Helen Medlyn

  • Actor
  • Voice
  • Entertainer
  • Height: 5' 5"/167cm
  • Location: Auckland
  • Ethnicity: NZ European

Helen Medlyn has a prodigious, rich, velvety type voice that makes the act of listening an absolute delight. Her clear and sonorous vocal timbre fits perfectly into any fictional or non-fictional piece of content. An immensely experienced performer, Helen is a pleasure to work and collaborate with.

Voice Reel
Voice Reel
All
Summary
Feature Film
Television
Television Movie
Theatre
Musical
Opera
Live Performance
Voice Over
Skills
Characteristics

Summary

Helen Medlyn is a self-described Jill Of All Trades, having been a jazz chanteuse, a dancer, an actress, a musical theatre performer, a narrator, a comedienne, a classical concert singer, a voice-over artiste, an opera diva and a cabaret entertainer...sometimes, all in the same performance.

Using her innate sense of fun, her musicality and her love of language she’s been acclaimed both here and overseas for stamping her own style on all that she does.

A few highlights from her immense body of work includes playing Prince Orlovsky in ‘Fledermaus’ for Opera Australia, portraying Concepcion in ‘The Spanish Hour’ for NBR NZ Opera, understudying Brangaene in ‘Tristan and Isolde’ for the English National Opera, performing Gillian Whitehead’s vocal cantata "Alice" with the Auckland Philharmonia (written for Helen), singing Elgar’s ‘Sea Pictures’ with the NZSO in Osaka; singing Brahms’s ‘Alto Rhapsody’ with the London Philharmonic Choir and the Malaysian Philharmonic in Kuala Lumpur, performing Mahler’s ‘Song of the Earth’ both with the AP and the NZSO, taking the role of Joy Gresham in the play "Shadowlands" at the Mercury Theatre, portraying Mrs Parker in the play ‘Daughters of Heaven’ for the Auckland Theatre Company, playing Fraülein Schneider in ‘Cabaret’ for the ATC, and creating and performing her ’hell’ cabaret shows with Penny Dodd.

Although Helen embarked on her professional career in 1981 as a dancer in the NZ tour of ‘Evita’, her performance work remained sporadic. Through the 80’s, she took major roles in productions for the Mercury Theatre, Centrepoint Theatre and Auckland operatic societies but she still retained her day job. However, in 1989, she walked away from being a television and radio producer at the advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, and launched herself into a full-time professional performing career with her opera debut as Marthe in the Mercury Theatre’s production of "Faust". Honoured with being made an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate in 2002, Helen is now established as a regular guest artist with opera companies and orchestras throughout Australasia, Asia, America and Britain and continues to garner flattering critical acclaim for her distinctive performances.

Feature Film

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
1993
Production (Role) Jack Be Nimble (Orphanage Nurse)
Production Company / Director Essential Productions / Dir: Garth Maxwell

Television

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2006
Production (Role) The Great NZ Spelling Bee (Celebrity Contestant)
Production Company / Director Television New Zealand (TVNZ)
Year
2005
Production (Role) Shortland Street (Rosalind Dashwell)
Production Company / Director South Pacific Pictures
Year
1993
Production (Role) Give Us a Clue (Guest)
Production Company / Director TV3 | First Pictures
Year
1993
Production (Role) The Tommyknockers (Neurologist #2 )
Production Company / Director Konigsberg/Sanitsky Company / Dir: John Power

Television Movie

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2010
Production (Role) Bloodlines (Ruby Langsford)
Production Company / Director Screentime / Dir: Peter Burger

Theatre

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013
Production (Role) Hell on Wheels (Herself | Solo Show)
Production Company / Director Operatunity / Dir: John Cameron
Year
1993
Production (Role) Daughters of Heaven (Mrs Rierper)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Colin McColl
Year
1993
Production (Role) The Magic Flute (Australia & NZ) (Third Lady)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia | Auckland Theatre Company
Year
1992
Production (Role) The Hungry City (Performer)
Production Company / Director Watershed Theatre / Dir: Michael Hurst
Year
1991
Production (Role) Lets Do It (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1991
Production (Role) Shadowlands (Joy Gresham)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Paul Minifie
Year
1990
Production (Role) Carousel (Nettie)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1990
Production (Role) The Barber of Seville (Berta)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1990
Production (Role) Turandot (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Don Giovanni (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Faust (Marthe (Opera Debut))
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Fiddler on the Roof (Fruma Sarah)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Paul Minifie
Year
1988
Production (Role) Madam Butterfly (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1988
Production (Role) Riders to the Sea (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre
Year
1985
Production (Role) Sweet Charity (Nicky)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre
Year
1983
Production (Role) Tomfoolery (Various)
Production Company / Director Centrepoint Theatre
Year
1982
Production (Role) Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre

Musical

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013
Production (Role) Pirates of Penzance (Ruth)
Production Company / Director Ben McDonald / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
2011
Production (Role) The Wizard of OZ (The Wicked Witch of the )
Production Company / Director Peach Theatre Company / Dir: Jesse Peach
Year
2005
Production (Role) High Society (Mrs Seth Lord)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1999
Production (Role) Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1996
Production (Role) Theres No Business Like Show Business (Performer)
Production Company / Director Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Year
1995
Production (Role) On a Clear Day (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Year
1994
Production (Role) Makin' Whoopee (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Year
1992
Production (Role) West End Magic (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

Opera

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2012
Production (Role) The Bartered Bride (Hata)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand / Dir: Daniel Slater
Year
1998
Production (Role) Gianni Schicchi (Zita)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1998
Production (Role) The Spanish Hour (Concepcion)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1997
Production (Role) Die Fledermaus (Prince Orlofsky)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia
Year
1994
Production (Role) Madam Butterfly (Mrs Pinkerton)
Production Company / Director Auckland Opera Company
Year
1993
Production (Role) Faust (Marthe)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1993
Production (Role) Rigoletto (Maddalena)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia
Year
1991
Production (Role) The Marriage of Figaro (Marcellina)
Production Company / Director Auckland Opera Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne

Live Performance

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013 - 2013
Production (Role) The Dream of Gerontius (The Angel)
Production Company / Director Auckland Choral / Dir: Uwe Grodd

Voice Over

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2007
Production (Role) The Adventures of Voopa the Goolash (Bumpi)
Production Company / Director Photon Animation / Dir: Trevor Hawkins

Helen Medlyn is a self-described Jill Of All Trades, having been a jazz chanteuse, a dancer, an actress, a musical theatre performer, a narrator, a comedienne, a classical concert singer, a voice-over artiste, an opera diva and a cabaret entertainer...sometimes, all in the same performance.

Using her innate sense of fun, her musicality and her love of language she’s been acclaimed both here and overseas for stamping her own style on all that she does.

A few highlights from her immense body of work includes playing Prince Orlovsky in ‘Fledermaus’ for Opera Australia, portraying Concepcion in ‘The Spanish Hour’ for NBR NZ Opera, understudying Brangaene in ‘Tristan and Isolde’ for the English National Opera, performing Gillian Whitehead’s vocal cantata "Alice" with the Auckland Philharmonia (written for Helen), singing Elgar’s ‘Sea Pictures’ with the NZSO in Osaka; singing Brahms’s ‘Alto Rhapsody’ with the London Philharmonic Choir and the Malaysian Philharmonic in Kuala Lumpur, performing Mahler’s ‘Song of the Earth’ both with the AP and the NZSO, taking the role of Joy Gresham in the play "Shadowlands" at the Mercury Theatre, portraying Mrs Parker in the play ‘Daughters of Heaven’ for the Auckland Theatre Company, playing Fraülein Schneider in ‘Cabaret’ for the ATC, and creating and performing her ’hell’ cabaret shows with Penny Dodd.

Although Helen embarked on her professional career in 1981 as a dancer in the NZ tour of ‘Evita’, her performance work remained sporadic. Through the 80’s, she took major roles in productions for the Mercury Theatre, Centrepoint Theatre and Auckland operatic societies but she still retained her day job. However, in 1989, she walked away from being a television and radio producer at the advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, and launched herself into a full-time professional performing career with her opera debut as Marthe in the Mercury Theatre’s production of "Faust". Honoured with being made an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate in 2002, Helen is now established as a regular guest artist with opera companies and orchestras throughout Australasia, Asia, America and Britain and continues to garner flattering critical acclaim for her distinctive performances.

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
1993
Production (Role) Jack Be Nimble (Orphanage Nurse)
Production Company / Director Essential Productions / Dir: Garth Maxwell
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2006
Production (Role) The Great NZ Spelling Bee (Celebrity Contestant)
Production Company / Director Television New Zealand (TVNZ)
Year
2005
Production (Role) Shortland Street (Rosalind Dashwell)
Production Company / Director South Pacific Pictures
Year
1993
Production (Role) Give Us a Clue (Guest)
Production Company / Director TV3 | First Pictures
Year
1993
Production (Role) The Tommyknockers (Neurologist #2 )
Production Company / Director Konigsberg/Sanitsky Company / Dir: John Power
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2010
Production (Role) Bloodlines (Ruby Langsford)
Production Company / Director Screentime / Dir: Peter Burger
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013
Production (Role) Hell on Wheels (Herself | Solo Show)
Production Company / Director Operatunity / Dir: John Cameron
Year
1993
Production (Role) Daughters of Heaven (Mrs Rierper)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Colin McColl
Year
1993
Production (Role) The Magic Flute (Australia & NZ) (Third Lady)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia | Auckland Theatre Company
Year
1992
Production (Role) The Hungry City (Performer)
Production Company / Director Watershed Theatre / Dir: Michael Hurst
Year
1991
Production (Role) Lets Do It (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1991
Production (Role) Shadowlands (Joy Gresham)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Paul Minifie
Year
1990
Production (Role) Carousel (Nettie)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1990
Production (Role) The Barber of Seville (Berta)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1990
Production (Role) Turandot (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Don Giovanni (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Faust (Marthe (Opera Debut))
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Fiddler on the Roof (Fruma Sarah)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Paul Minifie
Year
1988
Production (Role) Madam Butterfly (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1988
Production (Role) Riders to the Sea (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre
Year
1985
Production (Role) Sweet Charity (Nicky)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre
Year
1983
Production (Role) Tomfoolery (Various)
Production Company / Director Centrepoint Theatre
Year
1982
Production (Role) Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013
Production (Role) Pirates of Penzance (Ruth)
Production Company / Director Ben McDonald / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
2011
Production (Role) The Wizard of OZ (The Wicked Witch of the )
Production Company / Director Peach Theatre Company / Dir: Jesse Peach
Year
2005
Production (Role) High Society (Mrs Seth Lord)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1999
Production (Role) Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1996
Production (Role) Theres No Business Like Show Business (Performer)
Production Company / Director Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Year
1995
Production (Role) On a Clear Day (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Year
1994
Production (Role) Makin' Whoopee (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Year
1992
Production (Role) West End Magic (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2012
Production (Role) The Bartered Bride (Hata)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand / Dir: Daniel Slater
Year
1998
Production (Role) Gianni Schicchi (Zita)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1998
Production (Role) The Spanish Hour (Concepcion)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1997
Production (Role) Die Fledermaus (Prince Orlofsky)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia
Year
1994
Production (Role) Madam Butterfly (Mrs Pinkerton)
Production Company / Director Auckland Opera Company
Year
1993
Production (Role) Faust (Marthe)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1993
Production (Role) Rigoletto (Maddalena)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia
Year
1991
Production (Role) The Marriage of Figaro (Marcellina)
Production Company / Director Auckland Opera Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013 - 2013
Production (Role) The Dream of Gerontius (The Angel)
Production Company / Director Auckland Choral / Dir: Uwe Grodd
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2007
Production (Role) The Adventures of Voopa the Goolash (Bumpi)
Production Company / Director Photon Animation / Dir: Trevor Hawkins
Accents & Dialects:
(* = native)

New Zealand*

Music & Dance:
(* = highly skilled)

Modern Dance, Opera*

Performance:

Professional Singer

Height:
5' 5"/167cm
Eye Colour:
Hazel
Hair Colour:
Grey
Vocal Notes
Accents
Voice Over
Voice Character & Quality:

Gravitas, Informative, Sophisticated, Clear

Accents & Dialects:
(* = native)

New Zealand*

Helen Medlyn is a self-described Jill Of All Trades, having been a jazz chanteuse, a dancer, an actress, a musical theatre performer, a narrator, a comedienne, a classical concert singer, a voice-over artiste, an opera diva and a cabaret entertainer...sometimes, all in the same performance.

Using her innate sense of fun, her musicality and her love of language she’s been acclaimed both here and overseas for stamping her own style on all that she does.

A few highlights from her immense body of work includes playing Prince Orlovsky in ‘Fledermaus’ for Opera Australia, portraying Concepcion in ‘The Spanish Hour’ for NBR NZ Opera, understudying Brangaene in ‘Tristan and Isolde’ for the English National Opera, performing Gillian Whitehead’s vocal cantata "Alice" with the Auckland Philharmonia (written for Helen), singing Elgar’s ‘Sea Pictures’ with the NZSO in Osaka; singing Brahms’s ‘Alto Rhapsody’ with the London Philharmonic Choir and the Malaysian Philharmonic in Kuala Lumpur, performing Mahler’s ‘Song of the Earth’ both with the AP and the NZSO, taking the role of Joy Gresham in the play "Shadowlands" at the Mercury Theatre, portraying Mrs Parker in the play ‘Daughters of Heaven’ for the Auckland Theatre Company, playing Fraülein Schneider in ‘Cabaret’ for the ATC, and creating and performing her ’hell’ cabaret shows with Penny Dodd.

Although Helen embarked on her professional career in 1981 as a dancer in the NZ tour of ‘Evita’, her performance work remained sporadic. Through the 80’s, she took major roles in productions for the Mercury Theatre, Centrepoint Theatre and Auckland operatic societies but she still retained her day job. However, in 1989, she walked away from being a television and radio producer at the advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, and launched herself into a full-time professional performing career with her opera debut as Marthe in the Mercury Theatre’s production of "Faust". Honoured with being made an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate in 2002, Helen is now established as a regular guest artist with opera companies and orchestras throughout Australasia, Asia, America and Britain and continues to garner flattering critical acclaim for her distinctive performances.

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2007
Production (Role) The Adventures of Voopa the Goolash (Bumpi)
Production Company / Director Photon Animation / Dir: Trevor Hawkins
All
Summary
Feature Film
Television
Television Movie
Theatre
Musical
Opera
Live Performance
Voice Over
Skills
Characteristics

Summary

Helen Medlyn is a self-described Jill Of All Trades, having been a jazz chanteuse, a dancer, an actress, a musical theatre performer, a narrator, a comedienne, a classical concert singer, a voice-over artiste, an opera diva and a cabaret entertainer...sometimes, all in the same performance.

Using her innate sense of fun, her musicality and her love of language she’s been acclaimed both here and overseas for stamping her own style on all that she does.

A few highlights from her immense body of work includes playing Prince Orlovsky in ‘Fledermaus’ for Opera Australia, portraying Concepcion in ‘The Spanish Hour’ for NBR NZ Opera, understudying Brangaene in ‘Tristan and Isolde’ for the English National Opera, performing Gillian Whitehead’s vocal cantata "Alice" with the Auckland Philharmonia (written for Helen), singing Elgar’s ‘Sea Pictures’ with the NZSO in Osaka; singing Brahms’s ‘Alto Rhapsody’ with the London Philharmonic Choir and the Malaysian Philharmonic in Kuala Lumpur, performing Mahler’s ‘Song of the Earth’ both with the AP and the NZSO, taking the role of Joy Gresham in the play "Shadowlands" at the Mercury Theatre, portraying Mrs Parker in the play ‘Daughters of Heaven’ for the Auckland Theatre Company, playing Fraülein Schneider in ‘Cabaret’ for the ATC, and creating and performing her ’hell’ cabaret shows with Penny Dodd.

Although Helen embarked on her professional career in 1981 as a dancer in the NZ tour of ‘Evita’, her performance work remained sporadic. Through the 80’s, she took major roles in productions for the Mercury Theatre, Centrepoint Theatre and Auckland operatic societies but she still retained her day job. However, in 1989, she walked away from being a television and radio producer at the advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, and launched herself into a full-time professional performing career with her opera debut as Marthe in the Mercury Theatre’s production of "Faust". Honoured with being made an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate in 2002, Helen is now established as a regular guest artist with opera companies and orchestras throughout Australasia, Asia, America and Britain and continues to garner flattering critical acclaim for her distinctive performances.

Feature Film

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
1993
Production (Role) Jack Be Nimble (Orphanage Nurse)
Production Company / Director Essential Productions / Dir: Garth Maxwell

Television

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2006
Production (Role) The Great NZ Spelling Bee (Celebrity Contestant)
Production Company / Director Television New Zealand (TVNZ)
Year
2005
Production (Role) Shortland Street (Rosalind Dashwell)
Production Company / Director South Pacific Pictures
Year
1993
Production (Role) Give Us a Clue (Guest)
Production Company / Director TV3 | First Pictures
Year
1993
Production (Role) The Tommyknockers (Neurologist #2 )
Production Company / Director Konigsberg/Sanitsky Company / Dir: John Power

Television Movie

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2010
Production (Role) Bloodlines (Ruby Langsford)
Production Company / Director Screentime / Dir: Peter Burger

Theatre

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013
Production (Role) Hell on Wheels (Herself | Solo Show)
Production Company / Director Operatunity / Dir: John Cameron
Year
1993
Production (Role) Daughters of Heaven (Mrs Rierper)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Colin McColl
Year
1993
Production (Role) The Magic Flute (Australia & NZ) (Third Lady)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia | Auckland Theatre Company
Year
1992
Production (Role) The Hungry City (Performer)
Production Company / Director Watershed Theatre / Dir: Michael Hurst
Year
1991
Production (Role) Lets Do It (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1991
Production (Role) Shadowlands (Joy Gresham)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Paul Minifie
Year
1990
Production (Role) Carousel (Nettie)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1990
Production (Role) The Barber of Seville (Berta)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1990
Production (Role) Turandot (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Don Giovanni (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Faust (Marthe (Opera Debut))
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Fiddler on the Roof (Fruma Sarah)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Paul Minifie
Year
1988
Production (Role) Madam Butterfly (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1988
Production (Role) Riders to the Sea (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre
Year
1985
Production (Role) Sweet Charity (Nicky)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre
Year
1983
Production (Role) Tomfoolery (Various)
Production Company / Director Centrepoint Theatre
Year
1982
Production (Role) Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre

Musical

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013
Production (Role) Pirates of Penzance (Ruth)
Production Company / Director Ben McDonald / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
2011
Production (Role) The Wizard of OZ (The Wicked Witch of the )
Production Company / Director Peach Theatre Company / Dir: Jesse Peach
Year
2005
Production (Role) High Society (Mrs Seth Lord)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1999
Production (Role) Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1996
Production (Role) Theres No Business Like Show Business (Performer)
Production Company / Director Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Year
1995
Production (Role) On a Clear Day (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Year
1994
Production (Role) Makin' Whoopee (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Year
1992
Production (Role) West End Magic (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

Opera

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2012
Production (Role) The Bartered Bride (Hata)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand / Dir: Daniel Slater
Year
1998
Production (Role) Gianni Schicchi (Zita)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1998
Production (Role) The Spanish Hour (Concepcion)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1997
Production (Role) Die Fledermaus (Prince Orlofsky)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia
Year
1994
Production (Role) Madam Butterfly (Mrs Pinkerton)
Production Company / Director Auckland Opera Company
Year
1993
Production (Role) Faust (Marthe)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1993
Production (Role) Rigoletto (Maddalena)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia
Year
1991
Production (Role) The Marriage of Figaro (Marcellina)
Production Company / Director Auckland Opera Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne

Live Performance

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013 - 2013
Production (Role) The Dream of Gerontius (The Angel)
Production Company / Director Auckland Choral / Dir: Uwe Grodd

Voice Over

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2007
Production (Role) The Adventures of Voopa the Goolash (Bumpi)
Production Company / Director Photon Animation / Dir: Trevor Hawkins

Helen Medlyn is a self-described Jill Of All Trades, having been a jazz chanteuse, a dancer, an actress, a musical theatre performer, a narrator, a comedienne, a classical concert singer, a voice-over artiste, an opera diva and a cabaret entertainer...sometimes, all in the same performance.

Using her innate sense of fun, her musicality and her love of language she’s been acclaimed both here and overseas for stamping her own style on all that she does.

A few highlights from her immense body of work includes playing Prince Orlovsky in ‘Fledermaus’ for Opera Australia, portraying Concepcion in ‘The Spanish Hour’ for NBR NZ Opera, understudying Brangaene in ‘Tristan and Isolde’ for the English National Opera, performing Gillian Whitehead’s vocal cantata "Alice" with the Auckland Philharmonia (written for Helen), singing Elgar’s ‘Sea Pictures’ with the NZSO in Osaka; singing Brahms’s ‘Alto Rhapsody’ with the London Philharmonic Choir and the Malaysian Philharmonic in Kuala Lumpur, performing Mahler’s ‘Song of the Earth’ both with the AP and the NZSO, taking the role of Joy Gresham in the play "Shadowlands" at the Mercury Theatre, portraying Mrs Parker in the play ‘Daughters of Heaven’ for the Auckland Theatre Company, playing Fraülein Schneider in ‘Cabaret’ for the ATC, and creating and performing her ’hell’ cabaret shows with Penny Dodd.

Although Helen embarked on her professional career in 1981 as a dancer in the NZ tour of ‘Evita’, her performance work remained sporadic. Through the 80’s, she took major roles in productions for the Mercury Theatre, Centrepoint Theatre and Auckland operatic societies but she still retained her day job. However, in 1989, she walked away from being a television and radio producer at the advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, and launched herself into a full-time professional performing career with her opera debut as Marthe in the Mercury Theatre’s production of "Faust". Honoured with being made an Arts Foundation of New Zealand Laureate in 2002, Helen is now established as a regular guest artist with opera companies and orchestras throughout Australasia, Asia, America and Britain and continues to garner flattering critical acclaim for her distinctive performances.

Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
1993
Production (Role) Jack Be Nimble (Orphanage Nurse)
Production Company / Director Essential Productions / Dir: Garth Maxwell
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2006
Production (Role) The Great NZ Spelling Bee (Celebrity Contestant)
Production Company / Director Television New Zealand (TVNZ)
Year
2005
Production (Role) Shortland Street (Rosalind Dashwell)
Production Company / Director South Pacific Pictures
Year
1993
Production (Role) Give Us a Clue (Guest)
Production Company / Director TV3 | First Pictures
Year
1993
Production (Role) The Tommyknockers (Neurologist #2 )
Production Company / Director Konigsberg/Sanitsky Company / Dir: John Power
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2010
Production (Role) Bloodlines (Ruby Langsford)
Production Company / Director Screentime / Dir: Peter Burger
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013
Production (Role) Hell on Wheels (Herself | Solo Show)
Production Company / Director Operatunity / Dir: John Cameron
Year
1993
Production (Role) Daughters of Heaven (Mrs Rierper)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Colin McColl
Year
1993
Production (Role) The Magic Flute (Australia & NZ) (Third Lady)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia | Auckland Theatre Company
Year
1992
Production (Role) The Hungry City (Performer)
Production Company / Director Watershed Theatre / Dir: Michael Hurst
Year
1991
Production (Role) Lets Do It (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1991
Production (Role) Shadowlands (Joy Gresham)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Paul Minifie
Year
1990
Production (Role) Carousel (Nettie)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1990
Production (Role) The Barber of Seville (Berta)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1990
Production (Role) Turandot (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Don Giovanni (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Faust (Marthe (Opera Debut))
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1989
Production (Role) Fiddler on the Roof (Fruma Sarah)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Paul Minifie
Year
1988
Production (Role) Madam Butterfly (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1988
Production (Role) Riders to the Sea (Performer)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre
Year
1985
Production (Role) Sweet Charity (Nicky)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre
Year
1983
Production (Role) Tomfoolery (Various)
Production Company / Director Centrepoint Theatre
Year
1982
Production (Role) Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene)
Production Company / Director Mercury Theatre
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013
Production (Role) Pirates of Penzance (Ruth)
Production Company / Director Ben McDonald / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
2011
Production (Role) The Wizard of OZ (The Wicked Witch of the )
Production Company / Director Peach Theatre Company / Dir: Jesse Peach
Year
2005
Production (Role) High Society (Mrs Seth Lord)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1999
Production (Role) Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider)
Production Company / Director Auckland Theatre Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
1996
Production (Role) Theres No Business Like Show Business (Performer)
Production Company / Director Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
Year
1995
Production (Role) On a Clear Day (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Year
1994
Production (Role) Makin' Whoopee (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Year
1992
Production (Role) West End Magic (Performer)
Production Company / Director Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2012
Production (Role) The Bartered Bride (Hata)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand / Dir: Daniel Slater
Year
1998
Production (Role) Gianni Schicchi (Zita)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1998
Production (Role) The Spanish Hour (Concepcion)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1997
Production (Role) Die Fledermaus (Prince Orlofsky)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia
Year
1994
Production (Role) Madam Butterfly (Mrs Pinkerton)
Production Company / Director Auckland Opera Company
Year
1993
Production (Role) Faust (Marthe)
Production Company / Director Opera New Zealand
Year
1993
Production (Role) Rigoletto (Maddalena)
Production Company / Director Opera Australia
Year
1991
Production (Role) The Marriage of Figaro (Marcellina)
Production Company / Director Auckland Opera Company / Dir: Raymond Hawthorne
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2013 - 2013
Production (Role) The Dream of Gerontius (The Angel)
Production Company / Director Auckland Choral / Dir: Uwe Grodd
Year
Production (Role)
Production Company / Director
Year
2007
Production (Role) The Adventures of Voopa the Goolash (Bumpi)
Production Company / Director Photon Animation / Dir: Trevor Hawkins
Accents & Dialects:
(* = native)

New Zealand*

Music & Dance:
(* = highly skilled)

Modern Dance, Opera*

Performance:

Professional Singer

Height:
5' 5"/167cm
Eye Colour:
Hazel
Hair Colour:
Grey