- Charles Mayer (actor)
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Charles Mayer 
Charles Mayer as 'Chinatown Charlie' in 2009Born Charles Anthony Martin Mayer
February 13, 1970
Tidworth, Hampshire, EnglandOccupation Actor, director, producer and Author Years active 2002 - Present Charles Mayer (born 13 February 1970) is an English stage, television and film actor, writer, director, producer and author. His roles have included Wallace in Ip Man 2,[1] Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, Charles Condomine in "Blithe Spirit", Marc in "Art", Felix in "The Odd Couple", and Father in "Six Characters in Search of An Author", Michael Fitzgerald in Spooks, Donald in Hotel Babylon, Jon in Goodbye Shanghai and Freddie in Shanghai Chill. He has also appeared in various independent films which he has acted in, directed, produced or written. His West End debut came in 2006 in Martin Sherman's Bent. He appears every Wednesday to Saturday evening at Gosney and Kallman's Chinatown in Shanghai, China.[2] He is Associate Producer of Shanghai Repertory Theater and has been a resident of The People's Republic of China since 2008.[3]
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Early life
Charles Mayer was born in Tidworth, Hampshire, England, the son of Jennifer-Ann Wright, a retired RAF Intelligence officer and Martin Mayer, an RAF test pilot. He has one older and one younger sister, with a niece and two nephews in England. Brought up on RAF camps in England and Germany until starting boarding at The Duke of Kent School in Surrey at the age of 8, he always only wanted to be a pilot like his father. After five years at prep school, where he won the Drama Prize in his final year for his performance as Antipholus of Syracuse in Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors he was sent to Wellington College, Berkshire. Aged 16 he passed the Officers and Aircrew Selection Course and was awarded an RAF Sixth Form Scholarship contract to train as a pilot in the RAF on completion of his A-Levels. From age 15 to 18, he spent his term time at public school and holidays in Africa at his parents' house in Nairobi, Kenya. Failing his RAF Initial Officer Training in 1989, he worked as a farm labourer and tractor driver in the South of England for two years. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Mayer went to the recruiting office and signed up as a potential officer, entering the British Army in February 1991. He passed the RCB and entered Sandhurst in September 1992, commissioning in August 1992 into the Welsh Guards. After the Platoon Commander's Battle Course he took over his platoon in Northern Ireland in January 1993. He spent 4 years commanding in Northern Ireland, 2 years instructing at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick, 2 years ceremonial duties in London, (where he still holds the Household Division Subaltern's award for least sleep in a fortnight)and two years in Tidworth (working in an office 100 yards form the room in which he was born).[4] After completing 10 years of service Mayer decided to become an actor. He applied to audition for the best drama schools in London and entered the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2002.[3][5]
Film
In Mandarin Films' Ip Man 2 (2010), a large budget kung fu film shown in cinemas across Asia, Mayer plays the villain opposite Sammo Hung. He is the corrupt, ruthless 1950s Hong Kong Police officer Chief Superintendent Wallace. His greed and violent temper are finally brought under control when he is arrested at a boxing match.[1][3][6]
In Greys Inbetween by Ambient Film Ltd, a romantic tragedy written, directed and produced by Andrew Rajan, Mayer plays the villain, the philandering husband who breaks his girlfriend's heart. The film enjoyed a limited run in 2008 at the National Gallery in London.[3]
In The Ultimate Truth, a comedy written and directed by Nick Clarke with Wysiwyg Films, he plays a confused meglomaniac gangster turned politician with a sweet moll. It premiered at the Curzon Soho, London in 2003.[3]
Mayer has a major role in upcoming feature Shanghai Chill, an independent film written and directed by Eric Heise. It is currently in production.[3]
For short film, Mayer has a leading role in Goodbye Shanghai directed by Adam Christian Clark, has written and directed Against All Odds for the Meiwenti Shanghai Short Film Competition 2009, and produced and acted in China White Night for the 2009 Straight8 Film Competition. He has acted in many others.[3]
Television
After drama school Mayer made brief appearances in BBC One's prime time series Spooks and Hotel Babylon, and more recently in Piers Morgan On... Shanghai as the MC at Chinatown.[3] As of Jan 3 2011 He is the new host of International Channel Shanghai's daily culture programme City Beat.
Theatre
Mayer played Bob Cratchit in Shanghai Repertory Theater's inaugural production of A Christmas Carol in 2009, and was due to play Edmund in their second production King Lear in 2010, but was unable to play the role due to another commitment.[3]
In London in 2006 he appeared in the West End in Martin Sherman's Bent, with Alan Cumming. The revival was directed by Daniel Kramer, under whom he has enjoyed several exploratory workshops. Mayer was additionally consultant to the company on history and psychology of the SS in Nazi Germany. (During the run of the play, he played the lead/villain in the backstage short film Stage Fright, written and directed by fellow Guildhall graduate Lawrence Spellman and involving the entire cast and many of the crew of the theatre production Bent. It is the only film in which he has played the villain and he doesn't have his comeuppance.)[3][7]
Also during the run of Bent Mayer played the lead in John Wilson's Hamp, a rehearsed reading directed by Bent cast member Hugh Ross.[3]
Mayer plays the villain in 5th Wall Performance's production A Taste of Red, a dance theatre video sound collaboration. After two independent runs it was banned by the cultural bureau from playing at the 2010 Shanghai Repertory Theater International Spring Arts Festival for its violent and pornographic content.[3]
For East West Theater in Shanghai he directed the Lovers' scenes from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at The British Chamber of Commerce.[3]
He has played many theatrical roles whilst at drama school and in amateur companies whilst serving in the Army.
Hosting - Presenting
In London Mayer was the host of the Couture Clubbing fashion shows, and was spotted by Norman Gosney and Amelia Kallman, who offered him the role of Master of Ceremonies 'Chinatown Charlie' at their vaudeville and nouveau variety club Gosney and Kallman's Chinatown in Shanghai, China. He performs there every Wednesday to Saturday evening.[2][3]
As of Jan 3 2011, Mayer is the male host of the International Channel Shanghai's daily culture programme City Beat.
Whilst living in Shanghai he has hosted various events, including fashion shows, festivals and film screenings.
Other work
Mayer has recently finished writing a novel, Fleur, about the consequences of Charles Baudelaire's spirit entering a young man's soul in modern Paris. It is currently being considered by publishing agents in London.
Mayer has taught voice and movement for the stage in Shanghai and HMP Altcourse, and has taught military movement for actors at RADA, The Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and for productions including The Gate Theatre, London's Woyceck, Sheffield Crucible's Lear, Sonia Friedman's Bent, The National Theatre's War Horse and the Royal Shakespeare Company's Henry IV, Part 2.
Personal life
Mayer's parents are retired and live in his father's native county, idyllic rural Lancashire. He tries to visit at least once a year. His mother is involved in local politics and his father in land management of their property. Mayer effectively left home at the age of 8 and has never lived in Lancashire. He is engaged to be married to Australian Cate Fittock.
References
- ^ a b http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1386932/fullcredits#cast
- ^ a b http://www.chinatownshanghai.com
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n http://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/1/M91216.html
- ^ http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/55094/supplements/4197
- ^ http://www.gsmd.ac.uk/acting/people/graduates_2004_5/charles_mayer.html
- ^ http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/play/ip-man-2-sweeps-box-office-featuring-one-shanghais-own-charles-mayer-985513?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
- ^ http://www.ltdb.co.uk/node/13797
External links
Categories:- 1970 births
- Living people
- People from Tidworth
- Old Wellingtonians
- English film actors
- English stage actors
- English television actors
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