Brian Syron - Teaching Career

Teaching Career

Following the success of "Fortune", Syron was approached by Sydney drama professionals to set up the Actors Master Class for those interested in studying the Stanislavsky/Adler technique and for which Syron had applied to his award winning production. Following on the success of the Master Class, Syron was requested to introduce an Intermediate classes and then a Beginners class, both of limited numbers. The School was kept open on an ad hoc basis over the next 23 years and moved many times between 1969 and 1992.

In 1969 Syron taught the first group of urban Aboriginal actors to every study Stanislavsky or acting from an Indigenous perspective. The classes were held at the Foundation of Aboriginal Affairs, George Street (near Central Railway station), Sydney CBD and the actors included political and cultural historian/actor Dennis Walker (son of leading Australian poet Oodroonoo Nunuccal) and actor/director/historian Gary Foley. The situation was still so bad that at the end of each evening the actors had to be ferried back by taxi to their homes in Redfern about 10 minutes walk away to avoid arrest by the police.

He followed this in the early 1972 with workshops and acting classes held at the Black Theatre Arts & Cultural Centre (aka Black Theatre), Cope Street, Redfern where, as Artistic Director, he taught such future Indigenous luminaries as Jack Davis, Hyllus Maris, Lester Bostock, Maureen Watson and Gerry Bostock.

In 1973, as a foundation member of the Peter Summerton Foundation, Syron organised with his mentor Stella Adler to travel to Australia and conduct a series of Master Classes for people from all areas of the Australian entertainment industries. This was the only time Ms. Adler travelled to Australia. As a result of these classes, Syron instigated The Artists' Group Theatre with the first workshops being held in the sculpture studio of Ron Robertson-Swann before moving to The Stables, Kings Cross. During this year he was invited to teach drama to The Resurgent Society inmates of Parramatta Gaol. He accepted the offer and was involved with the Society for the next 12 months. His group included playwrights Jim McNeil and Robin Thurston and Syron is believed to be the first drama teacher to work in the prison system of New South Wales

At the end of 1974 Syron returned to Los Angeles to take up a Stella Adler's invitation to wok at the Stella Adler Los Angeles Acting Studio on Hollywood Boulevard with such students as John Barrymore Jr., John Saxon, Susan Clark and Peter Brown.

Leading Indigenous academic and Harvard University, USA graduate, Dr Roberta Sykes set up the Black Women's Action Group in 1985 with Syron as the (anonymous) Honorary Secretary and foundation member joining other Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians in the support of the educational advancement of Indigenous women in their pursuit of academic success at leading international universities.

Over the period 1986–1987 Syron became the first Indigenous Australian to lecture at the Australian Film TV & Radio School (AFTRS) when he gave a series of Master Classes covering "The Textual Analysis and Techniques of Acting" for Final Year AFTRS students in the Directors Course. In Australia's Bi-Centennial Year, 1988, Syron, as representative of actors and the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust, was invited back to AFTRS as a Guest Lecturer for the "Writing '88" Course along with Fay Nelson (Lecturer in Storytelling/Aboriginal Arts Board), Tjungkarta "Nosepeg" Tjupurrula (Pintubi Storyteller) and Harper Morris Tyungerrayi (Anmatjuo Storyteller).