Born in the city of Kitwe, in the Zambian Copperbelt, Gavin hails from a dramatic heritage. Guided by charismatic parents and gifted brothers he began performing on stage at age seven. Alongside his study of languages, namely French, English and Latin, he decided to consolidate his performance skills with several diplomas in acting, public speaking and recital from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
After many years of amateur theatre, where he played roles as varied as King Duncan in Macbeth and Hamlet's Ophelia, Gavin turned professional with the internationally acclaimed theatre troupe Over the Edge, a group he had co-founded several years earlier.
Here he found solo and ensemble acclaim through their many successful productions, which include political satires, full length self-penned pantomimes, one act dramas and comedies, and most particularly, for his role as Olivia in their version of Twelfth Night, which has toured Edinburgh, Boston, New York, Germany and the Bath Shakespeare Festival to great acclaim.
Gavin has had the opportunity to act, direct and produce plays, including Midsummer Night's Dream, Royal Hunt of the Sun and Our Town, as well as many, many African and original scripts. His skills are best dsiplayed in public relations, proping and designing of plays.
After many years of running the Creative Cultural Programme at Prince Edward High School in Harare, Zimbabwe Gavin has chosen to change his pastures. He is currently the head of Drama at the Harare International School where he continues to be the fantastic teacher only Gavin could be. The drama department is currently working on a modern Carribean version of one of Gavin's favourite plays, Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'.
As the youngest and the fairest of my mother's children, I write this from my most innocent and virginal heart.
I have few memories of my childhood, besides bouncing up and down, up and down for hours on my uncle Chook's and uncle Bertie's knees. Now that Uncle Bertie is Aunty Beryl I dont bounce on her's anymore and I try to avoid Chook's knees or whatever he bounces me on whenever i can.
I remember long walks in meadows with my Grandmother, Gilberta Cynthia Lawrence 'Gooks' Jackson. Her tales from the many books she wrote like the Dictionary and the Bible, singing me one of her many songs like Oh Danny Boy and Auld Lang Sine and of course her 'special milk' hand picked from the many juniper trees that grew on our farm.
I always wanted to sing, dance and perform and often when i visited my mother in jail, i would do a little number from Edith Piaf on the table whilst she watched from behind the maximum security glass. Aaaah those were the days.
I clearly remember playing with my much much older sisters, Javel - with the straight hair, Shanice - who always wore no clothes, the twins Brandy, Dion and Raymona (I forget which one is the dead one), and my brother Scales who is now a dancer in Luton and is called Tazreen. My adopted brother Dalwain came later, found in a basket next to the boerwors and a packet of Madison Red cigarettes. Then there is of course Shania the 'thesbian' cousin.
Now that I have grown into a mature young person of 21, my immaculately conceived child, Virgin, no longer being breast feed and my singing career as Celiah (the best thing since Celine and Mariah) a glowing record of my towering, yet humble talent, i feel the need to leave the hood for a while and enter a quiet life as Sister Virginiata. I am going off the become a follower of the lamb - to suck the marrow out of life.
I would like to thank eternally my husband as most precious jewel k-k-k kan-do-kkrackered Kkreon for, well, everything and I would like to dedicate Secret Lovers by Atlantic Star to all my family and friends from Tyrill Street, not forgetting, Chilli, Miss Otis, Professor Fantastic, Pliers, Denezine, Ianstun, Gazelle, Roxy, Madame Linda of the House of Madame Linda and Braaione, Sparkle and Mariah. Enjoy. xx I love you more.
