New Theatre News

VALE COLLEEN COOK

New Theatre mourns the passing of one of our friends and colleagues, Colleen Cook (14 January 1955 – 6 August 2024).

Colleen’s first stage appearance at The New was in 1997’s Don Juan Comes Back From The War, directed by Kevin Jackson. The following year, she was a writer and performer in the first of our Mardi Gras cabarets, No Funny Business, directed by Gill Falson, and played ‘Pearl’ in Elaine Hudson’s production of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. In 1999 and 2000, she performed and composed lyrics for Lots More Funny Business and Life is a Funny Business.

Colleen played ‘Fräulein Schneider’ in Louise Fischer’s 2009 production of Cabaret, followed by ‘Grace’ in Dinkum Assorted directed by Sahn Millington in 2015, and ‘Ana’ in Rosane McNamara’s production of The Clean House in 2017. In 2013, she took part in Victoriana, a music-hall fundraiser for New Theatre at Newington College.

In 2019, Colleen played ‘Mrs Higgins’ in Pygmalion, directed by Deborah Mulhall, and designed the set and costumes for Collaborators, directed by Moira Blumenthal. Her final acting gig at New Theatre was in Neighbourhood Watch, directed by Louise Fischer in 2020. She returned to the stage on May Day the following year as choreographer and dancer for The New’s tribute to Marie Armstrong.

We extend our sympathies to Colleen’s partner Phil, her family and many friends.

Images (L-R): Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Dinkum Assorted, The Clean House, Pygmalion, Neighbourhood Watch