Colin Lane
Encyclopedia
Colin Stuart Lane is a comedian and actor, best known for being one-half of former comedy duo, Lano and Woodley.
as part of the duo Lano and Woodley for a period of almost 20 years. The two met through theatresports
in the mid-1980s and first performed together at an open mike
night at the Prince Patrick Hotel in Collingwood
, Victoria in 1987 along with their friend Scott Casley, calling themselves the Found Objects. Over the next six years, the trio performed in venues throughout Australia and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. They became semi-regulars on ABC TV
's The Big Gig
, a show known for boosting the careers of new comedy acts, had their own commercial radio show for six months and were part of the short-lived Seven Network
sketch show The Comedy Sale. When in 1992 Casley moved away to Alice Springs, Woodley and Lane decided to continue as a duo, drawing their name from childhood nicknames.
As Lano and Woodley, the two adopt humorous onstage personas, with Woodley playing a "goofy innocent" who is frequently bullied by Lane's pompous, controlling character. Their first show as a comedy duo, "Fence", debuted in 1993. It toured throughout Australia, winning the Moosehead Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
for best act and was eventually taken the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1994, where it won the prestigious Perrier Comedy Award. Subsequent live productions have included "Curtains", "Glitzy", "Slick", "Bruiser", "The Island" and their 2006 farewell show, "Goodbye". In 2000, they co-hosted the televised Melbourne Comedy Gala.
Woodley and Lane have created two television shows together. The Adventures of Lano and Woodley
, which premiered on the ABC in 1997, was a comedy series which featured the duo living together in a fictional suburban Melbourne
flat and frequently getting into trouble. It aired for two seasons, becoming the first Australian show to be sold to the BBC
and airing in 38 other countries. Although they were offered the opportunity to make the series in England, the pair decided to remain in Australia because they did not want to live in London. In 2004 their live show, The Island, was filmed as a TV special and aired on The Comedy Channel
. The duo have also released an album, Lano & Woodley Sing Songs
, and a novel, Housemeeting.
In 2006, after close to 20 years of working together, Woodley and Lane decided to part ways. Woodley states the split was due to a desire to pursue new challenges. "We just got to the stage where we felt we had to make a decision," he says. "Either we were going to spend the next 20 years doing this, this'd be our career, our lives forever. And that wouldn't have been a terrible thing. Or we could go, 'Let's have a bit more variety in our lives'." In one final tour, the duo travelled through 37 Australian cities with their farewell show, "Goodbye".
for the Melbourne Theatre Company
, followed by a season with the Sydney Theatre Company
. In 2008, he was cast as Pooh-Bah in Essgee Productions' The Mikado
.
Lane wrote and performed a solo cabaret show, I'm Not Sure About the Music, about a man who loses the music and finds it again. He performed it in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
in 2009 and again for a limited return season in 2010.
He has made numerous appearances on Australian television, having had guest appearances on Good News Week
, Spicks and Specks, Welcher & Welcher
, Thank God You're Here
and Neighbours
. He has also been a presenter for two Nine Network
shows, Wine Me, Dine Me and Kings of Comedy. His film credits include Jimeoin
's 2005 movie The Extra
, in which he played a movie extra, Danny, and the short film White Lines.
In 2011, Lane was a fill in host on The Circle
for both Gorgi Coghlan
(early 2011) and Chrissie Swan
(late 2011) while they both took maternity leave. Also in 2011, it was announced that Lane will host Ready Steady Cook replacing Peter Everett
from June.
Lano and Woodley
Lane performed with fellow comedian Frank WoodleyFrank Woodley
Frank Woodley is an Australian comedian who is best known for his work alongside Colin Lane as part of the comedic duo, Lano and Woodley. The two performed together for almost 20 years in live shows, a television series and an album of comedic songs, before deciding to pursue individual careers...
as part of the duo Lano and Woodley for a period of almost 20 years. The two met through theatresports
Theatresports
Theatresports is a form of improvisational theatre, which uses the format of a competition for dramatic effect. Opposing teams can perform scenes based on audience suggestions, with ratings by the audience or by a panel of judges...
in the mid-1980s and first performed together at an open mike
Open mike
An open mike or open mic is a live show where audience members may perform at the microphone. Usually, the performers sign up in advance for a time slot with the host or master of ceremonies. These events can be focused on poetry and the spoken word, music, comedy, and the open format of open...
night at the Prince Patrick Hotel in Collingwood
Collingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
, Victoria in 1987 along with their friend Scott Casley, calling themselves the Found Objects. Over the next six years, the trio performed in venues throughout Australia and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. They became semi-regulars on ABC TV
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
's The Big Gig
The Big Gig
The Big Gig was a popular Australian television comedy series based on the British TV series Saturday Live. It was produced and broadcast by the ABC in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was produced and directed by Ted Robinson, who started his career as the director of the second series of the...
, a show known for boosting the careers of new comedy acts, had their own commercial radio show for six months and were part of the short-lived Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
sketch show The Comedy Sale. When in 1992 Casley moved away to Alice Springs, Woodley and Lane decided to continue as a duo, drawing their name from childhood nicknames.
As Lano and Woodley, the two adopt humorous onstage personas, with Woodley playing a "goofy innocent" who is frequently bullied by Lane's pompous, controlling character. Their first show as a comedy duo, "Fence", debuted in 1993. It toured throughout Australia, winning the Moosehead Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks in April typically opening on or around April Fool's Day...
for best act and was eventually taken the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1994, where it won the prestigious Perrier Comedy Award. Subsequent live productions have included "Curtains", "Glitzy", "Slick", "Bruiser", "The Island" and their 2006 farewell show, "Goodbye". In 2000, they co-hosted the televised Melbourne Comedy Gala.
Woodley and Lane have created two television shows together. The Adventures of Lano and Woodley
The Adventures of Lano and Woodley
The Adventures of Lano and Woodley is an Australian comedy television show starring the comedic duo of Lano and Woodley , consisting of two series which aired on ABC TV from 1997 to 1999...
, which premiered on the ABC in 1997, was a comedy series which featured the duo living together in a fictional suburban Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
flat and frequently getting into trouble. It aired for two seasons, becoming the first Australian show to be sold to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and airing in 38 other countries. Although they were offered the opportunity to make the series in England, the pair decided to remain in Australia because they did not want to live in London. In 2004 their live show, The Island, was filmed as a TV special and aired on The Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel is an Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television.-History:...
. The duo have also released an album, Lano & Woodley Sing Songs
Lano & Woodley Sing Songs
Lano & Woodley Sing Songs is the live 2005 album by the Australian comedy duo, Lano & Woodley.The album was recorded at a show the pair did in August 2005 at the HIFI Bar in Melbourne, and features many visual jokes that the listener is unable to identify, which was joked at several times during...
, and a novel, Housemeeting.
In 2006, after close to 20 years of working together, Woodley and Lane decided to part ways. Woodley states the split was due to a desire to pursue new challenges. "We just got to the stage where we felt we had to make a decision," he says. "Either we were going to spend the next 20 years doing this, this'd be our career, our lives forever. And that wouldn't have been a terrible thing. Or we could go, 'Let's have a bit more variety in our lives'." In one final tour, the duo travelled through 37 Australian cities with their farewell show, "Goodbye".
Solo work
Since Lano and Woodley's farewell tour, Lane has appeared in Don's PartyDon's Party
Don's Party is a 1971 play by David Williamson set during the 1969 Australian federal election. The film based on the play was entered into the 27th Berlin International Film Festival.-Plot:...
for the Melbourne Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne. Founded in 1953, it is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia, and has its own theatre, The MTC Theatre – which houses the 500-seat Sumner Theatre and the 150-seat Lawler Studio – located in Melbourne's Arts...
, followed by a season with the Sydney Theatre Company
Sydney Theatre Company
The Sydney Theatre Company is one of Australia's best-known theatre companies operating from The Wharf Theatre near The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Sydney Theatre and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre....
. In 2008, he was cast as Pooh-Bah in Essgee Productions' The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
.
Lane wrote and performed a solo cabaret show, I'm Not Sure About the Music, about a man who loses the music and finds it again. He performed it in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks in April typically opening on or around April Fool's Day...
in 2009 and again for a limited return season in 2010.
He has made numerous appearances on Australian television, having had guest appearances on Good News Week
Good News Week
Good News Week is an Australian satirical panel game show hosted by Paul McDermott that initially aired from 19 April 1996 to 27 May 2000, and resumed on 11 February 2008 to 9 May 2011. The show aired first on ABC TV before it was bought by Network Ten in 1999...
, Spicks and Specks, Welcher & Welcher
Welcher & Welcher
Welcher & Welcher was an Australian sitcom written by and starring Shaun Micallef which aired on the ABC in 2003. The show revolved around a husband and wife run law firm.-Regular Cast:...
, Thank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here is an Australian television improvised comedy program created by Working Dog Productions, which premiered on Network Ten on 5 April 2006, and aired for the first three seasons with Seven for the fourth season...
and Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
. He has also been a presenter for two Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
shows, Wine Me, Dine Me and Kings of Comedy. His film credits include Jimeoin
Jimeoin
Jimeoin McKeown, who performs under the name Jimeoin , is a stand-up comedian and actor from Northern Ireland. He came to public attention between 2005 and 2008 while performing an "over the top" comedy tour Australia's outback and major cities, which was filmed for the BBC Northern Ireland...
's 2005 movie The Extra
The Extra
The Extra is a 2005 Australian film starring Irish comedian Jimeoin.-Plot:Jimeoin, in the title role, plays a man obsessed with becoming famous. He is passionate about being a celebrity, but unfortunately he just isn't very talented...
, in which he played a movie extra, Danny, and the short film White Lines.
In 2011, Lane was a fill in host on The Circle
The Circle (TV program)
-Music from The Circle:Music from The Circle is a compilation album featuring 38 songs chosen by the hosts of The Circle. The album includes a special song recorded by hosts Denise Drysdale, Chrissie Swan, Yumi Stynes and Gorgi Coghlan titled "Circle Song"...
for both Gorgi Coghlan
Gorgi Coghlan
Gorgi Coghlan is an Australian television presenter, best known as co-host of Network Ten's morning show The Circle.-Personal Life:...
(early 2011) and Chrissie Swan
Chrissie Swan
Chrissie Swan is an Australian radio and television personality. In 2003, she gained fame in her country as the runner-up of Big Brother Australia on Network Ten...
(late 2011) while they both took maternity leave. Also in 2011, it was announced that Lane will host Ready Steady Cook replacing Peter Everett
Peter Everett
Peter Everett is an Australian television host. He hosted the Australian adaptation of cook show Ready Steady Cook on Network Ten. He is known for appearing on Changing Rooms which aired on the Nine Network in 1998. He also took part in the reality figure skating series Skating on Thin Ice in...
from June.