Peter Cousens

Chris (Sydney)

Peter is a parent to three children. Born in Tamworth, his childhood theatrical experience was all musical theatre. But after graduating from NIDA he worked extensively with The Queensland Theatre Company and The Sydney Theatre Company including the plays Breaker Morant, You Never Can Tell, Camille, The Sentimental Bloke, for the Queensland Theatre Company, and Hamlet, Chinchilla, Chicago, Measure for Measure and the eight and a half hour Nicholas Nickleby, for the Sydney Theatre Company. He toured Australia with Richard Harris in Camelot as Mordred and then joined the South Australian Opera Company for their productions of Boojum and Sweeney Todd, directed by Gale Edwards.

For The Australian Opera he played Nanki Poo in The Mikado, and Motel in Fiddler on the Roof. After performing the Celebrant in Bernstein's Mass, he was in the original Australian production of Blood Brothers with Chrissie Amphlet, then performed the role of Marius in Les Miserables touring Australia and New Zealand. Peter then played Alex in Gale Edwards enlightened production of Aspects of Love and was last seen in Sydney as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera.

On Television Peter has been seen in a number of series including Sons and Daughters, Cop Shop, The Sullivans, Carson's Law, Return to Eden and the mini series, The Timeless Land and Under Capricorn.

Peter learnt to sing from Madam Marianne Mathy, Rita Hunter and her late husband, John Darnley-Thomas. Peter's first album, Corner of the Sky was released in 1994 and his second album will be released early in 1996. In Los Angeles earlier this year, Peter recorded the role of Chris on the international Complete Symphonic recording of Miss Saigon. He could not have completed that project without the guidance and support of Guy Simpson, the Australian Miss Saigon Musical Director. Peter was made NSW Australia Day Ambassador for 1995 and is Patron of The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN).

(The Capitol Theatre, 1995) (Bio courtesy of Adam Wilson)