George Ogilvie

For the footballer, see George Ogilvie (footballer).

George Ogilvie
Born	George Buchan Ogilvie (1931-03-05) 5 March 1931 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Occupation(s)	Theatre, film and TV director, actor, screenwriter, drama teacher
Years active	1945–present

George Buchan Ogilvie (Goulburn, New South Wales on 5 March 1931) is a prolific Australian theatre director and actor, who has also worked as director and actor within film and television.

Life and career

George Ogilvie began as an actor at the Canberra Rep Theatre, and eventually moved to the United Kingdom where he trained, taught and acted. In 1965, he returned to Australia to take up the position of associate director with the Melbourne Theatre Company, where he stayed for six years. He then worked as artistic director at the South Australian Theatre Company for four years, followed by 12 years as part of the subsidised theatre network. In 1988 he became a freelance director, working with the Australian Opera, the Australian Ballet Company and various theatre companies.

His television credits include the 1983 miniseries The Dismissal (where he played the Labor Senator Jim McClelland), the miniseries Bodyline (1984) (where he was one of the writers and also directed three of the seven episodes), and direction of the TV films The Shiralee (1987), Touch the Sun: Princess Kate (1988), The Battlers (1994), two episodes of the miniseries The Feds (1994), and 11 episodes of the long-running police series Blue Heelers between 2002 and 2006.

His film credits include Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), which he directed together with George Miller, Short Changed (1985), the much awarded The Place at the Coast (1987), and The Crossing (1990), where Russell Crowe was first seen on the screen.

George Ogilvie regularly teaches and directs at NIDA and Actors Centre Australia. In 1983 he was made an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) in the 1983 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to the theatre and the performing arts.

In 2006, the Australian performing arts association Currency House published his autobiography: Simple Gifts - a life in the theatre.

Books

• George Ogilvie (2006). Simple Gifts – A Life in the Theatre. Sydney: Currency House. ISBN 9780975730171.

Stage Credits

Coppélia, Joan Sutherland Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 2 December 2016
Coppélia, Palais Theatre, St Kilda, VIC, 23 September 2016
Camelot, The State Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 23 August 2006
Shorter and Sweeter, The Studio (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 30 November 2004
Vicious Streaks, Darlinghurst Theatre, Potts Point, NSW, 12 August 2004
Norma, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 26 June 2004
Norma, The State Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 17 April 2004
Stags and Hens, NIDA Studio, Kensington, NSW, 2 October 2003
Proof, Glen Street Theatre, Frenchs Forest, NSW, 20 August 2003
Proof, Drama Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 10 June 2003
Gift Of The Gun, Newtown Theatre, Newtown, NSW, 15 January 2003
A Man With Five Children, Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney, NSW, 4 January 2002
Coppelia, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 30 November 2001
Coppelia, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 19 November 2001
Otello, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 1 August 1996
Otello, The State Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 16 March 1996
King Lear, Orange Civic Theatre, Orange, NSW, 11 July 1995
King Lear, Q Theatre, Penrith, NSW, 16 June 1995
King Lear, Wharf 2 Theatre, Walsh Bay, NSW, 10 May 1995
The Quartet from Rigoletto, Ensemble Theatre (1960-), Kirribilli, NSW, 20 April 1995
The Quartet from Rigoletto, Q Theatre, Penrith, NSW, 17 March 1995
The Garden of Granddaughters, The Wharf Theatre, Walsh Bay, NSW, 8 June 1993
The Garden of Granddaughters, George Jenkins Theatre, Frankston, VIC, 27 May 1993
The Garden of Granddaughters, Alexander Theatre, Clayton, VIC, 18 May 1993
The Garden of Granddaughters, Ford Theatre, Geelong, VIC, 14 May 1993
The Garden of Granddaughters, Her Majesty's Theatre, Ballarat, VIC, 11 May 1993
The Garden of Granddaughters, CUB Malthouse, Southbank, VIC, 16 April 1993
The Heiress, Marian Street Theatre, Killara, NSW, 1 September 1992
Twelfth Night, Grant Street Theatre, Southbank, VIC, 2 May 1992
St James Infirmary Blues, Q Theatre, Penrith, NSW, 14 February 1992
A Flea in Her Ear, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 11 October 1991
Otello, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 5 August 1991
Twelfth Night, Q Theatre, Penrith, NSW, 8 March 1991
Coppélia, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, SA, 6 November 1990
Coppélia, The State Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 4 October 1990
Shirley Valentine, Playhouse, Newcastle, NSW, 24 April 1990
Shirley Valentine, Q Theatre, Penrith, NSW, 15 February 1990
Shirley Valentine, The Playhouse, Civic Square, ACT, 3 November 1989
Shirley Valentine, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 2 September 1989
Shirley Valentine, Universal Theatre, North Fitzroy, VIC, 28 April 1989
Otello, The State Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 27 April 1989
Shirley Valentine, The Wharf Theatre, Walsh Bay, NSW, 30 December 1988
Otello, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 19 July 1988
Don Giovanni, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, WA, 11 February 1988
Don Giovanni, Theatre Royal, Hobart, TAS, 11 January 1988
Don Giovanni, Lyric Theatre, South Brisbane, QLD, 9 November 1987
Don Giovanni, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 4 August 1987
Pericles, The Wharf Theatre, Walsh Bay, NSW, 2 June 1987
Don Giovanni, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, QLD, 5 November 1983
Don Giovanni, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 15 October 1983
New Sky, Playhouse, Newcastle, NSW, 11 October 1983
Don Giovanni, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 8 September 1983
Otello, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 4 August 1983
Otello, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 23 July 1983
Don Giovanni, Princess Theatre (1886- ), Melbourne, VIC, 20 April 1983
Falstaff, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 8 September 1982
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, SA, 31 August 1982
Lucrezia Borgia, Concert Hall (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 28 January 1982
You Can't Take It With You, Drama Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 2 January 1982
Death of a Salesman, York Theatre, Chippendale, NSW, 1982
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 27 November 1981
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Palais Theatre, St Kilda, VIC, 14 October 1981
Coppelia, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Newcastle, NSW, 16 September 1981
Coppelia, Geelong Performing Arts Centre, Geelong, VIC, 26 June 1981
Otello, Palais Theatre, St Kilda, VIC, 20 May 1981
Otello, Concert Hall (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 28 January 1981
Don Giovanni, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 8 January 1981
Strife, NIDA Theatre, Kensington, NSW, 29 October 1980
The Kingfisher, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, WA, 2 August 1980
No Names ... No Pack Drill, Theatre Royal (1976- ), Sydney, NSW, 10 June 1980
The Abduction from the Seraglio, Princess Theatre (1886- ), Melbourne, VIC, 13 May 1980
Falstaff, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, QLD, 25 April 1980
No Names ... No Pack Drill, Drama Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 1 April 1980
Falstaff, Princess Theatre (1886- ), Melbourne, VIC, 29 March 1980
Don Giovanni, Canberra Theatre, Canberra, ACT, 8 March 1980
The Abduction from the Seraglio, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, QLD, 30 October 1979
Don Giovanni, Palais Theatre, St Kilda, VIC, 4 August 1979
Falstaff, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 1 August 1979
Coppélia, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, SA, 17 July 1979
The Abduction from the Seraglio, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 20 June 1979
Coppélia, Canberra Theatre, Canberra, ACT, 2 June 1979
The Kingfisher, Canberra Theatre, Canberra, ACT, 19 April 1979
Coppélia, Palais Theatre, St Kilda, VIC, 22 February 1979
Don Giovanni, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 17 February 1979
The Kingfisher, York Theatre, Chippendale, NSW, 7 February 1979
The Kingfisher, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 29 November 1978
Widowers' Houses, Parade Theatre (1969-1999), Kensington, NSW, 4 October 1978
Don Giovanni, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 19 July 1978
Don Giovanni, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Newcastle, NSW, 1 June 1978
Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi, Theatre Royal (1976- ), Sydney, NSW, 1 June 1978
Don Giovanni, Princess Theatre (1886- ), Melbourne, VIC, 6 May 1978
Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi, Union Hall, Adelaide, SA, 26 April 1978
Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi, Playhouse Theatre, Perth, WA, 20 March 1978
Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 24 January 1978
Of Rogues and Clowns, Downstairs Theatre, Chippendale, NSW, 30 November 1977
Lucrezia Borgia, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 4 June 1977
The Cake Man, Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach, NSW, 29 April 1977
Old King Cole, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 28 December 1976
Happy Landings, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 2 December 1976
And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 14 October 1976
School for Clowns, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 24 August 1976
Major Barbara, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 19 August 1976
The Abduction from the Seraglio, Opera Theatre (Sydney Opera House), Sydney, NSW, 22 June 1976
School for Clowns, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 27 May 1976
Coriolanus, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 8 March 1976
Thark, St Martins Theatre, South Yarra, VIC, 18 December 1975
The Winslow Boy, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 5 November 1975
When Voyaging, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 15 October 1975
The Three Cuckolds, South Australia, SA, 2 June 1975
Equus, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 22 May 1975
As You Like It, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 3 April 1975
She Stoops to Conquer, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 6 December 1974
The Three Cuckolds, The Playhouse, Adelaide, SA, 26 October 1974
Love's the Best Doctor, South Australia, SA, 6 August 1974
Journey's End, Royalty Theatre, Adelaide, SA, 7 June 1974
The Comedy of Errors, Arts Theatre, Adelaide, SA, 25 March 1974
Paying The Piper, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 10 October 1973
The Comedy of Errors, Union Hall, Adelaide, SA, 12 September 1973
Alpha Beta, Union Hall, Adelaide, SA, 15 August 1973
The Woman Tamer, Sheridan Theatre, North Adelaide, SA, 17 May 1973
The Comedy of Errors, Arts Theatre, Adelaide, SA, 25 March 1973
A Certified Marriage, Arts Theatre, Adelaide, SA, 14 March 1973
An Ideal Husband, Canberra Theatre, Canberra, ACT, 6 March 1973
An Ideal Husband, Playhouse Theatre, Perth, WA, 9 February 1973v Crete and Sergeant Pepper, Union Hall, Adelaide, SA, 31 January 1973
An Ideal Husband, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, QLD, 1973
The Lesson; The Chairs: a study in absurdist theatre., Lecture Theatre V Napier Building, Adelaide, SA, 6 December 1972
Jugglers Three, Union Hall, Adelaide, SA, 31 October 1972
An Ideal Husband, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 16 August 1972
Uncle Vanya, Parade Theatre (1969-1999), Kensington, NSW, 30 June 1972
Patate, Arts Theatre, Adelaide, SA, 20 March 1972
The Alchemist, Union Hall, Adelaide, SA, 4 March 1972
Trelawny of the Wells, Parade Theatre (1969-1999), Kensington, NSW, 28 January 1972
Patate, Princess Theatre (1886- ), Melbourne, VIC, 24 January 1972
Patate, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 14 December 1971
The Trial Of The Catonsville Nine, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 16 November 1971
Conduct Unbecoming, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, September 1971
Conduct Unbecoming, Theatre Royal (1875-1972), Sydney, NSW, 3 July 1971
Macquarie, Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, May 1971
The Philanthropist, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 23 March 1971
The Government Inspector, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 17 February 1971
Cat Among the Pigeons, Canberra Theatre, Canberra, ACT, June 1970
Cat Among the Pigeons, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 16 February 1970
Rookery Nook, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 23 December 1969
Six Characters in Search of an Author, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 14 October 1969
A Long View, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 4 August 1969
The Country Wife, Canberra Theatre, Canberra, ACT, 24 July 1969
The Country Wife, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 8 April 1969
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 2 December 1968
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, The Little Theatre, Launceston, TAS, 20 November 1968
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, Theatre Royal, Hobart, TAS, 11 November 1968
Everything in the Garden, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 8 October 1968
Three Sisters, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 9 September 1968
The Magistrate, Adelaide Teachers College Theatre, Adelaide, SA, 5 August 1968
The Magistrate, The King's Theatre, Mount Gambier, SA, 2 August 1968
The Magistrate, Broken Hill, Broken Hill, NSW, 1 August 1968
The Magistrate, Mildura Arts Centre, Mildura , VIC, 30 July 1968
The Magistrate, Canberra Theatre, Canberra, ACT, 25 July 1968
The Magistrate, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 15 July 1968
Burke's Company, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 7 May 1968
The Magistrate, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 12 March 1968
A Flea in Her Ear, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 4 December 1967
Rhinoceros, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 10 October 1967
The Heiress, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 12 September 1967
A Flea in Her Ear, Canberra Theatre, Canberra, ACT, 10 July 1967
Incident at Vichy, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 6 June 1967
The Servant of Two Masters, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 9 May 1967
A Flea in Her Ear, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 14 March 1967
The Knack, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 31 October 1966
The Killing of Sister George, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 3 October 1966
The Killing of Sister George, Playhouse Theatre, Perth, WA, 9 August 1966
The Killing of Sister George, Old Tote Theatre, Kensington, NSW, 26 July 1966
The Killing of Sister George, Canberra Theatre, Canberra, ACT, 30 June 1966
The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 10 May 1966
War and Peace, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 15 March 1966
A Break in the Music, Playhouse Theatre, Perth, WA, 15 February 1966
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 14 March 1961
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 9 January 1961
Man and Superman, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 21 November 1960
A Taste of Honey, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 31 October 1960
She Stoops to Conquer, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 19 September 1960
Look Who's Here!, Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 20 July 1960
Sweeney Todd, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, April 1960
The Entertainer, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 8 February 1960
Prisoners' Country, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 18 January 1960
Sweeney Todd, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 28 December 1959
The Ghost Train, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 7 December 1959
Moby Dick - Rehearsed, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 10 November 1959
The Rape of the Belt, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 26 October 1959
Venus Observed, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 12 October 1959
Marcus, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 12 April 1959
Moby Dick - Rehearsed, Elizabethan Theatre, Newtown, NSW, March 1959
Orpheus Decending, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, January 1959
The Threepenny Opera, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, December 1958
Lysistrata, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, December 1958
Blood Wedding, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, November 1958
The Knight of the Burning Pestle, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, October 1958
Hotel Paradiso, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 2 September 1958
A Streetcar Named Desire, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, September 1958
Lola Montez, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 19 February 1958
A Hatful of Rain, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 13 January 1958
The Making of Moo, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, January 1958
Beauty and the Beast, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 26 December 1957
Speak of the Devil, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 16 December 1957
A View from the Bridge, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 25 November 1957
Arsenic and Old Lace, Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC, 11 November 1957
Hamlet, Playhouse Theatre, Perth, WA, 7 October 1957
The Relapse, Playhouse Theatre, Perth, WA, 1 October 1957
The Relapse, Theatre Royal, Adelaide, SA, 9 September 1957
Hamlet, Theatre Royal, Adelaide, SA, 31 August 1957
Hamlet / The Relapse, Theatre Royal, Adelaide, SA, 31 August 1957
Hamlet, Elizabethan Theatre, Newtown, NSW, 15 May 1957
The Relapse, Elizabethan Theatre, Newtown, NSW, 15 May 1957
Twelfth Night, Playhouse Theatre, Perth, WA, 29 October 1956
The Rivals, Playhouse Theatre, Perth, WA, October 1956
Twelfth Night, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 12 June 1956
The Rivals, Theatre Royal, Adelaide, SA, 5 June 1956
The Rivals, Elizabethan Theatre, Newtown, NSW, 19 May 1956
Only an Orphan Girl or A Soul Redeemed, Riverside Theatre, Barton, ACT, 3 February 1956
The Rivals, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, VIC, 1956
Twelfth Night, Elizabethan Theatre, Newtown, NSW, 1956
Only an Orphan Girl or A Soul Redeemed, Riverside Theatre, Barton, ACT, 18 November 1955
Macbeth, Riverside Theatre, Barton, ACT, 30 September 1955
The Love Of Four Colonels, Riverside Theatre, Barton, ACT, 15 April 1955
A Sleep of Prisoners, Riverside Theatre, Barton, ACT, 4 February 1955
The Guardsman, Riverside Theatre, Barton, ACT, 18 June 1954
Antigone, Albert Hall, Yarralumla, ACT, 16 October 1951
Press Cuttings, Albert Hall, Yarralumla, ACT, 17 September 1951
The School for Wives Criticised, Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 1949
The School for Wives, Canberra, Canberra, ACT, 1949
Othello, Albert Hall, Yarralumla, ACT, 17 October 1945
Othello, Albert Hall, Yarralumla, ACT, 29 August 1945

External links

• Actors Centre Australia: George Ogilvie biography Retrieved 2013-03-09
• George Ogilvie at IMDb
• National Library of Australia: Papers of George Ogilvie, 1943-2006 Retrieved 2013-03-09