Philip Quast Biography

Born Tamworth NWS Australia 1957

Philip Quast began his career at the State Theatre Company of South Australia, having graduated from Australia's premiere drama school, NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts), in 1979. His extensive career has included work with prestigious Australian theatre stalwarts such as the Sydney, Melbourne and Nimrod Theatre Companies. He appeared in The Mystery Plays of Wakefield as Adam, On The Wallaby, No End of Blame, The Threepenny Opera, as the Narrator, A Hard God as Jack, As You Like It as Orlando, Pericles as Gower, and A Month In The Country. His other Australian theatre credits include Candide, Shark Infested Waters, Song of the Selchies as Flysche, Carmen - Another Perspective and The Marriage/Hamlet as Henry/Laertes. Philip shot to prominence in 1987 as Javert in the original Australian production of Les Misérables, a towering performance which won him a Sydney Theatre Critics Award and a Mo Award.

Philip relocated to London in 1989 to play Javert on the West End stage and was chosen to sing on the international Bio picturecast recording with the London Symphony Orchestra. He also joined the 'Dream Cast' as Javert in the 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in October 1995 and 1998 saw one final performance in the famous role for Hey, Mr. Producer! a concert honouring producer Cameron Mackintosh.

The year 1990 saw another return to Australia for Paris a rock opera, based on the ancient legend of Troy.was written by Jon English in conjunction with UK/Australian producer David Mackay, perfomed in concert (Patroclus). In August the same year, he also performed the role of Andrew Makepeace Ladd, III in A.R.Gurney's play Love Letters at Sydney's Opera House.

Now based in England, Philip won acclaim and an Olivier Award for his performance as George in Stephen Sondheim's Sunday In The Park With George at the Royal National Theatre in 1990. His other West End credits include The Hunting of the Snark and St Joan (1993) which also toured.

In 1993, Philip returned to Australia, playing Aufidius in Gale Edwards' production of Coriolanus and The Wolf/Cinderella's Prince in Sondheim's Into The Woods, for the Sydney Theatre Company, for which he won a second Sydney Critics Award and two Mo Awards. He also returned again in1995 to play Dr Neville Craven in the musical of The Secret Garden. .

For the Royal Shakespeare Company in the UK, he has appeared in A Christmas Carol (London 1994) performing Fred/Chorus, and Love's Labours Lost (1995) as the King of Navarre. 1996 and 1997 saw Philip spend a season with the RSC, in Stratford and London, which included The White Devil (Lodovico), Macbeth (Banquo), and Troilus and Cressida (Achilles).

In 1997 he appeared in the new musical The Fix at the Donmar Warehouse with American Beauty director Sam Mendes, for producer Cameron Mackintosh. His performance as the tortured Grahame Chandler earned him a second Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Philip's film credits include Emoh Ruo, Around the World in 80 Ways, To Market, To Market and Napoleon. He has also appeared in the telemovies Army Wives, The First Kangaroos and The Fall. Television credits include Playschool, the mini series Colour in the Creek, Flight Into Hell, Cassidy (with Martin Shaw), Fields of Fire, Brides of Christ, Flight into Hell, Police Rescue, Patrol Boat, a number of Australian dramas and a featured role as General Cornelius in the US mini-series Cleopatra, with Timothy Dalton, Sean Pertwee and Billy Zane, for the Hallmark Channel. He also thrilled Australian television audiences in his role as The Minister in the ABC's AFI Award-winning drama series, The Damnation of Harvey McHugh.

In the UK he appeared in the television series All Good Friends and The Governor (Series 2) with Janet McTeer (1996) and in Inspector Morse: The Wench is Dead. Philip revealed yet another side to his versatility as former priest turned modern-day vampire-hunter, Pearse J Harman, in the critically-acclaimed sci-fi drama series Ultraviolet (1998) with Jack Davenport, Susannah Harker and Corin Regrave.

Other musical achievements include an appearance in Once In A Blue Moon, a celebration of Australian musicals with ABC TV; The Stars Come Out - a concert to open the 2000 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras; and the Night of 1000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall, celebrating 100 years of Britain's National Operatic and Dramatic Association.

The year 2000 saw another return to Australia for the Henson Company's all-new version of the JM Barrie classic, PAN (Captain Hook) and to the Sydney Theatre Company and director Gale Edwards, playing Francisco this time, in The White Devil, with Hugo Weaving, as part of the Sydney Olympics Arts Festival. No sooner completed, it was back to the UK for the hugely successful RSC production of The Secret Garden, in the lead role of Archibald Craven, a touching performance which won him praise from critics and audiences alike.

In the latter part of 2001, Philip joined Robson Green and Cassidy co-star Caroline Goodall in the UK telemovie Me & Mrs Jones and flew to Sydney to film a six-part ABC comedy, Corridors of Power, before launching into his compelling role as Emile DeBeque in South Pacific with the Royal National Theatre and director Trevor Nunn. His inspiring performance in the production, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of composers Rogers & Hammerstein, has earned him a third Olivier Award, making him the first actor to receive three awards in this category.

June 2002 Philip performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra and other guests on Radio 2 in Oh What A Beautiful Evening! a Friday Night is Music Night "A Richard Rodgers gala in celebration of the centenary of his birth". Also in August 2002 he accepted the invitation by Donmar Warehouse to take part in the Divas at the Donmar season. In this specially created performance for the Donmar's stage, Philip sang new, unheard and unrecorded music and lyrics written especially for him by some of the best songwriters - as well as some more familiar standards. His outstanding performance receiving critical acclaim.

Through February and March 2003 Philip returned to Melbourne, Australia once again, were he played the lead role (Martin) in the Edward Albee play The Goat or Who is Sylvia?. He then returned to London to take part 2003 concert performance of The Night of 1000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall, celebrating the multi-award-winning productions of Trevor Nunn.

Summer/Autumn 2003 Philip played the role of Antonio in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice and of Trigorin in Chekhov's The Seagull at the Chichester Festival Theatre in West Sussex, England. Both plays and performance were wonderfully received by the critic.

In 2004 Philip played the small role of Ross Villiars in a Christmas TV special of Midsomer Murders, 'The Ghost of Christmas Past' being aired in UK. In March he enjoyed taking part and completing a two week workshop on David Hare's new play. It was great to hear all that hard work paid off when he was later rewarded with a number of small parts including the role of George Tenet in Stuff Happens. Philip also played the role of the vain Miles Gloriosus, with much swagger in Stephen Sondheims' comedy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum as part of London's National Theatre Travelex Season.

In 2005, Philip appeared as himself teaching a Masterclass at the Royal Academy of Music, London, on the Channel 4 TV programme 'H' Side Story.

Also, in 2005, Philip was back in Australia to perform as The Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt in the Sydney Theatre Company's production of Michael Frayn's Democracy. He was nominated for a Mo Award in the Best Male Actor category. From December to February, 2006, Philip was cast as Lopkhin in Chekov's Cherry Orchard for the Sydney Theatre Company. Again, he was nominated for a Mo Award for Best Actor in Lead Role.

While in Australia, Philip played small roles in two movies, Clubland, starring Brenda Blethyn and Caterpillar Wish, as Carl Roberts.

2006, found Philip back in London, appearing in a small role, Clayton Jones in Holby City, the BBC1 medical drama series. In June 2006 to June 2007, Philip performed the role of Juan Peron, in the West End revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's, Evita, for which he received fantastic reviews. He also performed the role of Ben Stone in the Charity Gala performance of Stephen Sondheims' Follies in aid of Starlight Children's Foundation and Kingston Hospital Cancer Unit Appeal on the 4th February 2007.

In May 2007 Philip took part in the memorial at the National Theatre, London to celebration of the life and work of the director Steven Pimlott, who Philip was both fortunate and blessed to not only have worked with once but twice. Also in July 2007 Philip perfomed the part of Judge in the concert verion of Stephen Sondheim's 'Sweeney Todd' at the Royal Festival Hall, London.

Since November 2007 he has been performing the role of Georges the ever supporting, loving and exasperated partner of Albin in 'La Cage Aux Folles', at The Menier Chocolate Factory, London.

Also at present in his spare time when not performing he is studying and learning the piece 'Tsunami' by Dominic Muldowney for the concert with BBC Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, at the Barbican on Friday 9th May 2008.

Philip is happily married and the father of three sons. As he is a very private person who wishes to offer his family as 'normal' a life as possible, we will not answer questions about his children, his wife, or other personal matters. We hope you understand, and will respect his desire to keep his family out of the spotlight.


[UPDATES] [BIOGRAPHY] [ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS ] [ STAGE ]

[ FILM & TV ][AUDIO/VIDEO ] [ LINKS] [SCRAPBOOK] [ HOME ]


© Kate McCullugh & Angela Pollard 1997 - 2008. No portion of this page may be copied without permission of the author.