NZ Players Theatre Company, 1953-1957, touring NZ three times a year with varied productions-Shakespeare, Shaw, Agatha Christie, musicals (Salad Days), NZ playwrights’ work including Ned Kelly by Douglas Stewart, Free and Easy (NZ revue), Pohutukawa Tree, (studio) by Bruce Mason; conceived, toured NZ Drama Quartet in schools for many years; worked for public involvement ‘Foundation’ (18,000 members) eventually Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council; Director, Orgr NZ Opera’s first major production, Menotti’s Consul, later Carmen (with Kiri Te Kanawa), others; two productions Adelaide Festival; Res Producer, for J C Williams in Australia and NZ (Gilbert and Sullivan, Woman in a Dressing Gown with Googie Withers and others); Tutor and Producer, Old Tote Theatre and School; NZ Theatre Company (Romeo and Juliet); NZ Theatre Centre (helped establish Downstage, Mercury); productions for Downstage, Mercury, Circa, university, schools; new plays by NZers; TV Director (film); Commonwealth Theatre at Mermaid, London; NZ Epic Theatre at Osaka (Expo 70); Producer Waitangi 1990 ceremony, Waitangi; first producer of plays by Mason, James K Baxter, Joe Musaphia, Peter Bland, Anton Vogt and others in NZ and Australia.  Founding Member, Board Directors, Royal NZ Ballet, 1969-1990; Chairman, peace movement, Waikanae, 1980s; producer peace play, Nucleus, Rotorua, 1990; Member, Artistic Committee, Wellington Opera Trust; Board NZ School of Dance to 1989.
Plays: Green are the Islands, Osaka, 1970; Commonwealth Show, London, 1960; Waitangi (re-enactment of signing of Treaty based on William Colenso’s account) 1990; Te Rongo Pai (dramatic account of spread of Christianity to Kapiti with building of Church at Otaki.
Recreations: tennis, swimming, badminton, fishing, exploring, reading, theatre, films, music, chess, social bridge.
Address: Woodford House, Havelock North.