International actor Tim Hardy to perform, speak at IUPUI
For a list of Hardy's performances and lecture, visit: http://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/10154.html. To read Tim Hardy's complete biography, visit: http://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/10157.html
In film, he has appeared in Captain Corelli's Mandolin. In opera, he has played bass leading roles in The Magic Flute and Don Giovani. In his 31 years on stage, his theater credits include Henry V and The Shrew -- to name a few. Now, internationally known actor Tim Hardy will appear at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis for a one-week residency.
Hardy -- an actor, director and faculty member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London -- will be in residency at IUPUI from March 22-29. He will perform a one-man play, Galileo, in conjunction with IUPUI's 40th anniversary celebration. The play, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Galileo's discoveries, explores the tension between science and religion and one man's struggle for intellectual and spiritual salvation.
Hardy has performed in and directed productions across the United Kingdom, Austria, United States and Germany. During his time on campus, Hardy will give several lectures as well as dramatic performances that focus on Galileo.
The English Department and the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI are hosting the one-week residency, which was made possible by a grant from the IUPUI 40th Anniversary Celebration Fund that was given to Terri Bourus, associate professor of English drama at IUPUI.
For seven years, Bourus has been teaching IU students about the literature and drama of the 16th and 17th centuries (otherwise known as the early modern period) in England. Central to those studies has been a focus on Shakespeare's dramatic art. She has conducted three acting residencies: one with the Actors From the London Stage, one with the American Shakespeare Center and one with the director Ivan Fuller. Bourus talked with Live at IU about Hardy's upcoming residency.
Live at IU: Why did you pick Tim Hardy as a visiting artist?
Terri Bourus: Tim Hardy is an associate director of the pedagogical acting troupe, The Actors From the London Stage. I hosted The Actors From the London Stage at IU Kokomo in the spring of 2005. It was there that I met Mr. Hardy and watched in amazement as he performed the role of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. He also visited my classrooms and my students were delighted. It's difficult under the best of circumstances to hold the attention of a large group of students for 90 minutes, but Mr. Hardy not only held their attention, the students stayed 10 minutes after class ended and then asked when he could come back. He visited other classrooms as well and the faculty reports reinforced what I already knew to be true about Mr. Hardy's talents.
After that, I traveled to London to visit him at work at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) where I watched him direct a group of students preparing to stage Romeo & Juliet. I am, myself, a performer, and so I could respond in two ways to Mr. Hardy's direction: as a professor and as an actor. I learned so much. The production, by the way, brought down the house, closing to rave reviews. During that visit, I asked Mr. Hardy if he would consider coming to IUPUI to teach and to perform. To my amazement, he agreed. I applied for several grants to cover his expenses, and now, with the preparation almost finished, he is coming.
LIU: Hardy has been in several well-known productions as well as film. How could you describe the caliber of his work to someone unfamiliar with him?
T.B.: As an amazingly successful and polished actor and director for over 30 years, and as one of the most in-demand teachers at RADA, it is not hard to see why we would want him to come to IUPUI. His talent, expertise and professionalism put him great demand and his work at other universities, along with his more than impressive c.v. speak for themselves. Mr. Hardy has been asked to conduct a master class for Equity Actors at the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre, one of the most professional theatrical venues in the state of Indiana. These credentials leave little doubt as to the caliber of his work and the level of his expertise.
LIU: What do you hope students will learn from this residency?
T.B.: Mr. Hardy is on the selection committee for RADA. In other words, he is part of the team that auditions the many, many hopeful applicants who want to study acting at one of the best acting schools in the world. This year alone, he auditioned over 3,000 students for only 29 slots in the academy. A student interested in drama and acting, set design, lighting and any other aspect of theatre, would have to travel to RADA and audition for one of these spots in order to take a class from Mr. Hardy. Now, they can take a class -- a class they could only get at RADA -- right here in Indianapolis.
LIU: What do you think is the most interesting or unique about Hardy or his work? What are the challenges of performing a one man play?
T.B.: Mr. Hardy will be performing the one-man play, Galileo. Staging a one-man play takes courage. After all, he will be the only person on the stage. It requires a deep understanding of character and variation. It requires the talent and stamina to take all of the pressures of the performance -- and these can be considerable -- on one's own shoulders. One of the most interesting and unique talents of Mr. Hardy is his ability to do this -- and do it very well indeed. That he chose Galileo for this tour is particularly interesting since 1609 (the International Year of Astronomy) is the 400th anniversary of Galileo's discoveries -- when he turned his telescope toward the heavens. It is also the 40th anniversary of IUPUI and Mr. Hardy is part of the 40th Anniversary Celebrations. I received a major grant from the Celebration Committee in order to bring him in.
LIU: Who are some of the other visiting artists you've brought to IUPUI?
BOURUS: The New Frontiers' program awarded me two major grants to host the Actors from the London Stage as well as the American Shakespeare company. In addition to that, I directed an acting residency with the actor, director and professor Ivan Fuller. I also hosted the visiting lecture delivered by Professor Peter Holland, who holds the McMeel Chair of Shakespeare Studies at Notre Dame. I plan to continue to bring International scholars and actors to campus in order to make the impact of IUPUI (in the world of the theatre) as powerful s possible. We are here to educate, and the world has a lot to teach us. As Shakespeare tells us, "All the world's a stage . . ." and that is a teaching approach I take very much to heart.
Hardy's educational and performance residence is presented by the Department of English in the IU School of Liberal Arts with support from the PU School of Science and the IU School of Law -- Indianapolis. A grant from the IUPUI 40th Anniversary Celebration Fund awarded to English Professor Terri Bourus also will help underwrite the week-long visit.
