Exeunt
This section lists members of the theatre profession and allied fields who have recently passed away. Please share your knowledge of these people with us by writing a short biography and sending it to
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Written by Kevin Trask
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Kevin Trask AustraliaOver the years Kevin has worked in non-professional theatre as an actor and director in Melbourne and has won several Victorian Drama League awards. He hosts a weekly radio show at noon each Sunday on 96.5 Inner FM. Kevin has interviewed many famous overseas and Australian actors from stage, film and television.
Kevin can be heard on 3AW on Sunday nights in his regular segment, The Trask Time Tunnel, while his experience working professionally as a broadcaster includes stints on 3AK, 3AW, and 4BC. He has also produced shows featuring prominent artists such as Ted Hamilton, Reg Gorman, Dorothy Baker, Paul Jennings, Robert Grubb and his cousin, Diana Trask.
Written by Peter Fitzpatrick
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Peter Fitzpatrick AustraliaPeter taught for many years at Monash University, where he was Foundation Head of Performing Arts. During his career as an academic, he wrote three books and a lot of articles about Australian theatre, produced a dual biography of Louis and Hilda Esson, Pioneer Players, and directed some thirty productions of plays and musicals. He also wrote three feature film scripts, including Hotel Sorrento, for which he won an AFI Award for best adapted screenplay, and two novels, Death in the Back Pocket and Promontory. Since leaving Monash Peter has written mostly for musical theatre, and several of his shows (Life’s a Circus and CrossXRoads, both written with Anthony Costanzo, and flowerchildren –The Mamas and Papas Story) have had professional productions. But he has also produced another double biography, The Two Frank Thrings, which won the National Biography Prize in 2013, and last year another novel, Mayo Street. In July 2024, Peter’s latest musical, Castro’s Children (written in collaboration with composer Simon Stone), enjoyed a highly-acclaimed premiere season at Melbourne’s Gasworks Theatre.
Written by Janine Barrand
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Janine Barrand AM is a cultural historian and senior curator specialising in the performing arts and popular culture. She was Director of the Australian Performing Arts Collection from 1994 to 2021 and led the development and opening of the Australian Music Vault in 2017. Janine is currently Senior Heritage Officer, City of Greater Geelong. Most recently Janine has collaborated with artist and designer, Dianna Wells on the publication of Revealing Stories: the hidden history of the performing arts in Brunswick and Coburg, 2022 and in 2023, Revealing Stories: the hidden history of the performing arts in Geelong. In 2024 Janine was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the museum, arts and cultural sector. Photo of Janine by Mark Gambino.
Janine Barrand Australia
Written by Peter Fitzpatrick
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Peter Fitzpatrick Australia
Peter taught for many years at Monash University, where he was Foundation Head of Performing Arts. During his career as an academic, he wrote three books and a lot of articles about Australian theatre, produced a dual biography of Louis and Hilda Esson, Pioneer Players, and directed some thirty productions of plays and musicals. He also wrote three feature film scripts, including Hotel Sorrento, for which he won an AFI Award for best adapted screenplay, and two novels, Death in the Back Pocket and Promontory. Since leaving Monash Peter has written mostly for musical theatre, and several of his shows (Life’s a Circus and CrossXRoads, both written with Anthony Costanzo, and flowerchildren –The Mamas and Papas Story) have had professional productions. But he has also produced another double biography, The Two Frank Thrings, which won the National Biography Prize in 2013, and last year another novel, Mayo Street. In July 2024, Peter’s latest musical, Castro’s Children (written in collaboration with composer Simon Stone), enjoyed a highly-acclaimed premiere season at Melbourne’s Gasworks Theatre.
Written by Janine Barrand
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Janine Barrand AM is a cultural historian and senior curator specialising in the performing arts and popular culture. She was Director of the Australian Performing Arts Collection from 1994 to 2021 and led the development and opening of the Australian Music Vault in 2017. Janine is currently Senior Heritage Officer, City of Greater Geelong. Most recently Janine has collaborated with artist and designer, Dianna Wells on the publication of Revealing Stories: the hidden history of the performing arts in Brunswick and Coburg, 2022 and in 2023, Revealing Stories: the hidden history of the performing arts in Geelong. In 2024 Janine was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the museum, arts and cultural sector. Photo of Janine by Mark Gambino.Janine Barrand Australia
Written by Simon Piening
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Simon Piening AustraliaSimon is the Director of Australian Stage Online, an online media outlet for the performing arts in Australia, which he founded in 2005. He completed a BA in Performing Arts in 1991 and has worked extensively as an actor and director. He completed post graduate studies in Arts Management at the VCA/University of Melbourne, and spent a number of years working as assistant manager at an outer metropolitan performing arts venue. He holds a Master of Communications and a PhD in audience development. He joined the THA committee in 2016.
Written by Janine Barrand
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Janine Barrand AM is a cultural historian and senior curator specialising in the performing arts and popular culture. She was Director of the Australian Performing Arts Collection from 1994 to 2021 and led the development and opening of the Australian Music Vault in 2017. Janine is currently Senior Heritage Officer, City of Greater Geelong. Most recently Janine has collaborated with artist and designer, Dianna Wells on the publication of Revealing Stories: the hidden history of the performing arts in Brunswick and Coburg, 2022 and in 2023, Revealing Stories: the hidden history of the performing arts in Geelong. In 2024 Janine was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the museum, arts and cultural sector. Photo of Janine by Mark Gambino.Janine Barrand Australia
Written by Simon Plant
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Simon Plant AustraliaSIMON PLANT BA (Hons) and Masters (University of Melbourne) is a Melbourne writer and historian. His 35 year career in journalism includes three decades at the Herald and Weekly Times as a reporter and editor specialising in arts and entertainment. His new book, Entertaining Mr Coppin: An Australian Showman in Civil War America will be published by THA in August 2025.
Written by Kevin Trask
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Kevin Trask Australia
Over the years Kevin has worked in non-professional theatre as an actor and director in Melbourne and has won several Victorian Drama League awards. He hosts a weekly radio show at noon each Sunday on 96.5 Inner FM. Kevin has interviewed many famous overseas and Australian actors from stage, film and television.
Kevin can be heard on 3AW on Sunday nights in his regular segment, The Trask Time Tunnel, while his experience working professionally as a broadcaster includes stints on 3AK, 3AW, and 4BC. He has also produced shows featuring prominent artists such as Ted Hamilton, Reg Gorman, Dorothy Baker, Paul Jennings, Robert Grubb and his cousin, Diana Trask.
