My Gurus

ED BERMAN

My first serious break came as Administrator of Dogg’s Troupe, Interaction’s community theatre company. Working at Interaction involved hugely varied tasks. We lived in squats around Kentish Town and took our turn on rotas for everything from cooking dinner for the 50 workers to milking the goats. I was very much influenced by Ed, Interaction’s founder, who used his considerable business skills to make Interaction a highly successful charity. With city farms, publishing companies and offshoots in Israel and the USA, Ed demonstrated that it was possible to be a successful entrepreneur and still have a social agenda.

ROB WALKER

I left Interaction to become Publicity Officer at the Half Moon Theatre, where Rob was Artistic Director. Irreverent, flamboyant, larger-than-life and hugely kind, Rob was engaged in work that was both politically relevant and populist. Never boring, always entertaining, Rob combined the political and the theatrical to appeal to a broad range of audiences.

KARIN GARTZKE

On leaving the Half Moon, I worked with Women’s Theatre Group alongside Karin. I learned a huge amount from her, especially that a good arts manager always tries to say “yes” and then works out how to make it happen, rather than saying “no” and then justifying that position. I have tried to adopt this as a way of working.

MANNIE MANIM

In 1992, I set up UK Arts International, and over the course of the past 19 years I have worked with a number of people who have inspired me and who I count amongst my gurus, including Mannie, who, with Barney Simon, founded the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. Mannie, whose courage and determination enabled him to produce intercultural theatre during the most oppressive years of apartheid, provided my entrée into the South African arts scene.

THEMBI MTSHALI

Through Mannie, I worked with the South African performer Thembi, presenting her show, ‘A Woman in Waiting’, in Edinburgh, on tour and for a short run in the West End. ‘A Woman in Waiting’ is the story of Thembi’s life, and of her journey from a small village in Kwa-Zulu Natal to become one of South Africa’s best-loved performers. Her story is testament to the human spirit, and her ability to forgive and to move on.

PERRY HENZELL

In 2003, I started working with the late Perry Henzell, to realise the stage production of ‘The Harder They Come’, based on his classic film. Perry’s determination was formidable. A few weeks before he died in 2006, he attended the premier of his second feature film, ‘No Place Like Home’, at the Toronto Film Festival. Perry inspired me with his will power, fortitude and commitment. He was never one to give up on a project!

In writing about my gurus, I realise that they have a lot in common: they are fearless, passionate and visionary – and very human. These are the qualities that have inspired me and I hope that some of their good energy has rubbed off on me.