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Helmut Bakaitis

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Helmut Bakaitis
Born
Lauban, Lower Silesia, Prussia, Germany
Occupation(s)Director, actor, screenwriter
Years active1959-present[1]

Helmut Bakaitis (born 26 September 1944) is a German-born Australian director, actor and screenwriter and playwright.[1] He is best known for his role in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions as the character the Architect.

Early life and education

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Bakaitis was born in Dresden[1] or Lauban, Lower Silesia, Germany (now Lubań, Poland), to Lithuanian parents, Vincas and Eugenia Bakaitis, who were fleeing Lithuania at the time. He spent his first five years in UN transit camps in Germany and Austria, while his father worked as a translator.

Bakaitis arrived in Australia with his family in 1950 at the age of six. They initially lived in immigration centres. His father, an academic, hoped to become a teacher or lecturer, but was forced to dig sewers to support the family. Bakaitis was educated at Fort Street High School, Sydney, where he had earned a scholarship. Bullied at school, he immersed himself in books, language, film and the performing arts. He formed a drama group and performed in and directed school productions, and eventually began to write plays. He left home at 16, and worked as a stenographer while still studying.

Bakaitis won a scholarship to the National Institute for Dramatic Art (NIDA). While there, he formed his own theatre company together with a group of fellow students, including Jim Sharman. NIDA supported the student initiative and toured one of the productions. Before Bakaitis had graduated (in 1965), he was offered his first professional acting role at the Theatre Royal in Hobart.[2][3]

Career

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Bakaitis spent seven years with the Melbourne Theatre Company as an actor and head of the youth workshops, followed by stints with the Old Tote Theatre, the Sydney Theatre Company. and as co-director of Adelaide's Come Out Youth Festival. He subsequently studied a post-graduate diploma in Drama and Education at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and established youth programs in inner London.[4]

On his return to Melbourne, he became founding artistic director of St Martins Youth Arts Centre, Melbourne, where he worked for 5 years, then the Director of the New Moon Company in Cairns for 3 years. Back in Sydney he became Director of Penrith's Q Theatre for 7 years,[4] followed by Head of Directing at NIDA for nine years until 2007.[5] He then started teaching directing at Australian Academy of Dramatic Art (AADA),[6][7] now the Australian Institute of Music – Dramatic Arts (AIMDA).

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Type
1971 Stork Clyde Feature film
1972 Shirley Thompson vs. the Aliens Harold Feature film
1985 I Can't Get Started Sidney TV film
2000 Drama School Himself
2001 The Farm Judge Wescott
2003 The Matrix Reloaded The Architect Feature film
The Matrix Revolutions Feature film
Syntax Error Doctor Short film
2005 The Illustrated Family Doctor John Feature film
2006 Happy Feet Live Action Cast Feature film
2009 Lucky Country Connolly Feature film
2015 Truth Dick Thornburgh Feature film
Crushed Sgt O'Reilly
2016 Hacksaw Ridge Minister Feature film
2018 Jack Irish Thornton Finch TV film

Television

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Year Title Role Type
1967–70 Homicide Larry Fenton / Tommy Fraser / Don Lambton TV series, 3 episodes "Taken Care Of", "Dead Shot", "The Living Death"
1987 Melba John Lemonne TV miniseries
1988 Home and Away George Morris TV series
1996 Police Rescue Dr. Mayfield TV series, episode: "Nobby's Place"
1997–99 Home and Away Peter Fraser TV series
1998 A Difficult Woman Chancellor #2 TV miniseries
2003 All Saints Salvator Forlano TV series, 3 episodes: "To Forgive, Divine", "Wrong Call", "Older and Wiser"
2005 The Surgeon Dr. Gearhardt TV series
2009 Satisfaction Marty Volkering TV series
2012 Howzat! Kerry Packer's War Bob Parish TV miniseries
2016 Rake Judge Barton TV series

As screenwriter

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Year Title Role Type
1972 Shirley Thompson vs. the Aliens Screenwriter Feature film

Theatre

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As actor

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Year Title Role Type
1959 Hamlet Hamlet Fort Street High School, Sydney[4]
1964 Extracts from Shakespeare Egeus in A Midsummer Night's Dream / Orlando in As You Like It UNSW
1964 The Caucasian Chalk Circle UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1964 Our Town George Gibbs UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1964 Two Programs of One Act Plays James in The Mask / Colin Arnott in Try it Again UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1964 Two Programs of Short Plays Jeremy in The Zoo Story / Man at the bar in Marty / Revolutionary in The Chinese Wall UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1965 On the Nature of Lo, Etc.'' Chorus member UNSW
1965 A Series of Dance Pieces Dancer in Ballad of the Drover's Wife UNSW
1965–66 Othello UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Tasmania, South Australia with Young Elizabethan Players
1965 Down in the Valley Thomas Bouche UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1965 The Plough and the Stars Jack Clitheroe UNSW Old Tote Theatre
1965 A Taste of Honey Cell Block Theatre, Darlinghurst
1966 Twelfth Night Tasmania, South Australia with Young Elizabethan Players
1966 Romeo and Juliet Paris South Australia with Young Elizabethan Players
1966 Julius Caesar South Australia with Young Elizabethan Players
1966 Richard II South Australia with Young Elizabethan Players
1966 A Refined Look at Existence Jane Street Theatre
1966 Halloran's Little Boat Jane Street Theatre
1967 Incident at Vichy Russell Street Theatre
1967 Where's Daddy? Tom St Martins Theatre, Melbourne[8]
1967 The Importance of Being Earnest Lane (Manservant) St Martins Theatre, Melbourne
1967 Moby Dick – Rehearsed Russell Street Theatre
1967 The Flower Children A Little Bourke Street Discotheque
1967 Death of a Salesman Russell Street Theatre
1967 A Flea in Her Ear Russell Street Theatre
1968 The Crucible Russell Street Theatre, Canberra Theatre, Tasmania
1968 The Magistrate Russell Street Theatre, Canberra Theatre, Mildura Arts Centre, Broken Hill, The King's Theatre Mt Gambier, Adelaide Teachers College Theatre
1968 Burke's Company Wills Russell Street Theatre
1968 The Man in the Glass Booth Russell Street Theatre
1968 Three Sisters Russell Street Theatre
1968 Major Barbara Russell Street Theatre
1969 Henry IV, Part 1 Edmund Mortimer Octagon Theatre, Perth, Keith Murdoch Court, Melbourne
1969 The Country Wife Russell Street Theatre, Canberra Theatre
1969 Loot Russell Street Theatre
1969 The Soldiers Russell Street Theatre, Canberra Theatre
1969 A Long View Russell Street Theatre
1969 Six Characters in Search of an Author Russell Street Theatre
1969 The Unknown Soldier and His Wife Russell Street Theatre
1969 Rookery Nook Russell Street Theatre
1970 The First Mrs Fraser Ninian Fraser St Martins Theatre, Melbourne[9]
1970 The Caucasian Chalk Circle Shauva Russell Street Theatre
1970 Day of Glory Russell Street Theatre
1970 The Devils Russell Street Theatre
1970 Son of Man Russell Street Theatre
1970–71 All's Well That Ends Well Princess Theatre Melbourne, Canberra Theatre, Octagon Theatre, Perth
1971 King Lear Russell Street Theatre
1972 The Taming of the Shrew UNSW Parade Theatre, Canberra Theatre
1972 Macbeth UNSW Parade Theatre
1973 Crete and Sergeant Pepper Union Hall, Adelaide
1973 Measure for Measure Union Hall, Adelaide
1973 Occupations Arts Theatre, Adelaide
1973 Hans Kohlhaas Union Hall, Adelaide
1987 The Department Hans Seymour Centre with Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust / Sydney Theatre Company[10]
1989 Top Silk Paul Bradley Seymour Centre, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre, Playhouse Adelaide with Melbourne Theatre Company
1994 Dead City Belvoir Street Theatre
1995 King Lear Wharf Theatre, Q Theatre, Penrith, Orange Civic Theatre
1996 Pentecost Wharf Theatre
1996 Macbeth Wharf Theatre
1997 Pygmalion Glen Street Theatre
1999 Glory Cameo NIDA Theatre
2001 My Head Was a Sledgehammer The Professor Belvoir Street Theatre
2003 Sydney Symphony Superdome Spectacular Sydney Olympic Park
2006 The Illusion Darlinghurst Theatre
2006 No Names ... No Pack Drill Detective Browning Parade Theatre
2006 Now That Communism Is Dead My Life Feels Empty Voiceover artist Tower Theatre, Melbourne
2011 Titus Andronicus Wharf Theatre
2013 Liberty Equality Fraternity Walter Silverstein Ensemble Theatre
2020 Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Walter Silverstein Online – Australia: NSW

As writer / director

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Year Title Role Company / venues
1966, 1968 Pageant of Love Tree Playwright Russell Street Theatre, Victorian Country Tour
1968 The Titillators Director / playwright La Mama Theatre
1969 The Little Lady Steps Out Playwright La Mama Theatre
1970 Mutants Playwright Sydney
1971–72, 1975 The Incredible Mind-Blowing Trial of Jack Smith Playwright Melbourne, Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne, Traralgon, Playhouse Adelaide, Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator, Ipswich
1972 Shadows of Blood Playwright Nimrod Street Theatre
1974 The One Show Devisor / director Carclew Stables, Adelaide
1975 The Lay of Sir Orfeo Devisor / director Space Theatre, Adelaide
1975–76 Carlota and Maximilian Director / playwright Melbourne, Space Theatre Adelaide
1976 Le Chateau d'Hydro-Therapie Magnetique Playwright Jane Street Theatre
1979 The Sensational South Yarra Show Playwright / director St Martins Youth Arts Centre
1980 The Two Fiddlers Director Scott Theatre, Adelaide
1980 Cain's Hand Director Scott Theatre, Adelaide, St Martins Youth Arts Centre, Nimrod Upstairs
1981 A Sign in Space Playwright Theatre 62, Adelaide
1981 When Lips Collide Director / lyricist Playbox Theatre, Melbourne
1982 Sweaty Weather Director St Martins Youth Arts Centre
1983 The Incredible Mind-Blowing Trial of Jack Smith Writer St Michael's College, Adelaide
1983 Spring Awakening Director St Martins Youth Arts Centre
1983 La Dispute Adaptor St Martins Theatre
1983 Snuff Bingo Director St Martins Theatre
1984 Beach Blanket Tempest Director Townsville, Cairns Civic Theatre, Theatre Royal Mackay, Rockhampton, Mt Isa, Araluen Arts Centre, Playhouse Adelaide, Canberra Theatre, University of Sydney with New Moon Company
1984 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Director North Queensland tour with New Moon Company
1984 Key Largo Director North Queensland tour with New Moon Company
1985 Guys and Dolls Director North Queensland tour with New Moon Company
1985 On Our Selection Director North Queensland tour with New Moon Company
1985 Trumpets and Raspberries Director North Queensland tour with New Moon Company
1997 Mistletoe Magic Director / playwright Sydney Opera House
1988 A Different Drummer Director Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane
1990 Operation Holy Mountain Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1990 The Government Investigator Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1990 Rome Tremble – Crumbs from a Feast of Callas Director Wharf Theatre
1990 Beach Blanket Tempest Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1991 The Christian Brothers Director Ensemble Theatre, Q Theatre Penrith, University of Newcastle[11]
1991 The Caretaker Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1991 The Killing of Sister George Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1991 Kenny's Coming Home Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1992 Better Known as Bee Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1992 Lipstick Dreams Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1993 Daylight Saving Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1993 Wet and Dry Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1993 Lumps Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1994 A Winning Day Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1995 Chair in a Landscape Director Q Theatre, Penrith
1996 Working: A Musical Director Glen Street Theatre
1998 The Curse of the House of Atreus Director NIDA Theatre
1999 Le Legs et La Dispute Director NIDA Theatre
1999 The Telephone / Wolfboy / The Post Office / The White Room Producer NIDA Theatre
1999 Meadowlark, Excerpts from The Baker's Wife / Dracula / Action Producer NIDA Theatre
1999 Glory Director NIDA Theatre
2000 The Ugly Man Director NIDA Theatre
2000 Variety, Vaudeville & Basic Burlesque Director (Australian Vaudeville) NIDA Theatre
2001 Titus Andronicus Director NIDA Theatre
2001 Goodnight Children Everywhere Director NIDA Theatre
2003 Antigone Director Parade Theatre
2005 Too Young for Ghosts Director NIDA

[12][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Helmut Baikaitis".
  2. ^ "Helmut Bakaitis - the Art of the Theatre | AustLit".
  3. ^ "Helmut Bakaitis". Cameron's. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "Helmutas - Updated 31st August 2003".
  5. ^ "NIDA BOX SEAT NOV 2007 STAGE RIGHT". National Institute of Dramatic Art. November 2007. Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Australian Academy of Dramatic Art". Australian Academy of Dramatic Art Blog. 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  7. ^ Gallasch, Keith. "RealTime issue #110 Aug-Sept 2012 pg. 39". RealTime Arts. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Where's Daddy".
  9. ^ "The First MRS Fraser".
  10. ^ "The Department".
  11. ^ Morrison, Peter (7 June 1991). "Man's inhumanity to boys". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 96, no. 37. New South Wales, Australia. p. 31. Retrieved 2 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "AusStage".
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