STAGES Episode 602: DELIA HANNAH

Delia Hannah has given us a vast range of powerhouse performances in musical theatre productions globally.

Born and residing in new Zealand, for the most part Delia’s career has been based in Sydney, commencing with a two year engagement in the premier season of LES MISERABLES (Cameron MacIntosh), only to return to play the ill-fated Fantine in the 10th Anniversary Production which had extended seasons in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. She also toured Australasia as a principal soloist in THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER (Really Useful Group,IGM) starring Anthony Warlow and Sarah Brightman. She has played New Zealand and Australian seasons of Willy Russell’s acclaimed musical play BLOOD BROTHERS for which she won a Sydney Circle Critics Award for Best Actress. She has toured New Zealand in Stetson’s production of CHESS in the role of Florence Vassey and again in Melbourne as Svetlana.

Not surprisingly Delia has built a reputation for playing strong, dramatic leading ladies who sing powerful and moving musical theatre Arias! Other roles include Eva Peron in EVITA, Anita in WEST SIDE STORY, Annette (alias Miranda) in Nick Enright’s BEACH BLANKET TEMPEST, Miss Santiago in THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, and Rose Vibert in Lloyd Webber’s favourite musical ASPECTS OF LOVE (RUG),for which she won a “Variety Club Award” and a Mo Award. These awards were awarded to her while she was away starring in the revised Australian version of ASPECTS OF LOVE which toured The UK and opened to raive reviews in London. She toured Australia in the big-top tour of “CATS- RUN AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS” which thrilled outback audiences and earned her a Mo Award nomination for her role as Grizabella, Delia then came to Auckland briefly to play the Baker’s Wife in Stephen Sondheim’s IN TO THE WOODS for The Auckland Theatre Company. She played Glinda in the WIZARD OF OZ for Gordon Frost Organization, just before taking time out from the industry to raise her daughter.

Since then she has appeared in Australia’s popular TV drama ALL SAINTS. delia also appeared many times on popular variety shows such as THE MID DAY SHOW, BERT NEWTON ,HEY HEY IT’S SATURDAY and GOOD MORNING AUSTRALIA.

In 2005 she moved back to Auckland with her husband and daughter and was a guest actor on SHORTLAND STREET and for the prestigious Silo Theatre Company she played Mrs Peachum in THE THREEPENNY OPERA, directed by Michael Hurst and which won “Best Play” in Auckland’s METRO MAGAZINE.

In 2009, Really Useful Group invited Delia to return to Australia to reprise her role as Grizabella in “CATS” for an Australasian tour, then a concert tour of “THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. She has since been nominated for a Greenroom Award and a Helpmann Award for her role as Grizabella. She toured Australia and Asia, Hong Kong Singapore, Taiwan, Manilla and China.

For Christchurch’s New Court Theatre, it was an honour to play Dorothy Richmond in their lavish Premier production of THE GREAT ART WAR. In Melbourne Delia was invited to perform in Stephen Sondheim’s superb review SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM. In Sydney she played Margaret Lord in HIGH SOCIETY at the HayesTheatre. Auckland audiences have most recently seen her play The Bird Lady in MARY POPPINS (Disney/Cameron MacIntosh). She has also starred in MAMMA MIA as Donna Sheridan in a sell-out season at Auckland’s beautiful Civic Theatre.

Delia has a CD titled DOWN STAGE CENTRE.

In 2026, Delia is one of the headliners at the annual Australian Musical Theatre Festival, taking place in Launceston from 20th to 24th May.

www.amtf.org.au

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