Helen Medlyn

One of New Zealand’s most versatile and popular singer-actresses, Helen Medlyn is a respected performer of opera, jazz, straight theatre, oratorio, cabaret, lieder and music theatre, appearing as a guest soloist throughout New Zealand and Australia.

In 2002, Helen was made a Laureate by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand in recognition of her career and continuing work, and in 2013, became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to performing arts.

Highlights from Helen’s unusually diverse career include ‘Joy Gresham’ in the William Nicholson play Shadowlands for Mercury Theatre; the ‘Beggar Woman’ in Sweeney Todd for NZ Opera and her depiction of a pioneer woman in Gillian Whitehead’s vocal symphonic mono-drama Alice with APO, NZSO.

She has performed the role of ‘Maddalena’ in Rigoletto for Opera Queensland, Opera Australia and New Zealand Opera, and the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’ in The Wizard of Oz for Peach Theatre Company; ‘Klytemnestra’ in Strauss’ opera Elektra with the APO; narrator of Jenny McLeod’s The Emperor and the Nightingale - NZSO; ‘Fraulein Schneider’ in Cabaret - ATC; the ‘Angel’ in The Dream of Gerontius for Auckland Choral and APO. She is known for her hell cabaret shows, created and presented in collaboration with Penny Dodd; and Mad About the Boy, with pianist and arranger, Grant Winterburn.