Jane Menelaus
Encyclopedia
Jane Menelaus is an Australian actress who trained at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama
in London, England.
plays, The Winter's Tale
with the State Theatre Company of South Australia
in 1987 (at The Playhouse in Adelaide
, South Australia), and Troilus and Cressida
(at the Old Museum Building
in 1989). A fellow cast member, for both these productions, was Geoffrey Rush
.
As well as a busy acting schedule with other plays, Jane Menelaus appeared in an ongoing production of The Importance of Being Earnest
as "Gwendolen Fairfax", with Geoffrey Rush as "John Worthing". The play's popularity is shown in the fact that the production lasted over a period from 1988 to 1992, and was televised by the ABC
.
(as "Gwendolen Fairfax"), The Flying Doctors
, A Country Practice
, A Thousand Skies, Blue Heelers
and Janus
(as "Jenny Hanson), and the television mini-series Robbery Under Arms
.
. They have a daughter, Angelica (born 1992), and a son, James (born 9 September 1995). In 2003 she had surgery for breast cancer.
Central School of Speech and Drama
The Central School of Speech and Drama was founded in London in 1906 by Elsie Fogerty to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for young actors and other students...
in London, England.
Stage
Jane Menelaus has worked a lot with both the South Australian and Melbourne Theatre Companies. Her stage work has included appearance in the ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
plays, The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W...
with the State Theatre Company of South Australia
State Theatre Company of South Australia
The State Theatre Company of South Australia is South Australia's leading professional theatre company. It is based in the Dunstan Playhouse at the Adelaide Festival Centre. The current artistic director is Adam Cook...
in 1987 (at The Playhouse in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia), and Troilus and Cressida
Troilus and Cressida
Troilus and Cressida is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1602. It was also described by Frederick S. Boas as one of Shakespeare's problem plays. The play ends on a very bleak note with the death of the noble Trojan Hector and destruction of the love between Troilus...
(at the Old Museum Building
Old Museum Building, Brisbane
The Old Museum Building is a performance venue in Bowen Hills, Brisbane, Australia.-History:The Old Museum was originally called the Exhibition Building and Concert Hall. It was built in 1891 for the Queensland National Agricultural and Industrial Association after Brisbane's first exhibition...
in 1989). A fellow cast member, for both these productions, was Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Roy Rush is an Australian actor and film producer. He is one of the few people who has won the "Triple Crown of Acting": an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award. He has won one Academy Award for acting , three British Academy Film Awards , two Golden Globe Awards and four Screen...
.
As well as a busy acting schedule with other plays, Jane Menelaus appeared in an ongoing production of The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae in order to escape burdensome social obligations...
as "Gwendolen Fairfax", with Geoffrey Rush as "John Worthing". The play's popularity is shown in the fact that the production lasted over a period from 1988 to 1992, and was televised by the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
.
Television
Television appearances include the play The Importance of Being EarnestThe Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on 14 February 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae in order to escape burdensome social obligations...
(as "Gwendolen Fairfax"), The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
, A Country Practice
A Country Practice
A Country Practice is an Australian television drama series. One of the longest-running of its kind, produced by James Davern of JNP Productions, it ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was produced in ATN-7's production facility at Epping,...
, A Thousand Skies, Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
and Janus
Janus (TV series)
Janus is an Australian drama television series screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1994 and 1995. Two series were produced, with a total of 26 episodes....
(as "Jenny Hanson), and the television mini-series Robbery Under Arms
Robbery Under Arms (1985 film)
Robbery Under Arms Acclaimed actor Sam Neill stars as the suave and enigmatic bushranger Captain Starlight in this lavish action adventure tale set in the rugged Australian outback...
.
Personal life
Since 1988, Jane Menelaus has been married to Geoffrey RushGeoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Roy Rush is an Australian actor and film producer. He is one of the few people who has won the "Triple Crown of Acting": an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award. He has won one Academy Award for acting , three British Academy Film Awards , two Golden Globe Awards and four Screen...
. They have a daughter, Angelica (born 1992), and a son, James (born 9 September 1995). In 2003 she had surgery for breast cancer.
External links
- Jane Menelaus photo and information – "Phoenix" and "Janus" cast
- Jane Menelaus – stage acting credits
- "The Winter's Tale" – The Playhouse, Adelaide (1987)
- "Troilus and Cressida" – Old Museum Building, Brisbane (1989)
- "The Importance of Being Earnest" – (information and photos)
- http://www.ausstage.edu.au/indexdrilldown.jsp?xcid=59&f_event_id=1549, http://www.ausstage.edu.au/indexdrilldown.jsp?xcid=59&f_event_id=12571, http://www.ausstage.edu.au/indexdrilldown.jsp?xcid=59&f_event_id=12850, http://www.ausstage.edu.au/indexdrilldown.jsp?xcid=59&f_event_id=14306, http://www.ausstage.edu.au/indexdrilldown.jsp?xcid=59&f_event_id=13283, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104490/, http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23386563, http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23386407, http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23386638, http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23386627, http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23386551, http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23386505