Philip Quast
Encyclopedia
Philip Quast is an Australian actor perhaps best known for his role as Inspector Javert
in the stage musical version of Les Misérables
, or for appearances in numerous Australian soap operas including Sons and Daughters
, The Young Doctors
and Police Rescue
.
, New South Wales, Australia, but currently lives in Great Britain. He is married and has three children. Quast also teaches at the National Institute of Dramatic Art
in Sydney, Australia.
in Great Britain and Australia, as well as in Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall
, on the Les Misérables Complete Symphonic Recording, and in Hey, Mr. Producer
, a concert in honour of Sir Cameron Mackintosh
.
He has thrice won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical:
Quast co-starred in the musical version of The Secret Garden
opposite another famous Australian actor, Anthony Warlow
. Though mainly a baritone, Quast has played some roles written for tenors, namely George (see above), Candide
, and Neville in The Secret Garden
. Although he is known for his serious roles, he has also performed comedic parts, such as his 2004 appearance as the pompous Miles Gloriosus in a limited run revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
at the Royal National Theatre
.
Philip Quast more recently played the supporting role of Juan Peron
in Andrew Lloyd Webber
's 2006 production of Evita at the Adelphi Theatre
in London. He was nominated for but did not win an Olivier award for this role.
In July 2007, Quast performed the role of Judge Turpin in a concert version of Sweeney Todd
at London's Royal Festival Hall
.
Quast was most recently in the Menier Chocolate Factory
production of Jerry Herman
's La Cage aux Folles as Georges.
Quast rejoined the cast of La Cage Aux Folles on 4 May 2009 with Roger Allam
. Coincidentally, both actors have performed in the role of Javert in Les Misérables
.
From July 2010, Quast played Mr Banks in the Australian premiere production of Mary Poppins
at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre. He won the 2010 Victorian Green Room Award (Melbourne's top theatre awards) for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance.
Javert
Javert is a fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. He is a prison guard, and later policeman, who devotes his life to the law. He is always referred to just simply as "Javert" or "Inspector Javert" by the narrator and other characters throughout the novel; his first name...
in the stage musical version of Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
, or for appearances in numerous Australian soap operas including Sons and Daughters
Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series)
Sons and Daughters was a Logie Award winning Australian soap opera created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation between 1981 and 1987. The first episode aired in December 1981, during the Christmas/New Year non-ratings period, and the official broadcast date of the final...
, The Young Doctors
The Young Doctors
The Young Doctors is an Australian early evening soap opera. The series was set in the fictional Albert Memorial hospital and primarily concerned with romances between younger members of the hospital staff, screened on the Nine Network from Monday, 8 November 1976 until Wednesday, 30 March...
and Police Rescue
Police Rescue
Police Rescue was an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC....
.
Personal life
Quast was born in 1957 in TamworthTamworth, New South Wales
Tamworth is a city in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Peel River, Tamworth, which contains an estimated population of 47,595 people, is the major regional centre for southern New England and in the local government area of Tamworth Regional Council. The city...
, New South Wales, Australia, but currently lives in Great Britain. He is married and has three children. Quast also teaches at the National Institute of Dramatic Art
National Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
in Sydney, Australia.
Musical theatre
Quast played the part of Javert in Les MisérablesLes Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
in Great Britain and Australia, as well as in Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, on the Les Misérables Complete Symphonic Recording, and in Hey, Mr. Producer
Hey, Mr. Producer
Hey, Mr. Producer! was a concert honoring theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh, performed as a benefit for the Royal National Institute of the Blind and the Combined Theatrical Charities....
, a concert in honour of Sir Cameron Mackintosh
Cameron Mackintosh
Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh is a British theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "the most successful, influential and powerful theatrical producer in the world" by the New York...
.
He has thrice won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical:
- 1991: for Stephen SondheimStephen SondheimStephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
's Sunday in the Park with GeorgeSunday in the Park with GeorgeSunday in the Park with George is a 1984 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. The musical was inspired by the painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" by Georges Seurat...
in the role of George Seurat - 1998: for the Dempsey and RoweDempsey and RoweDempsey and Rowe is the musical theatre composition team of Ohioans John Dempsey and Dana P. Rowe . They have completed four shows to-date: The Reluctant Dragon, Zombie Prom The Fix and The Witches of Eastwick .-Update:As of August 2005, an independent film production of Zombie Prom, starring...
musical The FixThe Fix (musical)The Fix is a musical with book and lyrics by John Dempsey and music by Dana P. Rowe. It concerns the career of a fictional U.S. politician who gets mixed up with the Mafia.It premiered at London's Donmar Warehouse in 1997.-Production history:...
as Grahame Chandler - 2002: for Rodgers and HammersteinRodgers and HammersteinRichard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were a well-known American songwriting duo, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during what is considered the golden age of the medium...
's South PacificSouth Pacific (musical)South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, weaving together characters and elements from several of its...
in which he played Emille de Becque
Quast co-starred in the musical version of The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden (musical)
The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical's book and lyrics are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon...
opposite another famous Australian actor, Anthony Warlow
Anthony Warlow
Anthony Warlow is an Australian opera and musical theatre performer, noted for his character acting and considerable vocal range ....
. Though mainly a baritone, Quast has played some roles written for tenors, namely George (see above), Candide
Candide (operetta)
Candide is an operetta with music composed by Leonard Bernstein, based on the novella of the same name by Voltaire. The operetta was first performed in 1956 with a libretto by Lillian Hellman; but since 1974 it has been generally performed with a book by Hugh Wheeler which is more faithful to...
, and Neville in The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden (musical)
The Secret Garden is a musical based on the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical's book and lyrics are by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon...
. Although he is known for his serious roles, he has also performed comedic parts, such as his 2004 appearance as the pompous Miles Gloriosus in a limited run revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart....
at the Royal National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
.
Philip Quast more recently played the supporting role of Juan Peron
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
in Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
's 2006 production of Evita at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
in London. He was nominated for but did not win an Olivier award for this role.
In July 2007, Quast performed the role of Judge Turpin in a concert version of Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd (musical)
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1979 musical thriller with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and libretto by Hugh Wheeler. The musical is based on the 1973 play Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Christopher Bond....
at London's Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
.
Quast was most recently in the Menier Chocolate Factory
Menier Chocolate Factory
The Menier Chocolate Factory is an award-winning 180 seat fringe studio theatre, restaurant and gallery. It is located in a former 1870s Menier Chocolate Company factory in Southwark Street, a major street in the London Borough of Southwark, central south London, England. The theatre stages plays...
production of Jerry Herman
Jerry Herman
Jerry Herman is an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway musical theater. He composed the scores for the hit Broadway musicals Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles. He has been nominated for the Tony Award five times, and won twice, for Hello, Dolly! and La Cage...
's La Cage aux Folles as Georges.
Quast rejoined the cast of La Cage Aux Folles on 4 May 2009 with Roger Allam
Roger Allam
Roger Allam is an English actor, known primarily for his stage career, although he has performed in film and television. He played Inspector Javert in the original London production of the stage musical Les Misérables....
. Coincidentally, both actors have performed in the role of Javert in Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
.
From July 2010, Quast played Mr Banks in the Australian premiere production of Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins (musical)
Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P. L. Travers and the Disney 1964 film. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre...
at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre. He won the 2010 Victorian Green Room Award (Melbourne's top theatre awards) for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance.
Recordings
Philip Quast has appeared in the cast recordings for many musicals, but has also released his own album, Live at the Donmar, containing both covers and original material.Other work
Quast has also made numerous appearances on television and the big screen. Major roles include:- The Devil's DoubleThe Devil's DoubleThe Devil's Double is a 2011 drama film directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Dominic Cooper, Philip Quast, Ludivine Sagnier and Raad Rawi. It was released on January 22, 2011 at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was released in limited theaters on July 29, 2011 by Lionsgate and Herrick...
(2011); Saddam HusseinSaddam HusseinSaddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003... - Clubland (2007)
- The Caterpillar WishThe Caterpillar WishThe Caterpillar Wish is a 2006 Australian coming-of-age film, directed by Sandra Sciberras and starring and ensemble cast including Victoria Thaine, Susie Porter and Philip Quast. It was filmed in and around Robe, South Australia...
(2006); Carl Roberts - Me & Mrs Jones (2002) (TV); Richard Bowden
- Corridors of PowerCorridors of Power (TV series)Corridors of Power is an Australian television mockumentary series that first screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2001....
(2001) (TV); Michael Fielding MP - UltravioletUltraviolet (TV serial)Ultraviolet is a 1998 British television serial written and directed by Joe Ahearne and starring Jack Davenport, Susannah Harker, Idris Elba and Philip Quast. It was produced by World Productions for Channel 4.-Synopsis:...
(1998) (TV); Father Pearse Harman - NapoleonNapoleon (1995 film)Napoleon is a 1995 Australian film directed by Mario Andreacchio, and written by Mark Saltzman about a golden retriever puppy who runs away from his city home to the wild dogs.- Plot :...
(1995); Birdo - The Damnation of Harvey McHughThe Damnation of Harvey McHughThe Damnation of Harvey McHugh is a television miniseries made by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series consists of 12 episodes and was first broadcast on the ABC in 1994.-Cast and crew:...
(ABC-TV, 1995); The Minister - The First KangaroosThe First KangaroosThe First Kangaroos is a 1988 British–Australian made for TV sports film directed by Frank Cvitanovich and starring Dennis Waterman, Chris Haywood and Dominic Sweeney. It depicts the first-ever rugby league tour of England by the Australian national team, the 1908-09 Kangaroos...
(1988); Alex BurdonAlex BurdonAlexander "Alex" Burdon was a pioneer Australian rugby league and rugby union footballer - a dual-code rugby international.... - Sons and DaughtersSons and Daughters (Australian TV series)Sons and Daughters was a Logie Award winning Australian soap opera created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation between 1981 and 1987. The first episode aired in December 1981, during the Christmas/New Year non-ratings period, and the official broadcast date of the final...
(Grundy Television Production) ; Bob 'Mitch' Mitchell (1984-TV) - The Young DoctorsThe Young DoctorsThe Young Doctors is an Australian early evening soap opera. The series was set in the fictional Albert Memorial hospital and primarily concerned with romances between younger members of the hospital staff, screened on the Nine Network from Monday, 8 November 1976 until Wednesday, 30 March...
(Grundy Television Production) ; Dr Rob Hawkins (1982-1983-TV) - Play SchoolPlay School (Australian TV series)Play School is an Australian educational television show for children produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It is the longest-running children's show in Australia, and the second longest running childrens show in the world. An estimated 80% of pre-school children under six watch the...
(1981–1996)