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John Robertson, born 1936, speaks about his parents and siblings; early childhood recollections; schooling; his father's accountancy business; working as an auditor with Flack and Flack (1955); his National Service (1956); his decision to seek a career in theatre; applying to join the administrative staff of J.C.Williamson; working as Katherine Dunham's stage manager; the Dunham Technique; maintaining professional standards while touring; working as assistant stage manager for the Tivoli Circuit; the role of stage manager for a Tivoli Revue; the Tivoli organisation's production facilities; how the transfer of the Tivoli revues was achieved; the show train, Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey; backstage visits from Sydney Opera House consultants; demise to the original stage equipment purchased for the Sydney Opera House; the design of the stage in the State Theatre; his role as the Technical Director of the Adelaide Festival of Arts; Louis Van Eyssen; Sir Robert Helpmann; Adelaide Festival of Arts (1972); working for J.C.Williamson's after the takeover by the Edgley Organisation.
Robertson discusses the building of the new Her Majesty's Theatre in Sydney; his role as Head of Production for J.C.Williamson; the demise of the J.C.Williamson organisation; his role on overseas show-buying trips; an opportunity to become involved in film production; returning to the position as Operations Manager, The Adelaide Festival Centre; reasons for setting up a production workshop at the Adelaide Festival Centre; some of the productions made at the workshops under his supervision; the setting up of the Cameron Mackintosh offices in Australia; why it is necessary to import the creative team when producing a major musical; the importance of correct casting; his present role with Cameron Mackintosh Productions; the difficulties of setting up tours overseas; his involvement as a consultant with the Talent Development Project; ticketing and marketing; his Helpmann Award; his current involvements; the achievements or which he is most proud; his life to date.
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