Andrew Upton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrew Upton
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Upton in 2015
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| Occupation | Playwright, screenwriter, producer, director |
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| Children | 4 |
Andrew Upton is a talented Australian writer, producer, and director. He is known for adapting classic plays by famous writers like Maxim Gorky, Anton Chekhov, and Henrik Ibsen. His work has been shown at big theatres like London's Royal National Theatre and the Sydney Theatre Company.
Andrew also wrote his own play called Riflemind in 2007. It was first performed in Sydney and got good reviews. Later, it was even shown in London.
He and his wife, the famous actress Cate Blanchett, started a film company called Dirty Films. Andrew worked as a producer for the Australian movie Little Fish (2005). From 2008 to 2012, Andrew and Cate were also in charge of the Sydney Theatre Company, helping to choose and direct plays.
Contents
Early Life and School
Andrew Upton went to The King's School in Parramatta, Australia. After that, he studied at the University of Sydney.
Andrew Upton's Career
Andrew Upton has adapted many classic plays for the stage. This means he takes an old story and rewrites it to make it fresh and exciting for today's audiences.
Plays He Adapted
He has adapted plays like Hedda Gabler, The Cherry Orchard, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Uncle Vanya for the Sydney Theatre Company. He also adapted The Philistines by Maxim Gorky for the Royal National Theatre in London.
His Own Play: Riflemind
Andrew's original play, Riflemind, opened in Sydney in 2007. It was about an aging rock star trying to make a comeback. The play starred Hugo Weaving and received positive reviews. A London version of Riflemind opened in 2008. However, it closed early because of money problems during a big financial crisis.
Leading the Sydney Theatre Company
In 2008, Andrew and his wife, Cate Blanchett, became the joint artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company. They worked together in this important role for five years, helping to shape the theatre's productions.
Film Work and Dirty Films
Andrew and Cate also created their own film company, Dirty Films. Through this company, they worked on movies like Bangers (1999) and Little Fish (2005). Andrew wrote, produced, and directed the short film Bangers, which starred Cate. He also helped write the feature film Gone (2007).
Opera and Art Films
Andrew wrote the story for an opera called Through the Looking Glass. It was first performed in Melbourne in 2008. He also appeared in a part of the art film Manifesto in 2015.
Awards and Recognition
In June 2014, Andrew Upton received the Rotary Professional Excellence Award. This award honors people who show great skill in their job and help their community beyond their usual work.
Personal Life
Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett first met in Australia in the mid-1990s. They got married on December 29, 1997. They have three sons and one daughter. Their daughter was adopted in 2015. Andrew's children even appeared with him in a part of the 2015 film Manifesto.
In early 2016, Andrew and Cate bought a house in East Sussex, England.
