Vale Keith Robinson (1958-2024)

STAGES with Peter Eyers

As one of our finest actors, Keith Robinson carved a career on stages around the country. As a wit and treasured talisman, he kept us informed and in stitches with his regular postings on social media.
Keith’s repertoire of characters included the great clowns of Shakespeare. He was admired for his tremendous physicality in realising these endearing fools and jesters …. and for his dependability in affecting an audience.
As a member of the ensemble at Belvoir Theatre, he contributed to the success of milestone productions such as Hamlet, The Tempest, The Alchemist, Night On Bald Mountain and Picasso at the Lapin Agile.
Keith’s extensive theatre credits also included the Dickensian epic Nicholas Nickleby with the Sydney Theatre Company …… and ventures into musical theatre with the premiere Australian production of Les Miserables.
As performer and playwright - Keith co-authored (with Tony Taylor) the silly, comic romp The Popular Mechanicals - a fond valentine to the determined amateur acting troupe of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
In 2006 his life upon the boards looked like being snatched away when he was diagnosed with a neurological condition, called Guillain-Barre syndrome. His personal expression as an actor became compromised with limited mobility and the necessity of a wheelchair.
But Keith was a determined thespian …. and in 2016 he returned to the Belvoir stage as a wise and moving Feste …. in a production of Twelfth Night.
As well as a phenomenal talent, Keith was immensely entertaining and terrific company. Passionate, funny and tremendously informed, Keith traversed an eventful life on and off the stage.
His legacy of compelling screen performances are fortunately preserved in television productions such as the anthology series Summer Love, season 2 of The Twelve and in a much discussed TVC for Australia post, where we may still be able to find him at various point of sale.
This conversation, recorded for the STAGES podcast, took place in May 2021 when Keith was preparing to play Leonid Gayev in The Cherry Orchard at the Belvoir street theatre. It was to be the final time we would see Keith light up a stage.
I hope this return episode brings you some comfort - and joy - relishing in Keith’s wonderful anecdote, insightful wisdom - and that enormous laugh that instantly embraced it’s listener.
Vale Keith Robinson - you will be greatly missed.

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