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Mike Kalemkerian obituary
Katy Kalemkerian
The Guardian, Monday 16 December 2013 17.48 GMT
Michael Kalemkerian taught drama at Aston University in Birmingham and
ran the theatre programme at the university's arts centre
Mike Kalemkerian, my father, who has died suddenly of a heart attack
aged 64, contributed greatly to drama in the Midlands. From 1980 he
lectured in drama and ran the theatre programme at Aston University,
Birmingham, at its arts centre, the Triangle. He programmed
cutting-edge touring companies including Steven Berkoff's London
Theatre Group,Shared Experience, Monstrous Regiment and Gay Sweatshop.
He also wrote and directed plays, working with local acting talent -
including Chris Collins (now better known as Frank Skinner).
Unfortunately, the Triangle was closed in the late 1980s as a result
of government cuts to the arts.
My father channelled his creativity into setting up Education on
Screen Productions in the 1990s with Neil Gammie. The initiative
provided opportunities for young people to participate in drama. In
1991, Mike's production Out, exploring the issue of homelessness, won
the 21st Century award as part of the Birmingham film and television
festival.
Mike was born in Redhill, Surrey, the son of Vahé Kalemkerian, an
Armenian whose family had arrived in London in the 1940s, and his wife
Esmé Hutchinson, a Geordie who had moved to the capital. Growing up in
Reading, Mike attended Leighton Park school, where his classmates
included the future actor Jim Broadbent.
After obtaining a degree in education and English in 1972 at the
University of Sussex, Mike taught English and drama at Beacon school
in Crowborough. His developing interest in theatre led him to
undertake postgraduate studies in 1975 at the Central School of Speech
and Drama in London, where he met and later married Mary Kellagher.
The couple left to work in Canada, where Mike lectured in
improvisational theatre at the University of Alberta, then moved to
Scotland, Mary's homeland, where I was later born. They both worked
for the arts in Fife, and set up youth theatre and community drama
projects at the Lochgelly Centre, with popular local productions
including The Great Coal Trade and Nellie Frae Lochgelly. The shows
were much appreciated in the mining community and despite his being an
Englishman, the locals took Mike to their hearts.
He cut back on work about 10 years ago due to ill health, but being a
feisty character, and with theatre still in his blood, he became
involved with the University of the Third Age, conducting drama
workshops in Birmingham.
His marriage to Mary ended in divorce. I survive him, along with his
partner, Maggy Markworthy, with whom he enjoyed attending and
discussing theatre and arts events.
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/dec/16/mike-kalemkerian-obituary
Katy Kalemkerian
The Guardian, Monday 16 December 2013 17.48 GMT
Michael Kalemkerian taught drama at Aston University in Birmingham and
ran the theatre programme at the university's arts centre
Mike Kalemkerian, my father, who has died suddenly of a heart attack
aged 64, contributed greatly to drama in the Midlands. From 1980 he
lectured in drama and ran the theatre programme at Aston University,
Birmingham, at its arts centre, the Triangle. He programmed
cutting-edge touring companies including Steven Berkoff's London
Theatre Group,Shared Experience, Monstrous Regiment and Gay Sweatshop.
He also wrote and directed plays, working with local acting talent -
including Chris Collins (now better known as Frank Skinner).
Unfortunately, the Triangle was closed in the late 1980s as a result
of government cuts to the arts.
My father channelled his creativity into setting up Education on
Screen Productions in the 1990s with Neil Gammie. The initiative
provided opportunities for young people to participate in drama. In
1991, Mike's production Out, exploring the issue of homelessness, won
the 21st Century award as part of the Birmingham film and television
festival.
Mike was born in Redhill, Surrey, the son of Vahé Kalemkerian, an
Armenian whose family had arrived in London in the 1940s, and his wife
Esmé Hutchinson, a Geordie who had moved to the capital. Growing up in
Reading, Mike attended Leighton Park school, where his classmates
included the future actor Jim Broadbent.
After obtaining a degree in education and English in 1972 at the
University of Sussex, Mike taught English and drama at Beacon school
in Crowborough. His developing interest in theatre led him to
undertake postgraduate studies in 1975 at the Central School of Speech
and Drama in London, where he met and later married Mary Kellagher.
The couple left to work in Canada, where Mike lectured in
improvisational theatre at the University of Alberta, then moved to
Scotland, Mary's homeland, where I was later born. They both worked
for the arts in Fife, and set up youth theatre and community drama
projects at the Lochgelly Centre, with popular local productions
including The Great Coal Trade and Nellie Frae Lochgelly. The shows
were much appreciated in the mining community and despite his being an
Englishman, the locals took Mike to their hearts.
He cut back on work about 10 years ago due to ill health, but being a
feisty character, and with theatre still in his blood, he became
involved with the University of the Third Age, conducting drama
workshops in Birmingham.
His marriage to Mary ended in divorce. I survive him, along with his
partner, Maggy Markworthy, with whom he enjoyed attending and
discussing theatre and arts events.
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/dec/16/mike-kalemkerian-obituary