Above – Hilary Henshaw (right) with interviewer Dr Cheryl Threadgold and Technical Producer Raymond Simms. Photo – Malcolm Threadgold
Hilary Henshaw
Singer, actor, professional speaker, writer and composer Hilary Henshaw made her debut as a twelve-year-old singing on HSV7’s Sunny Side Up in 1965. Since then, she has worked with many of Australia’s major theatrical organisations, performing in Musical Theatre, Opera and Operetta, as well as singing and acting on television and in the recording studio.
While raising four daughters, she interrupted her theatrical career to perform locally in recital, concert and cabaret and to teach early childhood music classes, writing and recording original material, resulting in the seven-part series ‘Growing With Music’ and ‘Musical Language’ (three titles in collaboration with speech pathologist Beverley Joffe) and presenting/performing at educational conferences nationally and in Singapore. As a professional ‘singing speaker’, Hilary also presented at corporate events. When family commitments allowed, she resumed her theatrical career, touring in the role of Sylviane in Essgee’s production of The Merry Widow and then created and toured five of her own shows nationally. A short tour with the Tea Rose Duo performing Tea for Three inspired the ‘High Note High Tea’ series at Beleura House and garden.
She continues to perform as a ‘singing speaker’ and is regularly invited to emcee at a range of events … usually with a song or two! She also acts as a simulated patient for medical students, improving their communication skills.
Dr Cheryl Threadgold OAM
Cheryl enjoys merging the written word with the creative arts, writing shows such as the 90-minute tribute production The Jewel by the Sea, presented regularly since 2006 at historic Black Rock House, and the full-length 50th (2003) and 70th (2023) Beaumaris Theatre Anniversary productions. Her 2019 PhD thesis researched the history and culture of amateur theatre in Victoria, and her award-winning 2020 book In the Name of Theatre: the history, culture and voices of amateur theatre in Victoria is based on the award-winning thesis.
Cheryl was guest speaker at Theatre Heritage Australia's 2018 event at Arts Centre Melbourne, and in 2023 joined Barry Dickins onstage in conversation at The Channel.
Since 2005, Cheryl has been honorary theatre writer/review coordinator for the Melbourne Observer/Local Paper and convenes the Bayside U3A Writers Group, directing radio plays by writers for broadcast on 88.3 Southern FM. She presents talks about Victorian theatre history, and enjoys researching/writing/interviewing for Theatre Heritage Australia’s Onstage magazine and Oral History programme.
Cheryl thanks Hilary Henshaw for kindly sharing stories of her 60 years in professional entertainment.