Chapters & Chances

(Hardback)

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Chapters & Chances is an illustrated autobiography or, as Reg Livermore calls it, a souvenir program of a life in theatre. Widely acknowledged as one of the most significant figures of the Australian theatre in the twentieth century, Livermore has enjoyed a career spanning more than fifty years; in his time on stage, on television and in life, he provides an important link with performers and performances during that evolutionary period. "Chapters & Chances" is more than just a personal memoir of a life lived in public; it offers a valuable perspective on Australian theatrical history, from the ground-breaking era of Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Betty Blokk Buster Follies and Barnum to Livermore's legendary one-man shows to his stints on commercial television on variety shows such as I'm Alright Now, The Mavis Bramston Show and, in the 1990s, the infotainment program, Our House. Livermore's journey in the theatre has been phenomenal, and his achievements unique - it is hard to imagine such a career as his being constructed these days. This is a generous offering from a man of his time who started staging performances as a young child, developed afabulous life on stage and now devotes his time to making a garden in the Blue Mountains in Sydney and the occasional guest appearance. One might say he lived well. "Chapters & Chances" is enhanced by an extraordinary range of archival photographs, and will no doubt be a collector's item for Livermore's legions of fans. It is a chronicle and a celebration of a time of extraordinary ferment in Australian arts.

Author Bio

Reg Livermore was born in Parramatta, New South Wales, in December 1938. His long and rewarding career as a performer, writer, designer and director is testament to his talent, dedication, drive and luck. Reg was an active and enthusiastic figure in the early histories of Sydneys Old Tote and the Melbourne and South Australian Theatre Companies, as well as a revered foundation member of Sydneys Ensemble. His following stage appearances were all show-stopping performances: Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Barnum and the original Australian Franknfurter in The Rocky Horror Show. During the 1970s his own groundbreaking one-man shows Betty Blokk Buster Follies, Wonder Woman and Sacred Cow put him at the forefront of Australian popular theatre. He starred as Max Bialystock in the Mel Brooks musical The Producers in 200405, and he appeared as the Wizard in Wickeds tenth-anniversary season in 2014. Having played Henry Higgins in Opera Australias 2008 presentation of My Fair Lady, he most recently scored as Alfred Doolittle in the Julie Andrews sixtieth-anniversary realisation of this most celebrated musical. His autobiography, Chapters and Chances, was published by Hardie Grant Books in 2004.