With episodes nearing 350 in the STAGES archive, it’s time to revisit conversations featured in our previous seasons. STAGES spotlights such episodes, in case you missed them the first time ‘round - or so you can simply savour, a second listen. Either way, you’ll be accessing precious oral histories from the people who were there, on and around our stages.

In February 2019 we lost a stalwart of the musical theatre fraternity in Australia. Rod Dunbar was a gentleman who relished a life on the boards, navigating a career over five decades. STAGES was honoured that he consented to be featured in our very first series. And a privilege to revisit his extensive career and life in showbiz in this Spotlight episode.

Growing up in Rockhampton in Queensland, Rod made the piano his instrument of choice. But he soon discovered he had a decent ‘set of pipes’ and promptly pursued a career fronting bands. It was a move hastened by his viewing of Blackboard Jungle, a film celebrated for its innovative use of rock and roll in its soundtrack. His taste for entertaining an audience prompted a venture south to Sydney where he quickly established himself as an in-demand vocalist.

An enthusiastic beginning saw him perform with the Petersham Musical Society guided by Helen de Paul and working alongside her daughter, a young Trisha Noble.

He became a regular on Channel Seven’s Sing Sing Sing hosted by Johnny O’Keefe (it aired from 1962 to 1965), and launched a pop career that saw recordings such as ‘Break Down’, ‘Dare I Say It Again’, ‘Little Girl It’s Time We Parted’ and ‘What Do You Want from Me?’. Rod toured the country, doing gigs with other high-profile entertainers including The Bee Gees, Digger Revell and the Denvermen, Lee Sellars and Jimmy Little. They attracted attention everywhere, due to their national exposure through the new medium of television.

At a time when he was looking to expand the possibilities of his career, Rod was spotted by J.C. Williamson’s Betty Pounder, who encouraged him to pursue a career in musical theatre. His celebrity made him an ideal candidate to join Noel Ferrier’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Rod was cast as a featured courtier and worked alongside John Meillon, Gwen Plumb, Tony Bonner and Max Phipps.

This was followed by performances in The Boys From Syracuse, Oliver!, and his renowned turn in 1967 as The Fiddler in the original staging of Fiddler on the Roof in Australia, with Hayes Gordon and Brigid Lenihan. He experienced personal triumphs in the original Australian productions of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown as Snoopy, and in Godspell in 1972 in a magnetic performance as Jesus. The production also toured New Zealand.

His extensive career included the celebrated production of Chicago directed by Richard Wherrett for the Sydney Theatre Company. Other work for the STC included Company and Merrily We Roll Along. He completed tours of Dirty Dancing for Kevin Jacobsen and Are You Lonesome Tonight, South Pacific and Big River for GFO.

His arrival on stage as Mark Twain at the beginning of Big River is still vivid. Dressed immaculately in a white suit, centre stage in a solo spot, drawing on a cigar and releasing a smoke plume that billowed high above into the flys, he was an actor at one with a character and held the audience poised, ready for a great story. Whether on stage or off, Rod was always a gifted storyteller.

He leaves behind a legacy of wonderful performances and professionalism as a colleague, mentor and mate. It is a privilege to revisit this conversation with Rod Dunbar.

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