Profiles
This is section documents some of the more interesting characters that have made substaintial contributions to our theatre history.
Written by Kurt Gänzl
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Kurt Gänzl New ZealandKurt is one of the most important chroniclers of the world’s history of music and theatre. His numerous works on the subject include The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre (1994, 2001), The British Musical Theatre (1986), The Musical: a concise history (1997), Gänzl’s Book of the Musical Theatre (1988), Victorian Vocalists (2018) and biographies of such artists as Lydia Thompson (2002), Willie Gill (2002), Emily Soldene (In Search of a Singer, 2007), and Gilbert & Sullivan, the Players and the Plays (October 2021). Forthcoming works include an update of the 2007 University textbook, and a translation of the Rapsodies of Petrus Borel with his brother, poet John Gallas.
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 Elisabeth Kumm
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Elisabeth Kumm AustraliaElisabeth is a founding member of the Victoria Theatres Trust. Her series Pets of the Public was a regular feature of On Stage from 1999 to 2005, looking at “forgotten” nineteenth century performers. She continues to contribute articles for the THA website, and from 2018 has been editor of the THA Newsletter. As a theatrical historian and biographer she assisted Viola Tait with her book on pantomime – Dames, Principal Boys…and All That (published by Macmillan in 2001) and also worked with her on her memoirs I Have a Song to Sing (published by THA in 2018). Elisabeth has also undertaken research for the Riley/Hailes Scrapbook and JCW Scene Books projects. Most recently she has been working on the Falk Studios album project including acting as editor of The Falk Studios book (published by THA in 2021).
Written by Kate Newey
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Kate Newey UK
Kate Newey is Professor of Theatre History at the University of Exeter. Her work focuses on women’s writing and nineteenth century British popular theatre. Her publications include a co-edited collection of essays, Politics, Performance and Popular Culture (Manchester UP, 2016), and the monographs Women’s Theatre Writing in Victorian Britain (Palgrave, 2005), and John Ruskin and the Victorian Theatre co-authored with cultural historian, Jeffrey Richards (Palgrave, 2010). Kate has published widely on nineteenth century theatre and popular culture, and led several Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded projects. From 2024, Kate is leading a large-scale project funded by the European Research Council, ‘Women’s Transnational Theatre Networks, 1789-1914.’ She has held research Fellowships at Harvard University, the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC, and the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Centre, University of Texas (Austin).
Written by Mark St Leon
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Mark St Leon AustraliaDescended from one of Australia’s earliest circus families, Mark pioneered the study of the history of Australia’s circus and travelling show people, a chapter in the national story that was almost entirely overlooked. Amongst other works, he is the author of the definitive history of circus in Australia, Circus: The Australian Story [Melbourne Books, 2011]. http://www.pennygaff.com.au/
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Written by Judy Leech
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Judy Leech AustraliaJudy has had a twenty-two year career at the ABC Television Studios as a graphic designer, with occasional forays into children's book illustrations. This was followed by ten years working with the Rex Reid Dance Company on costume, set and props design. Since the late 1990s Judy has been closely involved, in a design capacity, with many of the annual musicals presented by Melbourne High and Mac.Robertson's Schools.
Written by Picture research by Rob Morrison
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Picture research by Rob Morrison AustraliaWith a background in science and biophysics, Rob is equally at home in the Performing Arts having performed in over 70 stage productions since 1975, including plays, revues and musicals for a number of amateur theatre companies based in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
As a broadcaster, Rob has been heard on Melbourne community radio 96.5 Inner FM since 1992 contributing to the Local Theatre programme and as the host of the weekly light-music Kaleidoscope and Musical Theatre Melodies programmes. (A selection of Rob’s past interviews from the latter with noted theatre composers and/or lyricists, Leslie Bricusse, Frank Wildhorn and Sheldon Harnick, plus musical theatre historian and author, Miles Kreuger can be accessed on the THA website under Digital Collections – audio.)
Since early 2023 Musical Theatre Melodies has also been available as a podcast, which may be heard at https://www.innerfm.org.au/shows/musical-theatre-melodies/ and recently earned the distinction of being ranked amongst the Top 10 Australian Theatre Podcasts by Feedspot, as listed at https://podcasts.feedspot.com/australian_theatre_podcasts
Rob has also contributed information and articles to the on-line Gilbert and Sullivan Archive, Gilbert and Sullivan Discography and Edward German Discography websites.
Past articles published in the print editions of On Stage include:-
- ‘Are There Any More at Home Like You?’ (Summer 2009, p.30)
- ‘W.S. Gilbert Makes the Music’ (Autumn 2009, p.7)
- ‘Sir Seymour Remembers Dame Nellie’ (Autumn 2010, p.8)
- ‘Remembering Nichols Remembering Melba’ (Spring 2011, p.9)
In addition Rob collaborated on the research into the background of local Music Hall singer, ‘Syria Lamonte’ (Summer 2010, p.5), as outlined in ‘The Search for Syria’ (Autumn 2010, p. 17); provided the footnotes to ‘Richard Watson: “a molasses of a bass”’ (Spring 2009, p.35 & Summer 2010, p.40.) and researched the discography for ‘Richard Watson’s Recorded Legacy’ (Spring 2011, p.18.)
Written by Roland Rocchiccioli
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Roland Rocchiccioli AustraliaThis year, 2024, marks 58-years in the theatre. It has taken Roland to places he never imagined: Moscow, Shanghai, London, New York, Rome, Paris — even Uzbekistan. He has done 14-plays with Googie Withers, and 12 with Frank Thring. He has worked at ABC and The Playhouse, Perth; the Community Theatre, Killara; Melbourne Theatre Company; Harry M Miller Attractions; and Bill Kenwright Productions, London. He is probably best-known for his unlikely on-screen shenanigans with Sam Newman for the AFL Footy Show. It was, he said: “the best decision of my life. It introduced me to a vast audience whom I would never have met. It was such a joy for ten-years! I relished every moment.”
Written by Roland Rocchiccioli
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Roland Rocchiccioli Australia
This year, 2024, marks 58-years in the theatre. It has taken Roland to places he never imagined: Moscow, Shanghai, London, New York, Rome, Paris — even Uzbekistan. He has done 14-plays with Googie Withers, and 12 with Frank Thring. He has worked at ABC and The Playhouse, Perth; the Community Theatre, Killara; Melbourne Theatre Company; Harry M Miller Attractions; and Bill Kenwright Productions, London. He is probably best-known for his unlikely on-screen shenanigans with Sam Newman for the AFL Footy Show. It was, he said: “the best decision of my life. It introduced me to a vast audience whom I would never have met. It was such a joy for ten-years! I relished every moment.”
Written by Kurt Gänzl
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Kurt Gänzl New Zealand
Kurt is one of the most important chroniclers of the world’s history of music and theatre. His numerous works on the subject include The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre (1994, 2001), The British Musical Theatre (1986), The Musical: a concise history (1997), Gänzl’s Book of the Musical Theatre (1988), Victorian Vocalists (2018) and biographies of such artists as Lydia Thompson (2002), Willie Gill (2002), Emily Soldene (In Search of a Singer, 2007), and Gilbert & Sullivan, the Players and the Plays (October 2021). Forthcoming works include an update of the 2007 University textbook, and a translation of the Rapsodies of Petrus Borel with his brother, poet John Gallas.
Written by Nick Murphy
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Nick Murphy AustraliaAs the grandson of Melbourne theatre architect Gordon Murphy, Nick Murphy grew up with a fascination for all things theatrical. A teacher and Assistant Principal for many years, he also worked at Melbourne Museum and in educational settings in China, and tutored pre-service teachers at the University of Melbourne. He has lived most of his life just a few streets from Daphne Pollard's birthplace in Fitzroy. The children of Pollard’s Lilliputian Opera Company remain an ongoing interest. forgottenaustralianactresses.com