ACTING AND MUSICAL THEATRE 

Philip has an interest in the “connections” between performance mediums; looking at why actors are great both on screen & theatre, including those multi-skilled from musical theatre. He understands the link & explores fundamentals of cross training principal.

At the core of Philip Quast’s teaching is a holistic approach to acting including work to help restore the confidence of actors who have been bullied and have had traumatic experiences in the work place. Working from various source material, Philip gives the actor practical strategies to help boost speed of thought; increase their confidence with memory; as well as finding ways to balance technique with instinct. Philip also has a reputation for finding ways to help the actor understand and break habitual behaviour in order to free themselves. He believes that all actors, once given permission and the tools to “slow down”, can improve beyond measure.

As an Australian actor, Philip believes it’s essential to listen and learn from our masters.

Throughout his career Philip has divided his time between London and Australia. Productions in which he has played leading roles include The White Devil,  Loves Labour’s Lost, (British and Tokyo Tour)  The Secret Garden (cast recording),  Macbeth,  Troilus & Cressida for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the critically acclaimed Waiting for Godot for the Sydney Theatre Company. His Film and television credits include Hacksaw Ridge, Janet King; Truth,  The Devil’s Double,  Clubland,  Caterpillar Wish,  Miss Fisher’s Murders,  UltraViolet, Brides of Christ, Silent Witness,  Inspector Morse,  Midsomer Murders and as a Playschool presenter for 17 years with the ABC. Philip won his first Olivier Award playing Georges in The National Theatre’s production of Sunday in The Park with George and a second Olivier Award as Graham in Sam Mendes’ production of The Fix at the Donmar Warehouse.

Awards

Philip Quast has won the most Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Actor in a Musical, having won three. This is the most Laurence Olivier Awards held by any actor bar Judi Dench and Ian McKellen.

1991 – for Stephen Sondheim‘s Sunday in the Park with George in the role of Georges Seurat

1998 – for the Dempsey and Rowe musical The Fix as Grahame Chandler

2002 – for Rodgers and Hammerstein‘s South Pacific in which he played Emille de Becque

Other Awards:

2011 – Helpmann Awards – Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mary Poppins)

2011 – Green Room Awards – Male Artist in a Featured Role (Mary Poppins)

1994 – MO Awards – Male Musical Theatrical Performer & “Kevin Jacobsen” Theatrical Performer

1993 – Sydney Theatre Critics Award – Best Actor (Into the Woods)

1988 – MO Award – Male Musical Theatre Performer (Les Misérables)

1988 – Sydney Theatre Critics Award: Best Actor of the Year (Les Misérables)

Nominations:

2011 – Nomination, Sydney Theatre Awards – Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Mary Poppins)

2007 – Olivier Awards – Nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for Evita, at the Adelphi Theatre, London, UK

2005 – Nomination, Sydney Theatre Awards – Best Actor in a Lead Role (The Cherry Orchard)

2005 – Nomination, Mo Awards – Best Male Actor in a Play (Democracy)