STAGES Episode 553: DEBRA BYRNE Pt1

Easily lauded as one of Australia’s greatest entertainers, Debra Byrne commenced her career as a child star making her television debut on Brian and the Juniors, a children's variety and talent quest, in 1969. 

In April 1971 she became an original cast member on Young Talent Time. Byrne proved to be a popular cast member: going on to win the Logie Award for Best Teenage Personality and the TV Week Queen of Pop Award. 

Before leaving the Young Talent Time regular cast, Byrne released her first solo single in 1974, He’s a Rebel. Her debut album, She’s a Rebel was released in the same year. 

Byrne's follow-up single was a second Crystals cover, Da Doo Ron Ron, in 1975. In that year she won both the Logie Award for Best Teenage Personality and the TV Week Queen of Pop Award for a second time. Byrne travelled to London to record at Abbey Road Studios with Cliff Richard producing. While in London, she made public and TV appearances, including on The Cliff Richard Show.

Returning to Australia she made guest appearances on every major Tonight Show and was a regular performer on the ABC series, The Saturday Show. In 1979 she merged singing with acting for the first time on the ABC’s TV Follies series, eventually co-starring alongside John Farnham in their own series, Farnham and Byrne. 

In 1985 she starred as Kathy McLeod, opposite Matt Dillon in the feature film, Rebel. She was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role for the performance. Byrne sang lead vocals on nine of ten tracks on the soundtrack album. 

On the stage Byrne is responsible for some of the most dynamic interpretations of characters that have become iconic in the music theatre cannon. Her Grisabella in Cats (1985), her Fantine in Les Misérables (1987) and her Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (1996) have been heralded as master classes of the form. Vivid and visceral renditions that were delivered with enormous heart, powerhouse vocals and poignant fragility.

Further triumphs on the musical theatre stage include Jerry’s Girls, Metro Street, Minefields and Miniskirts, Follies, Hot Shoe Shuffle, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Little Me and La Cage Aux Folles.

Her cabaret work includes writing, directing, choreographing and starring in Girls, Girls, Girls, a celebration of female vocalists including Cilla Black and Dusty Springfield, and Caught in the Act Again, which included both showtunes and some original material. She has also toured with Visa Bull in their Carole King tribute show Tapestry.

In late 2006 her autobiography, Not Quite Ripe: A Memoir, was published on Pan Macmillan. 

In 2010 she played the role of the Bird Woman in the original Australian production of the stage musical, Mary Poppins at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre. She reprised the role in its Sydney run at the Capitol Theatre. And in 2019 she played the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Extensive television work has included Fat Tony & Co. portraying Judy Moran, Upper Middle Bogan, Cop Shop, Home and Away, Tricky Business and The Secret Life of Us.

A consummate artist, Debra returns to the stage in June in a new cabaret show, Feels Like Home.

Debra Byrne’s newest stage outing - Feels Like Home premieres on Friday June 27th at the Odessa Lounge, Leavers Hotel in Creswick, Victoria

You can also catch Feels Like Home on Sat 28th June at The George Lane in St Kilda

With a third show at The Shed Theatre @ The Pig and Whistle, in Main Ridge - on Sunday June 29th 

Bookings and further  information can be found at www.trybooking.com

The S