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Regarded by many as the definitive Inspector Javert in Les Misérables, Philip Quast received tremendous acclaim for his performance in the Tenth Anniversary Concert, thrilling audiences world wide with his rich baritone voice and sympathetic portrayal of a man obsessed.
Born the son of a Tamworth, New South Wales, farmer, Philip trained at Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art and strange as it may seem never had a singing lesson in his life!
After graduating, Philip performed in many plays for the South Australian, Melbourne and Nimrod theater companies. He has appeared in numerous Australian TV series, telemovies and feature films, as well as being a regular presenter on Play School for many years. In the UK he has recently completed two seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Chosen to play Javert in the original 1987 Sydney production of Les Mis (for which he won both a Critics and a MO Award) he then traveled with the role throughout Australia and New Zealand before arriving in the West End in 1989 and Manchester in 1992 (where he notched up his 1000th performance).
During his stint at London's Palace Theatre, Philip was selected to play the title role in the British premiere of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George at the National, for which he won his first Olivier Award in 1991. He subsequently recreated the role of The Bellman in Mike Batt's production of The Hunting of the Snark at The Prince Edward Theatre, a part he had originally played in the Australian concert version. Although the musical was generally poorly received, Philip himself attracted good reviews.
Last year he created the role of Grahame Chandler in the world premiere of The Fix at the Donmar Warehouse for which he received a second Olivier Award (I well remember the Editor's rave review of this show in 'Curtain Up' and his prediction that it would earn Philip an award).
Musical theater credits in Australia include Into the Woods and The Secret Garden and it was whilst playing in the latter that he flew back to London especially to perform in the 1995 Les Mis birthday concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
Philip also appears on the CD of the Hey, Mr. Producer! concert and you can see him as Javert on the video of the concert and when the event is shown on TV later in the year.
(Thanks to Carol for sending in the article)
(*) "Curtain Up" is the Newsletter of SMASH (The Stage Musical Appreciation Society). Please contact the editor, David Thomas, for further details.
