Frank John Ford (18 March 1935 – 27 September 2018) was an Australian freelance writer, director, dramaturg and drama lecturer.

Biography

He studied acting, drama theory, dramaturgy, directing and cinema in his degrees: M.F.A. (Theatre Arts) from

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

, New York (Awarded the Richard Rodgers Scholarship); Certificate in Arts Administration,

Harvard Business School Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate business school of Harvard University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the world and offers a large full-time MBA p ...

; A.D.B (Associate of the Drama Board) London and B.A.

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...

. He was an author and director of opera, music theatre, cabaret, experimental theatre, modern and classic drama and multi-media productions. His plays, adaptations and cabarets have been performed in Australia and overseas. He was former Head of the Department of Drama at

Adelaide University The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

and held various teaching, directing and arts administration positions here and overseas. He was Founding Chair of the art festival Adelaide Fringe Festival in 1975, and its first Honorary Life Member. He initiated the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and was Chair of the Advisory Committee. He served on many arts boards such as Country Arts SA,

Adelaide Festival The Adelaide Festival of Arts, also known as the Adelaide Festival, an arts festival, takes place in the South Australian capital of Adelaide in March each year. Started in 1960, it is a major celebration of the arts and a significant cultural ...

and as Chair of the Australian Dance Theatre and was in later life Chair of the Independent Arts Foundation. He died on 27 September 2018 at the age of 83.

Honours and legacy

*Honorary Life Member of

Adelaide Fringe The Adelaide Fringe, formerly Adelaide Fringe Festival, is the world's second-largest annual arts festival (after the Edinburgh Festival Fringe), held in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Between mid-February and mid-March each year, i ...

. *In 1999, he was awarded Member of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

for service to the development of the performing arts in South Australia as a director, playwright, administrator and educator. In 2001 he received the Centenary Medal for services to the community, particularly through the performing arts. *In 2006 he received the inaugural Premier’s "Life Time Achievement" Ruby Award for the Arts. *In 2015 was an Australia Day, South Australian Senior of the Year Finalist and City of Adelaide Citizen of the Year. *In 2017 he was appointed Honorary Membership, Actors Equity division of the

Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA), also sometimes referred to as the Alliance, is the Australian trade union and professional organisation which covers the media, entertainment, sports and arts industries. Its Musicians section c ...

. *In 2018 the

South Australian Ruby Awards The South Australian Ruby Awards, also known as the Ruby Awards, are annual awards which recognise outstanding achievement in South Australia’s arts and culture sector. They were named in honour of arts champion Dame Ruby Litchfield (1912–2001 ...

named an award after him, the Frank Ford Memorial Young Achiever Award

References

1935 births 2018 deaths Australian theatre directors University of Adelaide faculty Australian LGBT writers Members of the Order of Australia University of Sydney alumni Columbia University School of the Arts alumni Harvard Business School alumni

Biography

Honours and legacy

References

Further reading