Babette Stephens
Encyclopedia
Phyllis Babette Stephens (née Fergusson) (1910 – 28 February 2001) was an Australia
n actress and director. A leading theatrical pioneer, she also appeared in film and television, and hosted talkback radio.
She was born in England. Her theatrical career began when she joined the Brisbane Repertory Theatre in 1930.
In the Brisbane Repertory Theatre society, now La Boite Theatre, she served as Council President from 1957 to 1959 and Theatre Director from 1960 to 1968. It was under her leadership that the company acquired its first permanent premises and performing space, and constructed the first La Boite theatre. (The La Boite after which the company is now named is the second, built in the early 1970s.)
She was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire
) in 1972.
She is the subject of a biography, Never Upstaged, by Jay McKee.
Her funeral, held at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane
, was attended by around 500 people. The speakers included Sue Rider, the immediate past Artistic Director of La Boite Theatre, and Matt Foley, Queensland
's Minister for the Arts.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n actress and director. A leading theatrical pioneer, she also appeared in film and television, and hosted talkback radio.
She was born in England. Her theatrical career began when she joined the Brisbane Repertory Theatre in 1930.
In the Brisbane Repertory Theatre society, now La Boite Theatre, she served as Council President from 1957 to 1959 and Theatre Director from 1960 to 1968. It was under her leadership that the company acquired its first permanent premises and performing space, and constructed the first La Boite theatre. (The La Boite after which the company is now named is the second, built in the early 1970s.)
She was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
) in 1972.
She is the subject of a biography, Never Upstaged, by Jay McKee.
Her funeral, held at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane
St John's Cathedral, Brisbane
St John's Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral of Brisbane and the metropolitan cathedral of the ecclesiastical province of Queensland, Australia...
, was attended by around 500 people. The speakers included Sue Rider, the immediate past Artistic Director of La Boite Theatre, and Matt Foley, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
's Minister for the Arts.