Nita Pannell

AM OBE
Pannell in 1950, rehearsing for Noel Coward's Hay Fever
Born
Nita Veronica Hanrahan

(1904-07-01)1 July 1904
Wellington Mill, Western Australia
Died29 September 1994(1994-09-29) (aged 90)
Claremont, Western Australia

Nita Veronica Pannell AM OBE (1 July 1904 – 29 September 1994) was an Australian teacher, actress and theatre director.[1]

In the 1950s Pannell produced a number of plays and operettas for Perth amateur groups such as The Playboy of the Western World (Phoenix Players),[2] The Pirates of Penzance (Gilbert and Sullivan Society),[3] St Patrick's Day (Chiron Club)[4] and The New Moon (Repertory Club).[5]

Notable performances

Pannell appeared as Mum in the professional premiere of Alan Seymour's The One Day of the Year at the Palace Theatre in Sydney.[6] She toured with the play to England with fellow cast members Ron Haddrick and Reg Lye.[7]

Patrick White wrote A Cheery Soul with Pannell in mind for the role of Miss Docker.[8] In the 1963 premiere, her performance was described as "brilliant" by The Bulletin.[9]

In 1964 she played the leading role of Miss Quodling in the premiere of Patrick White's play, Night on Bald Mountain in Adelaide.[10]

Perth writer, Mary Durack and Pannell collaborated to create Swan River Saga, which the latter premiered at the 1972 Festival of Perth and then went on tour.[11][12]

Pannell premiered her one-woman show, Adam's Rib, at the 1975 Festival of Perth and subsequently performed it at the Australia 75 festival in Canberra.[13]

Awards and recognition

Pannell was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1977[14] and a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989, in both cases for "service to the performing arts".[15] In 1981 she was named Western Australian Citizen of the Year (arts).[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Hough, David J., "Pannell, Nita Veronica (1904–1994)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 9 September 2021
  2. ↑ "They play their part in building a proud nation Pakistani Women". Western Mail. Vol. 67, no. 3, 817. Western Australia. 21 August 1952. p. 36. Retrieved 10 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Savoy Opera Revival Scores A Big Hit". The West Australian. Vol. 69, no. 20, 994. Western Australia. 3 November 1953. p. 9. Retrieved 10 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "Awards In Festival Announced". The West Australian. Vol. 69, no. 20, 909. Western Australia. 27 July 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 10 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Choreography For Play Is Local Work". The West Australian. Vol. 70, no. 21, 188. Western Australia. 19 June 1954. p. 21. Retrieved 10 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ Drain, Dorothy (10 May 1961). "It seems to me". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 28, no. 4[?]. p. 12. Retrieved 10 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "World Cable Round-Up: Play". The Canberra Times. Vol. 36, no. 10, 026. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 September 1961. p. 11. Retrieved 10 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "Play's Premiere". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. XXX, no. 11. Victoria, Australia. 22 November 1963. p. 13. Retrieved 10 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ Armstrong, Madeleine (7 December 1963), "Reviews – Theatre – The Powers of Darkness Patrick White's evil "do-gooder"", The Bulletin, John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 85 (4373): 39, ISSN 0007-4039
  10. ↑ Armstrong, Madeleine (28 March 1964), "Reviews – Theatre – The Professor's Tragedy – Patrick White and the miseries of sex", The Bulletin, John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 86 (4388): 43, ISSN 0007-4039
  11. ↑ "Portrait of a pioneer". The Canberra Times. Vol. 47, no. 13, 447. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 29 May 1973. p. 11. Retrieved 10 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ "Swan River Saga". The Australian Live Performance Database. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  13. ↑ Hodgkinson, Jan (11 January 1975). "Australia 75 festival is alive and well". The Canberra Times. Vol. 49, no. 13, 961. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 2. Retrieved 10 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ↑ "Mrs Nita Veronica Pannell". It's An Honour. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  15. ↑ "Mrs Nita Veronica Pannell, OBE". It's An Honour. Retrieved 9 September 2021.


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