NIDA alumnus and former head of Technical Theatre Kate Davy was a great supporter of the arts and of the arts community. She was a generous, creative woman and a dedicated and much-loved educator.
Obituary KATE DAVY – picture from Peter Reeve to come via Priscilla.
NIDA alumnus and former head of Technical Theatre Kate Davy was a great supporter of the arts and of the arts community. She was a generous, creative woman and a dedicated and much-loved educator.
Kate graduated from NIDA in Technical Production in 1983 and pursued a career across the Australian industry in theatre and a diverse range of performing arts as a professional Lighting Designer, Properties Master and Stage Manager. More than this, Kate forged a path for women in Technical Production, particularly the field of Lighting Design, gaining the deep respect of her peers and colleagues. Her laugh in the corridors of NIDA and backstage at many a production or event, was legendary. Kate was also a generous supporter and philanthropist in the industry. As recently as 2017, she gave the use of her property at Bungendore for the local school’s visual arts projects, and for NIDA students filming the short film project ‘Lobster Paradise’.
Kate returned to NIDA as Head of Technical Production from 1997-2002. Her passion lay in encouraging and inspiring young people to question, be interesting, push the boundaries of their creativity, but never be contrived. Her reputation for glamour was always balanced with integrity of purpose, in work and in life.
Kate’s strong industry connections with her ‘arts family’, were brought to bear for her students during her time as NIDA’s Head of Technical Production. Her own work ethic and first-hand knowledge of the power of sheer hard work and the indefinable camaraderie of the theatre family in addition to knowledge and creativity was a gift she shared with her students, and a hallmark of the NIDA alumni culture of the time.
‘What is exciting’, said Kate to Talent Unplugged, ‘is that everybody wants to give back. We get any number of graduates, now the best in the business, who return to share their experience and give their time in support of those who are starting out…it’s wonderful’.
The friends, family and colleagues of Kate have set up the Kate Davy Scholarship in her memory. For more information or to support you can contact Eden Tollis: eden.tollis@nida.edu.au or to make a gift: Kate Davy Scholarship.
Kate’s credits include:
Wardrobe Master: Twelfth Night, NIDA, 1981.
University of Newcastle Drama Theatre, Callaghan, NSW, 25 August 1981,
Erindale Theatre, Wanniassa, ACT, 17 August 1981
Board Operator: Pericles, NIDA Theatre, Kensington, 1981
Board Operator: All’s Well that Ends Well, NIDA Theatre, Kensington, 1981
Assistant Lighting Designer: Bittersweet, NIDA Theatre, 1982.
Assistant Stage Manager: A Doll’s House, NIDA Theatre, Kensington, NSW, 9 June 1982
Properties Master: Nervous System, Parade Theatre (1969-1999), Kensington, NSW, 17 March 1982.
Sound: Measure for Measure, NIDA Theatre, 1982.
Deputy Stage Manager: A Dolls House, NIDA Theatre, 1982.
Stage Manager: Extremities, National Theatre Co., Perth, 1983.
Lighting Designer: The Money or the Box?, Parade Theatre (1969-1999), Kensington, NSW, 16 March 1983.
Stage Manager: Ivanov, NIDA Theatre, 1983.
Lighting Designer: The Winter’s Tale, NIDA Theatre, 1983.
Assistant to the Lighting Designer: The Cherry Orchard, NIDA Theatre, 1983.
Assistant to the Lighting Designer: The Cobra, 1983.
Assistant to the Lighting Designer: Rapunzel in Suburbia, 1983.
Assistant to the Lighting Designer: Nicholas Nickleby, 1983.
Assistant Lighting Designer: The Cobra, STC at Aheneum, Melbourne, 1984.
Lighting Designer: Li’l Abner, Bankstown Town Hall, Sydney, 1984.
Lighting Designer: Women of March 1st, Nimrod Theatre Co., 1984.
Lighting Designer: Sydney Uni Law Review, Footbridge Theatre, 1984.
Lighting Designer: Puttin’ on the Dog, Rocks Theatre Sydney, 1984.
Set, Costume Design & Lighting Designer: You’ve Gotta be Joking, Central Western Regional Theatre Co, 1984.
Lighting Designer: The Night we Blitzed the Bridge, ATYP, The Parade Theatre, 1985
Stage Manager & Lighting Designer: The Lighthouse, Perth Arts Festival, Everest Theatre, Seymour Centre, 1985.
Props & Set Dresser: City of Glass, Channel 10, 1985.
Lighting Designer & Stage Manager: Whore in a Madhouse, Belvoir St Theatre, 1985.
Production Manager & Lighting Designer: Rents, Gordon Frost Organisation, The Wharf Studio Sydney, 1985.
Lighting Designer: Multiple Choice, ATYP, The Wharf Studio Sydney, 1985.
Lighting Designer, Sydney Uni Law Review, Footbridge Theatre Sydney, 1985.
Lighting Designer: A Change of Heart (Malinche / On Arthur Street / Myself My Stranger), ANU Arts Centre, Acton, ACT, 10 October 1985
Stage Manager: Grace Brothers Summer Collection, City Store & Suburbs Sydney, 1985.
Lighting Designer: A Change of Heart, Human Veins Dance Co, 1985.
Lighting Designer: Jackie Loves 50s, Juliana’s Hilton Hotel, 1985.
Assistant Lighting Designer: Peter Pan, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Adelaide Playhouse, 1985.
Lighting Designer: Son et Lumiere, Camden Park Manangle, 1985.
Lighting Designer: Multiple Choice, ATYP, Rocks Theatre Sydney, 1986.
Assistant to the Lighting Designer: Sirens, Sydney Dance Co, Kinsellas Sydney, 1986.
Lighting Designer: Winds of the Solstice, Australian Opera, Concert Hall Sydney Opera House, 1986.
Lighting Designer & Production Manager: Travelling Light, Meryl Tankard’s Company, Institute of Contemporary Art (London), Commonwealth Arts Festival (Edinburgh).
Assistant Lighting Designer: Castanet Club Promo Video, Sydney, 1986.
Lighting Designer: Middle Kingdom Ballroom, ATYP, The Rocks Theatre Sydney, 1986.
Lighting Designer & Production Manager: Grommets, ATYP , Broadwalk Studio Sydney Opera House, Sydney, 1987.
Assistant Tour Manager: Shining, Quad Bill, Sydney Dance Co, Australia, 1987.
Lighting Designer: Ned Kelly & the City of the Bees, ATYP, Broadwalk Studio Sydney Opera House, Sydney, 1987.
Assistant Lighting Designer: Rasputin, State Theatre Sydney, 1987.
Lighting Designer: Away, Hunter Valley Theatre Co, Playouse, Newcastle, 1987.
Lighting System Designer: St George Institute (designed lighting system for both theatres), 1987.
