Barbara Angell was educated at PLC in Melbourne then studied music at
the Melba Conservatorium. She began as an actress with Melbourne's
Little Theatre, worked as a dancer-comedian with the Tivoli Circuit and
remained with it for the next 4 years.
She visited the U.K. in 1959-60 where she was introduced to Revue and
wrote comedy sketches, music and lyrics. On her return to Australia she
formed her own Revue company and co-wrote and produced a series of
successful stage shows. There followed many years of TV and stage
appearances. She wrote for the satirical "Mavis Bramston Show" and
starred in it during its 4 years.
She returned to England in 1969, where she spent the next 20 years
appearing on stage, in films and TV dramas and comedies including "All
Creatures great and Small", "Shoestring" "Angels" and many others. She
was Artistic Director of the Association of Australian Artistes, based
at the Australian High Commission in London. She ran her own small
theatre company, leasing the Arts Theatre in Great Newport Street, WC2,
for lunchtime performances and directing a series of plays there.
Her first book "The Entertainment Machine" was published in 1972
(Horwitz), her second, "Voyage To Port Phillip, 1803" in 1983 (Nepean
Historical Society) her third book "A Woman's War" in 2003 (New
Holland)but most of her prolific writing career has been for television
and the stage. Her latest book "The Coral Browne Story: Theatrical Life
and Times of a Lustrous Australian" was published in Sydney in May 2007
by her own company Angell Productions Pty Limited.
Barb has also been involved with the Alzheimer's Societies of U.K. and
Australia, serving on the Council in the U.K. and later as President of
the NSW (1991-3) and National chapters (1993-4).
