Andrew Dawson

Andrew Dawson is a theatre director, performer, Feldenkrais practitioner, and hand model. He studied dance with Merce Cunningham in New York and theatre in Paris with Phillipe Gaulier, Monika Pagneux, and Jacques Lecoq.

From 1984 to 1992, Dawson formed Mime Theatre Project with Gavin Robertson. They created the theatre show ‘Thunderbirds F.A.B.’ touring to small venues and eventually performing 6 seasons in London’s West End and two world tours. Andrew has worked with an extraordinary range of theatrical and creative projects with companies such as the RainPan43, Redcape Theatre, the ENO, The MET Opera NYC & The Young Vic.

Dawson created and performs, ‘Space Panorama’ (1987) the story of the Apollo 11 moon landing told with only his hands, ‘Quatre Mains’ (1998) and his award winning solo show ‘Absence and Presence’ (2005). He also created and directed the stage show of ‘Wallace and Gromit’ (1995), ‘Amnesia Curiosa’ for Rainpan 43 (2008 ), the award winning ‘Pandora 88.’ (2003) and ‘The Idiot Colony’ for Redcape Theatre Company (2008).

Dawson made his choreographic debut with ‘Dr. Atomic,’ an opera by John Adams at the New York MET and English National Opera. In 2010, he choreographed ‘The Pearl Fishers’ also for ENO. In 2005 he was awarded a research grant from the Wellcome Trust, London. ‘The Process of Portrayal’ explored neurological impairment through motor neuron disease and spinal cord injury. In 2010 he was awarded a subsequent Arts award from The Wellcome Trust to create ‘The Articulate Hand’ which recently received its US première at the World Science Festival in New York.

In addition, Dawson is a Feldenkrais practitioner and Hatha yoga teacher, reflecting his curiosity into the physical body, mindfulness and movement.