Born Bernard Norman Gannon in Maffra in Victoria's Gippsland, his father was a land surveyor and farmer.
[1] After schooling at Melbourne's Xavier College Lanbury House, Gannon graduated from the then production course of the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney[1] in 1970.
[1] After graduation, Gannon worked at the Queensland Theatre Company, before stage-managing the original Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar for Harry M. Miller Attractions.
This proved to be one of Australia's most successful television exports ever, being sold to 80 countries, and eventually running to 210 hours.
[4] In 1998 Gannon co-produced with London producer Robert Fox, Australia's highest-grossing theatre production The Boy from Oz,[5] based on Enright's book and directed by Gale Edwards – which was successfully presented on Broadway, receiving a 2004 Tony Award nomination for Best Musical, and winning the Tony for Best Male Performer in a Musical for its star, Hugh Jackman.