Chris Gabardi
OW1987
"The Adamson Theatre Company gave me an opportunity to experience the thrill of performing on stage - and I became addicted to it!"
"Born in a theatre trunk..." Such might have been the origins of Christopher Gabardi, whose stellar career through the ranks of the Adamson Theatre Company proved to be the foundations of his no less spectacular career in professional theatre.
Chris's innate thespian talents and pure love of theatre were put to excellent use during his years at Wesley College (1982–1987) when his busy performance schedule ran to an average of nearly two major productions per year. From Toad of Toad Hall (1982) and Oliver Twist (1983) in his earliest years, he graduated to the ghoulish, hilarious I was a Teenage Dracula (1985), delivering the title role with absolute style and panache. Few who saw it could forget those blood-sucking incisors that inevitably became a pain in the neck for the majority of his co-stars! Beyond such additional plays as Androcles and the Lion (1984) and The Taming of the Shrew (1986), there were also the big musicals: The Sentimental Bloke (1984), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1985), Bye Bye Birdie (1986) and The Boyfriend (1987). These variously gave Chris an opportunity to demonstrate his very pleasant singing voice and budding skills in the terpsichorean arts. As Tony in The Boyfriend, for example, he sang and tap-danced his way into the hearts of the audience, every inch the charming young aristocrat masquerading as a telegram delivery boy, while as the singing-dancing Albert Peterson in Birdie, it was impossible not to compare his performance – the professional polish and indeed his physical appearance - with that of Dick Van Dyke in the famous film. Meanwhile, Chris acquitted himself admirably in another major role: that of Senior Prefect in 1987, his final year at school.
Small wonder then that Chris subsequently abandoned his Bachelor of Science course at Monash University after one year and gained instant entrance to the acting stream at NIDA. Following his graduation from that celebrated institution in 1991, his career in acting has never looked back.
Chris quickly became a familiar face on television, appearing as the young bridegroom in the popular series The Newlyweds (1992–1995), followed by a major role in State Coroner (1997–1998) and guest roles in such iconic series as Blue Heelers, Stingers and The Secret Life of Us. His long concurrent association with the Melbourne Theatre Company has included major roles in a host of productions, among which Cosi by Louis Nowra, The Rover by Aphra Behn, Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill and Laughter on the Twenty-third Floor by Neil Simon stand out as memorable achievements. Most recently he appeared opposite Rachel Griffiths in the internationally acclaimed New York drama, Proof.
Since 2003 Chris has been a core member of the All Saints cast for the Seven Network, a role which consolidates his status as one of the most recognisable faces on Australian television.
Reflecting on his Adamson Theatre Company experience at Wesley College, Chris freely acknowledges that " ...it gave me an opportunity to experience the thrill of performing on stage in as close to a professional production as one could imagine – and I became addicted to it!"
He speaks fondly of many happy memories:
"The productions were so incredibly detailed and professional and the commitment from both the staff and students to every show was totally inspiring. We were always really proud of the quality of the work we were producing."
But Chris also recognises the unqualified support of Wesley College for the ATC's program as a highly significant factor. "The school itself viewed cocurricular activities in the arts as equally important to a student's education as sport," he enthuses. "This was vital in allowing many of us – especially males! – to be passionate about the arts, particularly theatre, and I would never have pursued acting as a career had I not been encouraged to explore this area at Wesley."
