Nigel Triffitt

Nigel Wilton Triffitt (19 August 1949 – 20 July 2012)[1] was an Australian theatre director, actor, designer and writer.[2]

Triffitt was born in Launceston, Tasmania. His parents were not married, and he was put up for adoption soon after his birth, being adopted by the Triffitt family in Hobart, where he was raised.[3] He studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney and the Drama Centre in London – both of which he was asked to leave.[4] In the 1970s he worked in Melbourne, as Director of Student Theatre at Monash University, Resident Director at St Martin's Theatre. He toured Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory directing the Yellow Brick Roadshows.[5] He gained prominence in 1978 as the creator of Momma's Little Horror Show, a mixture of adult puppet theatre and visual theatre.[6][7] Later works included Secrets (1983) and The Fall of Singapore (1987). Later he moved into directing dance, in collaboration with the Australian Dance Theatre, with Wildstars (1979) and High Flyers (1985).

Triffitt also designed and directed operas for the Melbourne International Arts Festival: Metamorphosis (1984), Samson and Delilah (1984), and Moby Dick (1990), and revivals of the musicals Hair (1991) and The Rocky Horror Show (1992). He also prepared the libretto to Neil Clifton's 1984 unrealised opera based on Evelyn Waugh's novel The Loved One, while Clifton Composer-in-residence with the Victoria State Opera.[8] As an actor, he appeared in films such as Howling V: The Rebirth (1989).

Triffitt achieved commercial success with the tap dance show Tap Dogs, which he designed (in collaboration with Dein Perry) and directed.[9] Tap Dogs premiered at the Sydney Festival in 1995 and continued to tour around the world until his death.[10] He devised, designed and directed part of the Opening Ceremony for the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 and the Opening Ceremony of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.[11]

Triffitt had a reputation for being outspoken and opinionated. A journalist wrote in 1987: "Nigel Triffit enjoys criticism. He doesn't mind being called rude, enfant terrible or genius. It's bland reporting with no comment that bores him."[12] He was openly gay. In 1994 he published a gay-themed novel Cheap Thrills.[13] Despite not being a Triffitt by birth, he maintained a blog on the history of the Triffitt family.[3] He died of an AIDS-related illness in Melbourne.

References
  1. "Nigel Wilton Triffitt Obituary: View Nigel Triffitt's Obituary by The Age". The Age. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  2. "Nigel Triffitt 1949 – 2012 | Performing Arts Collection". performingartscollection.wordpress.com. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  3. "THE AUTHOR | TRIFFITT". triffitt.wordpress.com. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  4. "Nigel Triffitt passes away, aged 62. | ArtsHub Australia". artshub.com.au. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  5. "Five-night season of experimental theatre. (1975, March 12). The Canberra Times". trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  6. [Momma's Little Horror Show], Review related to Momma's Little Horror show, The Last Laugh, Collingwood, VIC, 14 September 1978, 16 September 1978, retrieved 22 December 2018
  7. Childhood touch to Momma's Little Horror, Article related to Momma's Little Horror Show, Seymour Centre, Chippendale, NSW, 23 November 1978, 23 November 1978, retrieved 22 December 2018
  8. "Neil Clifton (Australian Music Centre)". australianmusiccentre.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 November 2000. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  9. "A brilliant and lateral mind – Tap Dogs remember Nigel Triffitt". aussietheatre.com.au. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  10. "Dance Informa Magazine | Tag Archive | Nigel Triffitt". danceinforma.com. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  11. "Triffitt, Nigel". collections.artscentremelbourne.com.au. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  12. "23 Sep 1987 – He enjoys criticism, doesn't mind being called r..." trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  13. "Cheap thrills : a novel / by Nigel Triffitt. – Version details". trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
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