Born in Australia, Babs grew up in the UK and Hong Kong with only one ambition – to be an actor. With loving family support, she trained, graduated and began her career with Australian and UK companies. Pantomimes – Toad of Toad Hall in the West End was a highlight! There were ABC and BBC radio plays, TV, film and musicals – the first being Charlie Girl with 'the gracious Anna Neagle and the fabulous Derek Nimmo', Shakespeare, French farce, Chekhov, wonderful new Australian and international plays, especially Gulls, Robert Hewett’s superb play, and the Greeks ... Babs has played and thrilled to them all. She later undertook postgraduate study in London as a director, and the repertoire was much the same. Directing former close acting colleagues at the MTC was 'stimulating, generous and challenging.' Other highlights were directing the London premiere of Einstein, another outstanding play by Ron Elisha, and Michael Gow’s captivating Away.
Babs says training our talented young actors at the National Theatre St Kilda, VCA and NIDA 'was a gift'. 'Helping them fulfil ambitions, directing their studies and guiding their development as employable professionals, then cheering their successes - was fabulous.'
Babs has travelled, worked, read, and 'learned from so many generous, inspiring people.'
'I treasure my life's work in the only profession I ever wanted,' says Babs, ' ... and my lifelong invaluable friendships. I'm so very loved. A fortunate life indeed.'
Dr Cheryl Threadgold OAM
Cheryl enjoys merging the written word with the creative arts, writing shows such as the 90-minute production The Jewel by the Sea, presented regularly since 2006 at historic Black Rock House, and the 50th (2003) and 70th (2023) Beaumaris Theatre Anniversary shows. 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 is based on the award-winning thesis. The guest speaker at a Theatre Heritage Australia 2018 event at Arts Centre Melbourne, Cheryl also joined Barry Dickins in conversation onstage in 2023 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, casting local actors and directing radio plays by U3A writers for broadcast on 88.3 Southern FM. She presents talks about Victorian theatre history and loves researching/writing/interviewing for Theatre Heritage Australia’s Onstage magazine and Oral History programme. Cheryl thanks Babs McMillan very much for sharing stories of her wonderful contributions to Australian theatre for the THA Oral History archival records.
Sincere thanks to Raymond and Sharon Simms.