Rod Quantock
Rodney Edward Quantock (born 1948) is an Australian stand-up comedian and writer. Quantock is known for his stand-up comedy and acting in Capt'n Snooze advertisements. He has also been involved in political activism and social justice.
Rod Quantock | |
|---|---|
 Rod Quantock as featured in an art piece at the Trades Hall. | |
| Born | 1948 (age 77–78) |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Medium | Cabaret, theatre, television, radio, print, corporate sector |
| Genre | Political satire |
| Website | www.quantock.com.au |
Rodney Edward Quantock OAM (born 1948) is an Australian stand-up comedian and writer.[1][2] Quantock is known for his stand-up comedy and acting in Capt'n Snooze advertisements. He has also been involved in political activism and social justice.
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Quantock grew up in Coburg. His father worked in Fitzroy in a metal polishing factory and as a tram conductor. Quantock studied architecture at the University of Melbourne. His interest in comedy started at the university Architect's revue in 1969,[3] where he met his future wife Mary Kenneally.[4]
Break into theatre
[edit]Quantock participated of live theatre in Australia in the 1970s, conceiving and performing in full-scale productions for many of Australia's comedy venues including The Flying Trapeze Cafe, Foibles Theatre Restaurant, The Last Laugh, The Comedy Café and the Trades Hall.[5][6]
Along with Kenneally, Geoff Brooks and Stephen Blackburn, Quantock opened and operated The Comedy Cafe and Banana Lounge.[citation needed]
Television
[edit]Quantock worked on the series Ratbags, Australia You're Standing In It, Fast Forward, Denton,[3] BackBerner and was a performer on The Big Gig and Good News Week.[7]
In 2005, he appeared as the subject of an art exhibition displayed at Crown Casino.[citation needed]
Quantock was a founding member on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival board,[7] a consultant to the Melbourne Moomba Festival[7] and a member of the Arts Committee of the Bicentennial BHP Awards For Excellence.
Capt'n Snooze
[edit]Quantock starred in a series of television advertisements for bed retailer Capt'n Snooze from the '80s to the late '90s,[8] but stated that his main reason was financial.[9]
Bus
[edit]Quantock conducted various comical evening bus tours of Melbourne and other parts of Victoria since the 1980s called Bus, Son of Tram.[10][11]
Publications
[edit]From 1989–1994, Quantock was a weekly columnist for the Sunday Age[7] and in September 1999, Double Disillusion, a compilation book of these columns and some of his live performances, was published.
Political activism
[edit]Quantock supports left-wing politics and was the host of the 1997, 1998 and 2004 Ska-TV Activist awards which were broadcast on community television around Australia. He gave a speech at 17 January 2010 rally at the closure of The Tote Hotel.[citation needed]
In 2013 and 2014 Quantock was MC at a number of rallies and public meetings in the campaign to stop the then-proposed East-West Link tollway.[12][13] In 2014, Quantock became a research associate at the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne, working on the presentation of climate change impacts and resource crises.[7]
Awards
[edit]- Order of Australia Medal (2015)[14]
- Director's Award, Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2012)[15]
- Australia Council Theatre Board Fellowship (2007)[7]
- Quantock received a Green Room Award for his one-man show Sunrise Boulevard (1997)[16]
- The Individual Award at the Sydney Myer Performing Arts Awards (2004)[17]
- Adelaide Justice Coalition Romero Community Award (2005)[7]
References
[edit]- ^ McCallum, Brendan (12 April 2007). "Rob Quantock – An Inconvenient Interview". Articles. Spark Online. Archived from the original on 6 October 2009.
- ^ Bailey, John (12 February 2007). "Court in the Act". The Age.
- ^ a b Cunningham, Sophie (2010). Melbourne. Sydney: UNSW Press. pp. 79–80. ISBN 9781742240442.
- ^ "If you do one thing today . . ". The Age. 8 April 2005. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ Bedwell, Steve (2007). Vizard Uncut. Melbourne University Publish. pp. 86–87. ISBN 9780522854749 – via Google books.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Ross; Murphy, Rick (2011). "5". AustenTayshus-Merchant of Menace. The GHR Press. ISBN 9780868064581 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Honours" (PDF). Governor General of the Commonwealth of Victoria. 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ Thompson, Peter (24 October 2005). "Talking Heads – Rod Quantock". ABC. Archived from the original on 27 October 2005.
- ^ Denton, Andrew (25 September 2006). "Enough Rope with Andrew Denton – Rod Quantock". ABC. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015.
- ^ Macklin, Robert (2 May 1993). "Adventure bus startles a few toffy diners". The Canberra Times. p. 20. Retrieved 12 September 2018 – via Trove.
- ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (6 December 2002). "Back on the buses". The Age.
- ^ "Rally: All I Want For Xmas Is Better Public Transport". Yarra Campaign for Action on Transport. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ "Trains Not Tolls Campaign Launch". Yarra Campaign for Action on Transport. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ Cuthbertson, Debbie (7 June 2015). "Comedian and environmental activist Rod Quantock receives Medal of the Order of Australia in Queen's Birthday Honours". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ Cahill, Mikey (22 April 2012). "Dr Brown wins 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Barry Award". Herald Sun. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ "1997 Green Room Awards". Green Room Awards. 17 February 1998. Archived from the original on 5 January 2008.
- ^ "Rod Quantock". Artists. Token. 25 September 2006. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012.
External links
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
