DANIEL ABINERI
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Writer, Director
Daniel started writing in the early eighties and has had his musicals commercially produced in Australia and London. For twenty four years (74 - 98) he was an actor. His best known work includes: Alan Wilson opposite Tatum O’Neal in International Velvet (MGM ‘77), three series as Father Neil opposite Arthur Lowe in the hit ITV comedy Bless Me Father, Frank’N’Furter in The Rocky Horror Show in both Original British Tour ‘79 Comedy Theatre West End ‘80 and Australasia ‘81, ‘83, ’87 and UK 92’. He starred as super villain Jake Sanders in the international hit 80’s Australian series Return To Eden, Arnold Beckoff in the Australian production of Torch Song Trilogy '91,’92, Bruce Delamitri in Ben Elton’s Popcorn West End ‘98, and many more. |
In 1986 he wrote the book, music and lyrics for his first musical Bad Boy Johnny and The Prophets Of Doom. This rock’n’roll extravaganza about an altar boy who becomes the worlds first rock Pope, premiered in Melbourne in 1989 and featured a young Russell Crowe in the title role. Daniel had discovered Russell some years earlier when he had given him his first professional acting role in a New Zealand tour of ‘Rocky Horror’. ‘Bad Boy Johnny’ enjoyed a six month run in Melbourne and Sydney, won two International Pater Awards™ for best libretto and score, and spawned a cast album on WEA Records (which Daniel also co-produced) and a top ten single in Australia.
Returning to the UK in ‘93 Daniel mounted a showcase production of Bad Boy Johnny at The Union Chapel in Islington - the production became a cause celebre in 1994 and made national headline news when a collection of irate nuns, the London arm of Opus Dei, The Daily Telegraph and the Church Council of Great Britain complained that it was 'offensive and blasphemous'. Following the protests the production was closed after just nine performances.
In 1997 he produced and directed his first documentary, One Hit Wonders for the BBC2 . He followed this in 1999 with a study of androgyny and theatricallity in pop music called Walk On The Wildside (Granada, for the ITV Network), which featured interviews with Lindsay Kemp, Ray Davies, Dave Stewart, Mick Rock and others. Other films he’s produced and directed include Hogarths’ London for BBC Manchester (2000), and Murder & Celebrity (Voodoo Films for UKtv). He is currently completing a documentary feature entitled A Conversation With James Lovelock for Network Films, and working on a new musical project for the theatre.
In September 2013 Daniel released an autobiographical album of songs called Honey For Sale.
Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom
Returning to the UK in ‘93 Daniel mounted a showcase production of Bad Boy Johnny at The Union Chapel in Islington - the production became a cause celebre in 1994 and made national headline news when a collection of irate nuns, the London arm of Opus Dei, The Daily Telegraph and the Church Council of Great Britain complained that it was 'offensive and blasphemous'. Following the protests the production was closed after just nine performances.
In 1997 he produced and directed his first documentary, One Hit Wonders for the BBC2 . He followed this in 1999 with a study of androgyny and theatricallity in pop music called Walk On The Wildside (Granada, for the ITV Network), which featured interviews with Lindsay Kemp, Ray Davies, Dave Stewart, Mick Rock and others. Other films he’s produced and directed include Hogarths’ London for BBC Manchester (2000), and Murder & Celebrity (Voodoo Films for UKtv). He is currently completing a documentary feature entitled A Conversation With James Lovelock for Network Films, and working on a new musical project for the theatre.
In September 2013 Daniel released an autobiographical album of songs called Honey For Sale.
Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom