John Clark

John Richard James Clark AM (b 1932), National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) director, began his theatre career at the Hutchins School and with Old Nick in the 1951 uni revue Nuts in May, to which he also contributed scripts.

After graduating and time spent teaching in England, he returned to Hobart to direct Death of A Salesman before becoming the inaugural lecturer in Theatre History when NIDA was founded in 1960. He served on the staff until 1969 when he was appointed director, a position he held until his retirement at the end of 2004. He was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1981 and was the first Artistic Adviser to the Sydney Theatre Company on its foundation in 1979.

Further reading: www.nida.unsw.edu.au.

Peter Reardon