Christopher Hurst (born 20 April 1956) is a former Zimbabwean actor and now the Head of School of Live Performances at AFDA, The School for the Creative Economy.
Early life Christopher studied at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Adopting Christopher Hurst as his stage name, he began his career on stage, appearing with the Royal Shakespeare Company, in the West End and on Broadway.Christopher Hurst Full Biography broadwayworld.com One of these was playing Nana the dog in an RSC production of Peter Pan in 1982 at the Barbican Theatre raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital, attended by Queen Elizabeth II.Her Majesty The QueenElizabeth II meets cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 'Peter Pan' Hurst also appeared in Doctor Who (Tom Baker's swansong Logopolis).
Return to Africa Returning to Zimbabwe in 1986, the actor worked and lived with playwright Cont Mhlanga for three years at Amakhosi Theatre in Bulawayo.Cont Mhlanga - Full Profile - NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER There, he appeared in Negative Workshop and taught acting, as well as appearing in Richard Attenborough's film Cry Freedom.
Moving to South Africa in 1997, he lectured at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. During the course of his teachings, his theatre projects have included working with ex-combatants, and offendersCONTRIBUTOR BIOGRAPHIES (leading a theatre project at Westville Correction Facility in Durban from 1999 to 2010).
Teaching In 2008, Christopher was a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.Artistes Personal Management - Christopher Hurst In 2012, he joined AFDA, working in Higher Education and becoming Head of Stage performance.Special Announcement from the AFDA Acting Department
In 2013, Christopher directed Mbongeni Ngema in The Zulu in his return to stage.Mbongeni Ngema returns to the stage with his latest show, The Zulu Six years later, he worked with the actor again, directing him and Percy Mtwa in Woza Albert!, which toured South Africa.Original 'Woza Albert!' Comes to South African State Theatre
Awards From the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Christopher was awarded a Master of Fine Arts (cum laude) Certificate, area of study. In 2010, he was awarded a Doctoral Degree Certificate, having a particular interest in Community Development.Matric Writing Coach: Homepage As a result of being involved in Community Engagement, one such project he ran was in Bhambayl, using theatre and video to heal a community torn apart by political violence.Information Booklet (pg.11-12)
With his PhD, he is known as Dr. Christopher John and has become Dean at AFDA campuses in Durban and Cape Town.
References
External links
Christopher Hurst at Theatricalia