Philip Quast

Philip Quast
Born	Philip Quast July 30, 1957 Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
Years active	1981–present
Notable work(s)	Javert in Les Misérables
Website
http://www.ipollard.demon.co.uk/PQContinuum/Home.html

Philip Quast (born 1957) is an Australian actor who has thrice won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He is 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.

Personal life

Quast was born in 1957 in Tamworth, 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.

Musical theatre

Quast played the part of Javert in Les Misérables 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 won the most Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Actor in a Musical, having won thrice for:

• 1991: for Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George in the role of George 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

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. He also won the Broadway World Australia 2011 award for 'Best Featured Actor in a Musical' for Mary Poppins.

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 in motion pictures. Major roles include:

• The Devil's Double (2011); Saddam Hussein
• Clubland (2007)
• The Caterpillar Wish (2006); Carl Roberts
• Me & Mrs Jones (2002) (TV); Richard Bowden
• Corridors of Power (2001) (TV); Michael Fielding MP
• Ultraviolet (1998) (TV); Father Pearse Harman
• The Damnation of Harvey McHugh (ABC-TV, 1995); The Minister
• The First Kangaroos (1988); Alex Burdon
• Sons and Daughters (Grundy Television Production) ; Bob 'Mitch' Mitchell (1984-TV)
• The Young Doctors (Grundy Television Production) ; Dr Rob Hawkins (1982-1983-TV)
• Play School (1981–1996)

External links

• Philip Quast at the Internet Movie Database
• The Philip Quast Continuum: The Official Philip Quast Website
• The Philip Quast Guide
• Winners of the Laurence Olivier Award