Anton Phillips facts for kids

Anton Phillips was born in Jamaica on October 31, 1943. He is a talented British actor, producer, and director. He became well-known for his acting roles on British television. Many people remember him as Dr. Bob Mathias in the exciting science fiction show Space: 1999.

Anton Phillips has also worked hard to support theatre. He helped create the Carib Theatre Company in 1980. This company aimed to show amazing plays by and for black performers.

Anton Phillips's Journey

Early Life and Learning

Anton Phillips grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. He went to Manchester High School there. Later, his family moved to Washington, D.C. in the United States. He finished high school in the U.S. In the 1960s, he moved to the United Kingdom. In 1969, he started studying drama at Rose Bruford College.

Acting Career and Breaking Barriers

After drama school, Anton Phillips began acting in Britain. He was one of the first black actors to appear in many TV shows. He acted in popular series like General Hospital and The Saint. He also appeared in The Bill. His most famous role was in Space: 1999, which aired from 1975 to 1977.

Helping Black Theatre Grow

Anton Phillips has dedicated his life to promoting black theatre. He started several projects that greatly changed theatre in Britain. These projects gave many black and Asian writers, actors, and theatre workers new chances.

He co-founded the Carib Theatre Company with Yvonne Brewster in 1980. He also created the Black Theatre Season and the Black Theatre Forum.

Carib Theatre Company's Success

Under Anton Phillips's direction, the Carib Theatre Company had a big success. Their play The Amen Corner by James Baldwin was very important. It was the first play produced and directed by a black company to move to London's West End. The West End is a famous area for theatres. Phillips directed this play again in 1999.

Carib Theatre also focused on "theatre in education." They toured schools across London for several years. They performed for about 30,000 children, teaching them through plays.

The Black Theatre Season

The Black Theatre Season truly changed how black and Asian theatre was seen in Britain. Before this season started in 1983, black theatre often happened in small halls. But with the Black Theatre Season, plays were shown in proper theatres. These theatres had good sound, lighting, and comfortable seats. For seven years, this season helped black and Asian theatre companies, writers, and actors gain respect.

International Work

Anton Phillips has also worked in other countries. In 1994, he worked for the British Council in Ghana. He directed a play called Old Story Time by Trevor Rhone. This was the first major play at the new National Theatre in Ghana.

He also taught at the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana. For three years, he helped the British Council in Tanzania. He helped create a group of performers and taught them about theatre in education. He has also directed plays in Germany, the Netherlands, and France.

He even managed a large group of 60 singers, dancers, and musicians from South Africa. They toured with a show honoring Oliver Tambo. This show was performed at the Barbican Centre in London and at Salisbury Cathedral in England.

Helping Young People

Anton Phillips was inspired by a group in Jamaica. He then started the Stonebridge Area Youth Project (SAY) in London. This project was for young people aged 14 to 24 who needed support. It was based in Stonebridge, a London housing estate.

Through performing arts workshops, SAY helped young people. It encouraged them to go back to school and learn important life skills. These skills helped them find jobs. This project ran for four years.

He also directed plays for the Blue Mountain Theatre in London. He worked with Oliver Samuels, a Jamaican comic actor. Their plays drew large audiences of up to 3,000 people at the Hammersmith Apollo theatre.

Other Contributions

In 2008, Phillips performed a powerful poem called Notebook of a Return to my Native Land. This was a tribute to the writer Aimé Césaire.

Besides acting and directing, Phillips has written for magazines and newspapers. He often writes about the state of black arts in the UK. He also contributed to the 2024 book Encounters with James Baldwin: Celebrating 100 Years.

Phillips also produced a documentary film called Home Sweet Harlesden. This film shares interviews with the first Caribbean people who moved to Britain.

In 2015, Anton Phillips received the Edric Connor Trailblazer Award. This was given at the 10th Screen Nation Film and Television Awards.