For the love of the Arts CBC alumnus David Malacari (1974) has an extensive track record in directing some of the nation’s most popular and prestigious festivals, and has held senior positions in many more both in Australia and around the globe. His passion for the Arts is central to his life, and has guided him to make courageous career moves that have contributed to his success. David shares a little about his extraordinary career and leaves us with a poignant message.
Very little thought was given to the Arts at CBC in 1974. There was music until Year 7, and that was it. No Drama, no Visual Art, and following school, there were no performing Arts colleges in WA at the time. As a result, it never occurred to me that working in the Arts was a career option; I rather just fell in to it. Circumstance and serendipity and quite a bit of luck really. I began acting in university dramatic society productions and working casually at the Hole in the Wall Theatre and the WA Ballet as my tertiary studies languished. I also toured Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle with a children’s show produced by Channel 7, but I had no idea of what my life would become when I began working as a theatre electrician
40
touchstone 2022
at the Sydney Opera House on a production The Merry Widow with Joan Sutherland in the title role and Richard Bonynge conducting. Quite a thing for a 22-year-old boy from Freo to be part of. Over the next 10 years I was a Stage Manager, Production Manager and Lighting Designer with Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Nimrod Theatre, Queensland Theatre Company and the TN Company. I wrote the script for the Sydney Dance Company’s first foray into dance/cabaret at Kinsellas. For a while I dabbled in the film world as a Locations Manager, but I was always going to be drawn back to live theatre. I toured Australia with the African National Congress Cultural Ensemble
