Theatrical Icon - Reg Livermore - Part 1

Reg Livermore is one of our greatest showmen. A trailblazer whose career has encompassed roles as Playwright, Performer, Presenter and one of the country’s finest actors. His artistry is iconic and his pioneer performances in a succession of one-man masterpieces birthed brilliant characters such as Betty Blokk Buster, Vaseline Amilnitrate, Irene, Beryl and Leonard. Such personas perfectly entwined risqué and social sensibilities; and cheekily unsettled, and aroused, an awakening Australian audience.Reg Livermore is a theatrical beast, a mischief, a maverick and a larrikin clown - he is a chameleon who has rightly earned the accolade of Legend. He is a composite super-talent informed by burlesque, vaudeville, music hall, weimar cabaret, the ballet, the opera, the classics and Gilbert & Sullivan - all forms have contributed to a most unique and vital talent.Reviewing the seductive and thrilling content of his 1979 production of Sacred Cow, playwright Dorothy Hewett described Livermore as “everyone’s nightmare and everyone’s dream”. Reviews don’t come more thrilling than that.He grew up in conservative 1950s Sydney when boys who danced or acted were ‘not like other boys’. His individuality would stand him apart on many stages and celebrate him as one of our best.Livermore revolutionised the Australian theatre industry in a pair of high-heels in the original Rocky Horror Show production; he developed a small cameo in Jesus Christ Superstar, into a 9-minute showstopping star-turn and found profound empathy in the seminal musical Hair. In recent turns on the Musical stage he has given us his P. T. Barnum, The Wizard of Oz, Max Biallystock, Dr Pangloss, Henry Higgins and Alfred P. Doolittle.Livermore has lived a full and fascinating life, bigger than any stage. He’s had a restaurant. He’s graced our television screens and he’s studied at the Ensemble Studios with Hayes Gordon and at the Independent Theatre with Doris Fitton. It’s a career of peaks and troughs, thrills and spills. The performer has not only seized opportunities but created them.Our rich theatre heritage is just that, because of his countless contributions on stage and off. He has offered us a chance to laugh at ourselves, embrace the mischievous and be changed by reverberant and authentic performances.Available in iTunes, Spotify and Whooshkaa.