MIME THEATRE PROJECT

Many years ago, before 'Company Gavin Robertson' there was another entity, a partnership with Andrew Dawson, the duo that made THUNDERBIRDS F.A.B for International touring, and London's West End. Part of a now recognised movement of physical theatre skills, blending mime, movement with text and narrative, now firmly rooted in the mainstream of theatre-making. Contemporary companies like Complicite, Trestle (mask work), Trickster Theatre Co, The Kosh, David Glass and The Right Size (who created 'The Play What I Wrote [touring again in 2025!]). This website can't list all those productions between Autumn of 1984 and 1994 or so, but we can talk about some of them a little...

Thunderbirds F.A.B. -

See show page to the left.

What Is All This Dancing - Directed by Gavin, featuring Andrew Dawson, Oona Beeson (from the Royal Ballet) and Jos Houben, whom we 'borrowed' from Complicite. This featured in the 1989 Complicite season at The Almeida Theatre, in London.

The Six-Sided Man - adapted from cult novel 'The Dice Man'. See Show page on the left.

The Thirst - Inspired by Sting's song 'Moon Over Bourbon Street' itself a reflection on a then little-known book called 'Interview With The Vampire' starring Christian Slater with whom Gavin later appeared in London's West End in 'Cuckoo's Nest'...

This itself had two lives! Firstly as a solo show, directed by David Glass, then re-worked and Directed by Gavin for The Leicester Haymarket Theatre.

Space Panorama/Columbus - SP, written & performed by Andrew Dawson, Directed by Jos Houben, with narration by Gavin. SP later was 'the opener' in the West End, for Thunderbirds F.A.B.

Gavin did actually get to perform it a few times when Andrew burnt his hand during the Australia/New Zealand tour in 1990!

'Columbus' was a companion piece (both being approximately 30 mins long) and they toured together as a show called 'Vertical Deserts'.

The Three Musketeers - devised and performed by Gavin, Andrew and Robert Thirtle, whom we 'borrowed' from Trickster Theatre Co. Directed by Moving Picture Mime Show's (and later 'Complicite's) Toby Sedgewick - now best known for his work on 'Warhorse' at The National Theatre.

Poster & Leaflet design/image. Photo by Nitin Vadukul

Production Image for 'The Thirst' solo version. Photo by Nitin Vadukul.

Taken during performance- Gavin with Victoria Worsley, 'The Thirst'- Leicester Haymarket.

This became the poster image for 'What Is All This Dancing'

Andrew Dawson (l) Gavin Robertson (r) in a production shot for 'Columbus'. Photo by Nitin Vadukul