STAGES Episode 571: JAMES SMILLIE

James Smillie has captivated audiences over several decades. Commencing his career at the age of 10, as an in-demand boy soprano singing with symphony orchestras and on radio, he continues to charm with his velvet voice on countless commercials, documentary narrations, and audiobooks.

Smillie was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents emigrated to Australia in the early 1950s when Smillie was still a child. He has worked in both Britain and Australia in film, extensively on stage, on television, and with voice work.

Growing up in Perth, he quickly established himself as an actor of note performing with the university graduate company in productions of Hamlet and Mourning Becomes Electra before journeying to the East coast and diversifying work at Channel O as newsreader, booth announcer and host.

While his family remained in Perth, Smillie returned to the United Kingdom to appear in stage roles in London's West End and would divide his time between the UK and Australia for several decades.

In Australia his television work includes roles in Adventure Island, The Magic Circle Club, Homicide, Division 4, Prisoner and as suave Dr Dan Marshall in the 1980s drama series Return to Eden. And in the UK, Red Dwarf, Z-Cars and Highlander.

With J.C. Williamson’s he played the role of Edward Rutledge in 1776, alongside a stellar cast that included Lewis Fiander, Bruce Kerr, Rod McLennan, Bruce Barry and Geraldene Morrow.

On the London stage, his break-out role was as Tony in West Side Story. His presence in the role ensured that Arthur Laurents permitted the show to open in the West End. 

The following years saw him playing leading men in a string of West End productions that included, Henry II in Thomas and The King with a score written by John Williams; Dr. Thomas Barnardo in Ernest Maxim’s Barnardo; Nicos in Kander & Ebb’s Zorba; Georges in Jerry Herman’s La Cage aux Folles at the London Palladium; and also as Fred Graham in Cole Porter’s  Kiss Me Kate with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In 1996 he achieved a dream role as Mack Sennet in the London production of Mack & Mabel, opposite Caroline O’Connor as Mabel Normand. The following decade saw Smillie touring in the UK tour of 42nd Street, playing Julian Marsh, Pastor Manders in Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts for the Perth International Arts Festival, Charles in Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together at the Library Theatre in Manchester, Daddy Warbucks in a touring production of Annie with Su Pollard and as Caesar, in a Sadlers Wells Lost Musicals production of Fanny. He also has a Royal Variety Performance to his credit.

Now settled back in Glasgow, recent years have seen James appear in stage productions at the Traverse Theatre, Oran Mor, and the Pitlochry Festival Theatre; and extensive voice work and associated accolades.

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