Queening it over the locals

Bryce Hallett – The Sydney Morning Herald

THE lure of the West End and Broadway remain as seductive as ever for Australian performers. Many of the world’s leading producers are investing in Australian talent, on stage and behind the scenes.

The star of the London production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Tony Sheldon, recently celebrated his 1000th performance as the arch transsexual Bernadette, the role made famous by Terence Stamp in the 1994 film. Sheldon’s performance, alongside Jason Donovan as the conflicted father and drag queen Tick, is considered pivotal to the musical’s success and he is expected to head the Broadway cast when Priscilla opens in New York in 2011.

When Genevieve Lemon congratulated Sheldon on the milestone she asked about the commitment and drive required. “He said, ‘It’s all about maintaining the discipline!’,” says Lemon. “It’s hard work and you have to stay on your toes and inspire but you also need people around you to keep a handle on everything.”

Simon Burke agrees. He recently starred in the Jerry Herman musical La Cage aux Folles on London’s West End, playing the role of George opposite John Barrowman as Albin. It followed appearing in the British premiere of Andrew Bovell’s play When the Rain Stops Falling and a year-long run playing the captain in The Sound of Music at the Palladium. He is reprising that role in Toronto for the next few weeks.

Burke believes British producers and directors respond to “a general fearlessness” in Australian actors. “We have an ability to get on with people and get on with the job, and to be shitloads of fun as well as uncompromising in our work,” he says.