Dinah Shearing

Dinah Shearing (AM)
Born
Dinah Hilary Shearing

12 February 1926
Sydney, Australia
Died14 June 2021 (aged 95)
Erina, New South Wales, Australia
EducationEast Sydney Technical College
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
OccupationActress

Dinah Hilary Shearing AM (12 February 1926 – 14 June 2021) was an Australian actress, active in all facets of the industry, in particular theatre.

Early life and education

Dinah Hilary Shearing was born on 12 February 1926 in Sydney, to English parents, while they were visiting Australia. [1] Growing up alongside two sisters, she attended school in Birmingham in the UK,[2] before the family permanently relocated to Australia when Shearing was twelve,[1] where she attended a public school in Sydney.[2]

With a talent for art, at the age of 15, Shearing gained a scholarship at the East Sydney Technical College.[2] At the end of her third year, she worked at a Sydney department store during a three month break from school. Upon seeing some of her art, her manager offered her a position as a sketch artist for the store.[2] Having fallen behind in her art studies, Shearing opted not to complete them.[2] During this time, she was also studying singing at Sydney Conservatorium of Music,[1][2] where she attained honours in exams to A.Mus.A in 1945.[3]

Career

Shearing appeared on stage, radio, television and films in a career that spanned more than 60 years.[3]

After graduating from her studies, Shearing performed in a small musical comedy group, touring army camps.[2] She then began acting with May Hollinworth's Metropolitan Theatre in Sydney,[4] landing her first role in the play Winterset.[1]

After further roles with the Metropolitan Theatre,[2] Shearing's "distinctively mellifluous voice" led to her being recruited into radio during its so-called "Golden Era".[3] Her first broadcast was on the Macquarie Network in a play entitled The Mariners. [2] She soon became a national favourite in Grace Gibson Productions serials such as Dr Paul (in which she played the leading character for ten years), Tudor Princess and Tudor Queen,[3] as well as Dossier on Dumetrius. Other radio serials and programmes included The Colgate Hour, Macquarie Radio Theatre, Lux Radio Theatre and most notably, work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

From there, Shearing was drafted into the Elizabethan Theatre Trust and later, the Old Tote Theatre Company and gave performances that "transcended her young years",[5] touring nationally from her Sydney base. Most memorably, she gave what critics called "the definitive" performance of Mary Tyrone in Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night.[6] She also worked with the Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company and Independent Theatre.[4] Her performances drew admiring reviews from Sydney critics, including Lindsay Brown, Harry Kippax, and Geoffrey Thomas.

Shearing also appeared in some of Australia's earliest television dramas.[7] making her TV debut in the ABC play A Phoenix Too Frequent in 1957.[1] She also starred as Lady Macbeth in 1960 TV production of Macbeth.[1] After taking a hiatus from performing to raise a family, Shearing returned to the small screen in 1970, with a guest appearance in the drama series Delta.[1]

Further television credits included TV Spells Magic, Catwalk, The Sullivans, All The Rivers Run, Five Mile Creek, The Harp in the South, E Street, A Country Practice, G.P., All Saints and the TV movie Man of Letters.[1] She also had a regular role in soap opera Family and Friends.[1] Her final television appearance was in the sci-fi series Farscape in 2002.[1]

Shearing became a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 1993.[8]

Honours and awards

Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
1952 One Way Street Macquarie Award Best Female Lead Won [9]
1985 Man of Letters Penguin Award Won
All the Rivers Run Commendation
1993 Coriolanus Critics Award Won
Lifetime of Excellence Glugs Theatrical Award Won [10]
Dinah Shearing Queen's Birthday Honours Member of the Order of Australia Honoured [8]
1999 A Delicate Balance Glugs Theatrical Award Norman Kessell Award Won [10]

Personal life

Shearing met playwright and painter Rodney Milgate in London and 18 months later, on 9 May 1960 they were married in Woollahra, Sydney at All Saints Church – the same church in which her parents were married.[11] The couple had two sons.[1]

Shearing was a speaker for Heart Research Institute from 1993 to 1999, and a volunteer reader for Royal Society for the Blind in the 1960s.

Later life and death

In later life Shearing resided at Erina, New South Wales, on the Central Coast, and was active in community arts programmes, volunteer work, and had also branched into directing not long before her death.[12]

She died on 14 June 2021, aged 95.[13][14] She was survived by her two sons and four grandchildren. Her husband, Milgate died in 2014.[1]

Theatre

Year Title Role Type Ref.
1946 Winterset Street Urchin Metropolitan Theatre, Sydney, St Peters Church Hall, Sydney [4]
Hotel Universe St Peters Church Hall, Sydney
1947 The Country Wife Lady Fidget Metropolitan Theatre, Sydney [4]
Ned Kelly Mrs Barry [4]
Deep are the Roots New Theatre, Sydney [4]
1948 The First Joanna Joan Deveron Metropolitan Theatre Sydney [4]
A Midsummer Night's Dream Fairy Metropolitan Theatre Sydney, Killara Soldiers Memorial Hall [4]
1949 Twelfth Night Viola [4]
1950 Amphitryon 38 Independent Theatre, Sydney [4]
Young Wives' Tale Sabina Lux Radio Theatre on 2GB, 3DB, 4BK, 5AD [15]
1951 King Lear Regan St James' Hall, Sydney with John Alden Company [16][4]
1952 The Relapse Berinthia [4]
A Phoenix Too Frequent Dynamene Mercury Theatre [17]
1953 The Holly and the Ivy Margaret [18]
1956 Twelfth Night Viola Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Playhouse, Perth with J. C. Williamson's [4]
1956–1957 The Rivals Lydia Languish Australian tour [4]
Invitation to a Voyage
Bell Book and Candle
1957 The Relapse Berinthia Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney, Playhouse, Perth [19]
1957–1958 The Shifting Heart Maria Fowler Australian tour with AETT [4]
1959 Man and Superman Ann Whitefield Elizabethan Theatre Sydney, Playhouse, Perth [4]
Long Day's Journey into Night Mary Cavan Tyrone [4]
Fire on the Wind National Theatre, Launceston, Playhouse, Perth [4]
Julius Caesar Portia Elizabethan Theatre Sydney [4]
The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day Wilma Cartwright [20][21]
1960 The Rape of the Belt [4]
Murder in the Cathedral Chorus University of Adelaide [4]
1964 A Phoenix Too Frequent [16]
1965 The Country Wife UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney [4]
1966 Tiny Alice [4]
Persephone Sydney Symphony Orchestra [22]
1972–1973 An Ideal Husband Lady Chiltern Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, Playhouse, Perth with MTC [4]
1973 King Richard II Duchess of York Sydney Opera House [23][4]
1973–1974 What If You Died Tomorrow? Sydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne [4]
1974 Macbeth Sydney Opera House
1980 Children Mother Bondi Pavilion, Sydney [4]
Inside the Island Lillian Dawson Nimrod Theatre, Sydney [4]
1987 Long Day's Journey into Night Mary Cavan Tyrone Marian St Theatre, Sydney [4]
1989 Knuckledusters – The Jewels of Edith Sitwell Canberra Theatre, Russell St Theatre, Melbourne [4]
Shellcove Road Marian St Theatre, Sydney with Northside Theatre Company [4]
1991 The Hundred Year Ambush Newtown Studio Theatre, Sydney [4]
Great Expectations – The Musical Seymour Centre, Sydney [4]
1992 The Winslow Boy Sydney Opera House, Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane [4]
1993 The Old Boy Ensemble Theatre, Sydney [4]
Coriolanus Sydney Opera House with STC [4]
1995 Medee A Woman Sydney Opera House with Australian Opera [4]
1998 A Delicate Balance Sydney Opera House with STC [4]
2000 Mother’s Day Independent Theatre, Sydney with Ensemble Theatre [4]
A Cheery Soul Mrs. Lillie / Mr. Bleeker Sydney Opera House with Belvoir / STC [24][4]
2001 Morning Sacrifice Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC [4]
2003 La Serenissima: The Fascination of Venice Poetry recitals S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2003, 2008 Poetry recitals Reader Gosford Regional Gallery
2005 International Women's Day Two monologues
2008 The Makropoulos Secret Australian Opera
2012 Christchurch Camerata Orchestra Reader Christchurch Camerata Orchestra

Radio

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
The Mariners Macquarie Network [2]
1940s–1950s Cashmere Bouquet Show 2UE [25]
1947–1948 Lilian Dale Affair Lilian Dale [25]
The Devil's Duchess 2UW / 2KO [25]
Office Wife Marcia [25]
1950 I Hate Crime Episode: "The Case of the Montana Mauler" on 2UE [26]
Episode: "The Clue of the Scratched Brief-Case" on 2UE [27]
1950s Dinner at Antoine's Odile St Amant 2UW [25]
Gabrielle 2UW / 5AD [25]
My Heart's Desire 4IP [25]
Romances of the Pacific [25]
Radio Cab [25]
1951 Dossier on Dumetrius Hedy Bergner 2UE [28]
A Woman Scorned 2UW
Paula Lehmann 2UE [25]
1951–1960s Hart of the Territory Felicity Wayne 2GB [25]
1952 One Way Street Macquarie Broadcasting Service & 2GB [9]
The Night Was Our Friend The General Motors Hour on 3AW [29]
Dutch with Dames 2UE [30]
1953 It Never Rains 4BH [31]
1954 Tudor Princess Young Elizabeth 2UW / 3KZ [3][32][25]
Tudor Queen Queen Elizabeth I [3][25]
For Love of a Woman 2UW [25]
Reach for the Sky 2UE / 3DB [25]
1955 Fallen Angel [25]
c.1955 Starlight Theatre Volume 1 [25][33]
1955–1956 The Clock Leah / Enid / Cora / Dianna Episode 6: "The One-Eyed Cat", Episode 14: "The Bank Vault", Episode 28: "Retribution", Episode 36: "The Dream Home", Episode 42: "Trouble at Key West" [34]
1958 The Alcestis Alcestis ABC Radio [35]
The Ponyman 2GB [36]
1959 As You Like It Rosalind 2BL-NC-CN / 4QR [37]
1960 Passage of the Tangmar Ilona Fedorov [25]
1960s Give Me No Pity Jane Worthington [25]
1960s–1970s Dr Paul Virginia Martin 2UW [3][38]
c.1962 The Scarlet Frontier Isabelle [25]
c.1963 This Side of Innocence Amalie Maxwell [25]
1970s Clayton Place Catherine Marlowe 3AW [25]
A Relative Affair [33]
Strange Homecoming
1979 The Drowned Phoenician Sailor Laura ABC Radio Sydney [4]
Alladyce and the Holy Virago Isobel [4]
A Wicked Pack of Cards Laura [4]
Becket Queen Eleanor [25]
Big City [25]
The Knave of Hearts Peggy Browning [25]
Romantic Stories Amanda Gray [25]
1990 Summer of the Aliens BBC Radio

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Type Ref.
1957 A Phoenix too Frequent Dynamene TV movie [1]
1958 Sixty Point Bold Maria Charvet TV play
1960 Macbeth Lady Macbeth TV movie [1]
1961 Delta Hannah Thompson 1 episode [1]
1972 The Survivor TV movie
Catwalk Moya Sandford 1 episode
1982 Cop Shop Sophia Caruso 1 episode
1982–1983 The Sullivans Mary Sullivan 45 episodes
1983 All the Rivers Run Aunt Hester Miniseries, 3 episodes [39]
Learned Friends
1984 Man of Letters Beth Serry TV movie
Singles Allison's mother Miniseries, 5 episodes
Saturday Saturday
1985 Five Mile Creek Mrs Armstrong 5 episodes [40]
Special Squad Minister 1 episode
Emmett Stone Muriel TV movie
1985–1993 A Country Practice Heather Moss / Monika Schnelle 4 episodes
1986 Dancing Daze Miniseries
1987 The Harp in the South Sister Beatrix 3 episodes [41]
1988 Rafferty's Rules Vera Grey 1 episode [42]
1989 E Street Helen Kennedy 8 episodes
1990 Family and Friends Antoinetta Rossi [1]
1993 Police Rescue Mrs Conway Season 3, 1 episode [43]
1994 G.P. Rose Browning 1 episode
1998 Wildside Anna Weissman 1 episode [44]
1998; 2000 All Saints Caroline Edgewater / Judith Ashton 2 episodes
1999 Time and Tide Irene TV movie
2000 The Lost World Anna Summerlee 1 episode [45]
2001 Flat Chat 1 episode
2002 Farscape Elack's Pilot (voice) Season 4, 3 episodes [46]

Film

Year Title Role Type Ref.
1983 Buddies Merle Feature film
1985 A Spy in the Family Feature film
2001 The Long Wet Feature film

Directorial and crew

Year Title Role Type Ref.
1947 Lady Windermere's Fan Costume Designer Metropolitan Theatre Sydney [4]
1948 A Midsummer Night's Dream Costume Designer Metropolitan Theatre Sydney, Killara Soldiers Memorial Hall [4]
2003 Archibald Prize: The Play Co-director The Actor's Forum
Winners Director
2006 Collected Stories Director
2006–2007 The Actor's Forum Director The Actor's Forum
2007 Lettice and Lovage Director
2008 The Fortunates [47]
2009 Katandra Players Katandra Players
2010 Wilde Woman Director [47]
Stopover
Flaws in the Looking Glass Director [47]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Obituary: Dinah Shearing". 20 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Brooks, Gloria (29 October 1949). "From a Women's Angle – Dinah Shearing: Versatile Actress, Singer, Artist". ABC Weekly. Vol. 11, no. 44. Retrieved 24 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Lane, Richard (1994). The Golden Age of Australian Radio Drama, 1923–1960. Melbourne University Press. ISBN 0522845568.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at "Dinah Shearing". AusStage.
  5. ^ Heseltine, Harry (2004). A Leader of his Craft, Theatre Reviews by HG Kippax. Currency House. ISBN 0958121354.
  6. ^ Porter, Hal (1965). Stars of Australian Stage and screen. Rigby Ltd. p. 264.
  7. ^ "The Private Eye of TV". ABC Weekly. 20 July 1957. pp. 4–5 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ a b "Miss Dinah Hilary SHEARING". Australian Honours Search Facility. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia). Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Macquarie Awards". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 35, 929. 16 February 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 27 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ a b "Awards". Glugs Theatrical Awards. April 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Bride and Bridegroom both in Stage Shows". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 May 1960. p. 24. Retrieved 26 February 2026 – via www.newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Shearing, Dinah (2013). Who's Who in Australia. Crown Content Australia. ISBN 978-1740951906.
  13. ^ "Obituary: Dinah Shearing". TelevisionAU. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  14. ^ "MILGATE nee SHEARING, Dinah Hilary". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Young Wives' Tale". ABC Weekly. Vol. 12, no. 42. 28 October 1950. p. 5. Retrieved 26 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  16. ^ a b "Twelfth Night" (PDF). Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  17. ^ "Two joyous comedies". Le Courrier Australien. Vol. 88, no. 4497. 7 March 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 25 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  18. ^ "Born Actress, Yet Natural Offstage". The Sunday Times. 13 December 1953. p. 21. Retrieved 25 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  19. ^ "Costume design on paper for the character 'Berinthia' (Dinah Shearing) from Vanbrugh's The Relapse, 1957 [picture] / Robin Lovejoy". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  20. ^ "The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day by Peter Kenna" (PDF). www.thetrust.org.au. 1959. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  21. ^ Vagg, Stephen. "Forgotten Australian TV Plays – The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day". FilmInk. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  22. ^ "A Dying Fall". The Bulletin. Vol. 88, no. 4497. 14 May 1966. Retrieved 25 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  23. ^ "Theatre: "Q" Lunch-Hour Theatre". Journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation. Vol. 54, no. 18. 24 October 1973. Retrieved 25 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  24. ^ Boland, Michaela (28 January 2001). "A Cheery Soul". Variety. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Australian radio series (1930s–1970s)" (PDF). National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  26. ^ "Commercial Radio Plays for Next Week". ABC Weekly. Vol. 12, no. 18. 6 May 1950. p. 27. Retrieved 26 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  27. ^ "Commercial Radio Plays for Next Week". ABC Weekly. Vol. 12, no. 41. 14 October 1950. p. 27. Retrieved 26 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  28. ^ Adamson, Peter (2014). Lindsay Hardy: The Man Who Wrote Dossier on Dumetrius (PDF). p. 104. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  29. ^ "Worth Hearing". The Herald. 27 February 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 25 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  30. ^ "Radio Roundabout". ABC Weekly. Vol. 14, no. 32. 9 August 1952. p. 18. Retrieved 26 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  31. ^ "Full Daily Guide to Radio". The Courier-Mail. 11 March 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 25 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  32. ^ "No title". ABC weekly. Vol. 16, no. 24. 12 June 1954. p. 41. Retrieved 25 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia / Trove.
  33. ^ a b "More Outstanding Radio Drama on CD". www.dailynightly.co.uk. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  34. ^ "The Clock". www.australianotr.com.au. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  35. ^ "ABC Radio Plays for the Week: Alcestis". ABC Weekly. 12 March 1958. p. 14. Retrieved 26 February 2026 – via National Film and Sound Archive / Trove.
  36. ^ "ABC Radio Plays for the Week: The Ponyman". ABC Weekly. 12 November 1958. p. 12. Retrieved 26 February 2026 – via National Film and Sound Archive / Trove.
  37. ^ "Plays of the Week: Dinah Shearing in "As You Like It" (3 June 1959)". ABC Weekly. Vol. 21, no. 22. 3 June 1959. p. 12. Retrieved 25 February 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. ^ "Dr Paul (Episode 4626) – Grace Gibson Productions Radio Serial". National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  39. ^ "All the Rivers Run (1983)". Australian Screen. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  40. ^ "Episode Guide – Season Three". www.fivemilecreek.net. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  41. ^ "2. A surprise visit". Australian Screen. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  42. ^ "Rafferty's Rules: episode guide series 4". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  43. ^ "Police Rescue: episode guide series 3". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  44. ^ "Wildside: episode guide series 1". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  45. ^ "The Lost World: episode guide series one". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  46. ^ "Farscape: episode guide series 4". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  47. ^ a b c "Love Letters". www.woywoylt.com. Retrieved 25 February 2026.

See also "National Library of Australia Collection". Papers of Shearing, Dinah. (Ref: MS 5186) National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT.

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