George Henare

George’s career in the theatre began in Christchurch at the Theatre Royal in the New Zealand Opera Company’s production of Porgy and Bess in 1965.

The next five years saw more tours with the New Zealand Opera Company and the New Zealand Opera Quartet, plays at the original Downstage Theatre in Wellington, radio drama, television appearances and international tours with the New Zealand Maori Theatre Trust.

In 1971 George moved to Auckland’s Mercury Theatre as a leading actor and for the next 20 years played everything from King Lear, Sweeney Todd and Salieri to Toad, Scarecrow and Cinderella’s ugly sister, to name but a few.

He was awarded an OBE for services to theatre in 1988.  Over the last 15 years, George has appeared in Australia in many TV productions, commercial shows, Jesus Christ Superstar and Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera plus productions with the Melbourne Theatre Co, Sydney Ensemble Theatre. He also completed a sell-out season of David Hares’ Stuff Happens with B Company Belvoir Street Theatre.

Film credits include Once were Warriors; Rapunzal; Silent One; Legend of Johnny Lingo. TV includes Xena; Hercules; Mercy Peak; Street Legal. In 2000 he received Best Actor in a TV Series for his work in Signatures and also Talking Book Narrator of the Year. George was last seen at The Court Theatre as Dr Frank’N’Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show; The Goat, or who is Sylvia?; and, most recently, Educating Rita.