Theatre Biography
I studied French and Italian at Bristol University (1978-1982) including modules on Molière, Goldoni and Gozzi. During my year abroad I undertook the first year course of physical theatre at L'Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris. Here I met Philip Radice and the Italian actor Franco Cardellino who would later invite me to work with his company Teatro Movimento in Turin.
On returning from Paris, I set up the Bristol Mime Company which performed the successful mask show "Gone with the Swamp" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1982. Following on from this, I was readmitted to the second year of l'Ecole Jacques Lecoq.
On returning from Paris, I set up the Bristol Mime Company which performed the successful mask show "Gone with the Swamp" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1982. Following on from this, I was readmitted to the second year of l'Ecole Jacques Lecoq.
After finishing my studies at Lecoq I moved to Turin to teach at the Punto Fisso school of Mime and Physical Theatre underneath the Cathedral of Turin run by Franco Cardellino.
With Franco I performed in a larvar mask show "Birra Facile Ma Non Qui" and in the cartoon mime "Hitchcock" before returning to England for a back operation in 1984.
With Franco I performed in a larvar mask show "Birra Facile Ma Non Qui" and in the cartoon mime "Hitchcock" before returning to England for a back operation in 1984.
After a year of convalescence during which I taught English in Turin at the British Churchill School, in 1986 I formed the Dizziacs Theatre Company in Turin with Philip Radice, Catherine Otey and Stewart Arnold. A group of Anglo/Americans performing in Turin was unusual to say the least and these were exciting years.
We were helped greatly by the late great actor Eugenio Allegri who organised theatre courses for a local council. We estimated that we taught courses to approximately 10,000 adults!
We were helped greatly by the late great actor Eugenio Allegri who organised theatre courses for a local council. We estimated that we taught courses to approximately 10,000 adults!
From 1990-1998 I worked between Italy and English as a drama teacher, teaching physical theatre and commedia dell'arte to drama schools and theatre companies in both countries as well as undertaking some English teaching theatre courses in Secondary Schools in Italy.
From 1998-2003 I ran a physical theatre school in Via Carmagnola 12 which is now the base for the Atelier Teatro Fisico Philip Radice and the Performing Arts University Torino- one of Europe's leading physical theatre schools.
Action Theatre in English was founded in 2003 to teach English through fun.
From 1998-2003 I ran a physical theatre school in Via Carmagnola 12 which is now the base for the Atelier Teatro Fisico Philip Radice and the Performing Arts University Torino- one of Europe's leading physical theatre schools.
Action Theatre in English was founded in 2003 to teach English through fun.
From 2004-2005 together with Francesco Mancino, Diane Atkins and Elisabetta Rosati I wrote Mr. English - a series of five text books with songs for the Italian Primary School published by Raffaello Editrice.
From 2004-2006 I wrote 20 episodes for Italian TV (RAI Divertinglese) of the whacky TV SITCOM for young English learners Tracy and Polpetta written in Italian and English with a cast of Italian actors. You can see some of my episodes on You Tube.
"Tutti in video" episode
Other titles written by me:
Il bello addormentato, Una famiglia spaziale, Il piccolo ospite, Squeaky Honky il Clown, Amore ecologico, Ave avo, A scuola con la supplente, L’orologio a cucù, Tutti pazzi per la batteria, La talpa invisibile, Dolcetto o scherzetto, Che bello il ballo, Il vestito non fa il pirata, Bidoni in amore, La gara della frittella, Computer per tutti, Polpetta e la mangiatona, La casa stregata, Aspettando Babbo Natale
Il bello addormentato, Una famiglia spaziale, Il piccolo ospite, Squeaky Honky il Clown, Amore ecologico, Ave avo, A scuola con la supplente, L’orologio a cucù, Tutti pazzi per la batteria, La talpa invisibile, Dolcetto o scherzetto, Che bello il ballo, Il vestito non fa il pirata, Bidoni in amore, La gara della frittella, Computer per tutti, Polpetta e la mangiatona, La casa stregata, Aspettando Babbo Natale
In 2021 together with Giorgia Nordio and Lisa Pugliese, Learning English Through Fun SRL was founded to continue the work of Action Theatre and to promote our English teaching materials online.
Learning English Through FunFamily
Parents: John Raison (1931-2020) and Jennifer Sutcliffe (1933-2017)
Siblings and I: Rupert (b.1959) Jeremy (b.1961) and Vanessa (b.1963)
Spouse: Emanuela Currao (m. 2013), Luisella Cocco (m. 1988 - 2006)
Children:
Thomas (b.1993)
Anna (b.1996)
Caterina (b.2011)
Siblings and I: Rupert (b.1959) Jeremy (b.1961) and Vanessa (b.1963)
Spouse: Emanuela Currao (m. 2013), Luisella Cocco (m. 1988 - 2006)
Children:
Thomas (b.1993)
Anna (b.1996)
Caterina (b.2011)
Hobbies
Tennis, ski, canoe, ping pong, piano, current affairs, magic, mask and Commedia dell'Arte.
List of Plays
( * not for ETT)
1982
Gone with the swamp
1983
Birra Facile Ma Non Qui*
(Cardellino, Raison) with Franco Cardellino larvar mask show
(Cardellino, Raison) with Franco Cardellino larvar mask show
1984
Hitchcock*
(Cardellino, Raison) with Franco Cardellino a spoof cartoon mime
(Cardellino, Raison) with Franco Cardellino a spoof cartoon mime
1986
Afro and The Dizziacs*
&
Il Nome del Gladiolo*
with the Dizziacs Theatre Company (Raison,Radice, Otey and Arnold)
&
Il Nome del Gladiolo*
with the Dizziacs Theatre Company (Raison,Radice, Otey and Arnold)
1987
A Magician, A Musician And A Whole Lot Of Trouble*
(Raison,Radice)
(Raison,Radice)
1988
The Rupert Raison show
1990
The Western*
(Raison, Otey, Arnold)
(Raison, Otey, Arnold)
1992
Better Get a Move on*
&
Le Olimpiadi*
&
Le Olimpiadi*
1999
Me And My Chicken
2001
Hello Hello Hello
&
Bear Hunt
&
Bear Hunt
2002
Dr.Horror
2003
La Pantera*
&
Here comes the Train
&
Here comes the Train
2004
Evil Joe
&
Festivity Planet
&
Festivity Planet
2005
Franky Goes To Hollywood
with Francesco Giorda
with Francesco Giorda
2008
Adventure In The British Museum
&
Magical English Teacher
&
The Girl Next Door
&
Magical English Teacher
&
The Girl Next Door
2010
Loch Ness Mystery
&
The Monster
with Benjamin Delmas
&
The Monster
with Benjamin Delmas
2011
Brother & Sister Act
&
The Queen & Mr.B*
&
The Queen & Mr.B*
2012
English TV
with Raul Gomiero
&
Trick Or Treat
with Greg Chapman
with Raul Gomiero
&
Trick Or Treat
with Greg Chapman
2013
Jennifer's Dragons
2015
Horrible Stories
&
In The Web
in collaboration with the Selah Theatre Company UK
&
Little Red Riding Hood
&
Remember Remember
&
In The Web
in collaboration with the Selah Theatre Company UK
&
Little Red Riding Hood
&
Remember Remember
2016
New York Mystery
&
Action English Game Show
&
School Trip
&
Action English Game Show
&
School Trip
2017
Dinosaur Detective
&
Haunted House
&
The New School
&
Ulysses
&
Haunted House
&
The New School
&
Ulysses
2018
Robin Hood
&
English Party
with Oliver Millingham
&
English Party
with Oliver Millingham
2019
Dracula
with Oliver Millingham
&
Get Smart
&
Mrs. Angel's Holiday (now Miss English's Holiday)
with Oliver Millingham
&
Get Smart
&
Mrs. Angel's Holiday (now Miss English's Holiday)
2023
Cyber Games
&
The Italians in England*
&
The Italians in England*
2024
Best Friends Forever
Democrazy
