Profile
White Baptist Abba Fan - Testimonial
"It’s theatre which seems to halt time. It’s as if, for 70 minutes, the trivia of everyday life ceases to be. She takes her audience into her world and transfixes us there."
Sun Herald 1997 (Australia) |
Deborah Cheetham, Soprano, actor and author of the internationally acclaimed play, White Baptist Abba Fan, has established her place as an artist in great demand. Since her international debut in 1997 Deborah has performed in the theatres and concert halls of Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and throughout Australia.
In October 2003 Deborah performed World In Union with Argentine tenor Jose Cura at the Opening Ceremony for the Rugby World Cup. This performance was broadcast to a worldwide audience estimated at more than one billion.
In May 2005 Deborah added to her list of international credits several engagements in Paris including performances at the Australian Embassy and on stage at La Cigale in the Marais.
During her early career Deborah formed Short Black Productions and was responsible for writing, producing and performing a style of Opera Cabaret, which has taken her to the major Cabaret Festivals around Australia. Early shows such as Short Black Opera Café and Death Scenes and Drama Queens enjoyed great success in the fringe festival circuit whilst the sophisticated 1999 Brisbane Festival hit ‘Til The Black Lady Sings has received rave reviews in Adelaide (2002 Cabaret Festival), Sydney (2002 Cabaret Convention) and in Perth (Down Stairs at The Maj’).
In 1996 Deborah was commissioned by the Olympic Arts Festival to write and perform a one-woman play for the Wimmin’s Business series in the 1997 Festival of the Dreaming. The play, White Baptist Abba Fan, is an autobiographical account of Deborah’s life and includes arias by Handel, Puccini, Catalanni, Dvorak, Gounod and Addams.
White Baptist Abba Fan premiered in the Playhouse of the Sydney Opera House and was received with critical acclaim.
This lead to an invitation to perform in Manchester (UK) where, once again to critical acclaim, Deborah made her European debut.
Her 1998 national tour included the Melbourne International Festival, Brisbane Festival, Canberra Playhouse, The Peacock Theatre in Hobart and the Space Theatre at the Festival Arts Centre in Adelaide.
1998 National Tour - Testimonial
"Cheeky humour, poignant emotion and stirring revelations… her story is a truth that must be told, an aria in search of its rightful place."
Canberra Times |
In 1999, Deborah toured with White Baptist Abba Fan internationally, giving sell-out performances in The Edge (Auckland, NZ) as well as the Christchurch Arts Festival (NZ), and Zürcher Theater Spektakel (Switzerland).
"…it is real, and it is definitely the most intense piece of theatre I have experienced."
New Zealand Herald
"With bitter irony, seldom sentimental, her witty torrent of words fascinates the audience."
Solohurner Zeitung, Theater Spektakel, Zurich
During 2000 Deborah performed to full houses at the Barbican centre in London and hosted the Australia Day celebration in Hanover for the 2000 World Expo.
In August 2000 she was commissioned to write and perform an original composition, Dali Mana Gamarada, which she would later perform as the Welcome to Country at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Deborah later collaborated with Wicked Beats Sound System to record Dali Mana as the lead track for Festival Records 2001 CD Corroboration.
“Opera diva Deborah Cheetham and Wicked Beat Sound System create the ethereal Dali Mana Gamarada.”
The Bulletin
Throughout 2001 Deborah performed in several major events celebrating the Centenary of Federation including January 1st when she appeared as a soloist and speaker in a Concert broadcast nation wide from Centennial Park in Sydney. Other events included Ceremony at the Melbourne Concert Hall and Peoplescape - broadcast nationally on the ABC from Parliament House in Canberra.
Centennial Park Concert - Testimonial
“Soprano Deborah Cheetham…performing the most achingly beautiful Italian and French arias…treating us with her gorgeous singing”
The Age (Australia) |
During 2002 she performed in Melbourne at the 2002 Australian Business and Arts Foundation Award Dinner. In May that year she performed with Simon Tedeschi in a concert honouring His Holiness the Dalai Lama held at the Sydney Opera House.
“Strauss…in the hands Simon Tedeschi and Deborah Cheetham evoked a magic equal to that of the Gyuto Monks' chants.”
World Tibet Network News
In November 2002 Deborah gave a world premier performance of True, a newly commissioned work by Australian composer Martin Wesley Smith. This performance was recorded live for ABC radio.
In June 2003 Deborah was presented with the Centenary Medal, awarded by the Prime Minister of Australia, in recognition of her outstanding performances during the Centenary of Federation Celebrations. Other 2003 performance highlights included; Opera on the Beach – Australia Day (Sydney), Faure and Rutter Requiems (Sydney), Puccini Under the Stars (Alice Springs) and Christmas at the Town Hall (Sydney).
Since 2000 Deborah has been an Australia Day Ambassador for the Australia Day Council.
2005 |
Australian Embassy Recital – Australian Embassy Paris, France
Deaflympics Opening Ceremony – Olympic Park, Melbourne |
2003 |
Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony – Telstra Stadium Australia
Christmas at the Town Hall, Sydney
AMA Gala Dinner, Shereton on the Park Sydney
Opera On the Beach, Cronulla Australia Day Celebrations
|
2002 |
ABAF Award Ceremony – Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
World Premier of True by Martin Wesley Smith, Canberra
Opening Ceremony 2002 Gay Games – Aussie Stadium, Sydney
Carols at the Caldron – Olympic Park, Sydney
Sydney Cabaret Convention Gala
Angel Place Recital Hall
Concert to honour His Holiness the Dalai Lama – Sydney Opera House
‘til the Black Lady Sings – Festival Arts Centre, Adelaide Cabaret
|
2001 |
People Scape
Soloist at the final Centenary of Federation concert broadcast nationally on the ABC, Parliament House Canberra.‘til the Black Lady Sings -
Down Stairs at the Maj. – Perth, WA
Ceremony - Soloist and narrator at the Centenary of Federation concert with
Yothu Yindi – Melbourne Concert Hall
Journey Of A Nation -
Soloist and speaker at the Centenary of Federation concert broadcast nationally on the ABC.
Carmen -
Nepean Choral Society
|
2000 |
Opening Ceremony Sydney 2000 Olympic Games - Soloist for the Welcome to Country
Olympic Arts Festival Launch - Soloist and composer of original music for both the dawn ceremony at La Perouse and the dusk ceremony at the Sydney Opera House
White Baptist Abba Fan -
Written by Deborah Cheetham,
Directed by Cathy Downes
Sydney – Seymour Centre
London – Barbican Centre
The World Expo – Australian Official Ceremony -
Soloist,
Hanover – Germany
The Stars Come Out,
Sydney – State Theatre
Celebration of the Female Voice Concert, Sydney – Centennial Park
|
1999 |
White Baptist Abba Fan - Auckland, Christchurch, Zurich
Dreaming of A Better Future closing ceremony - Sydney Opera House
Lord Mayors’ Gala Performance - Brisbane Town Hall
Gather ‘Round, world premier of original work by Australian composer Damien Barbler -
NSW Conservatorium of Music
Everything’s Possible, recital -
Llewellyn Hall
|
1998 |
White Baptist Abba Fan - Manchester - UK, National tour Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Canberra, Adelaide
Flesh and Blood Exhibition, opening - Museum of Sydney
Carmen Jones – the role of Frankie, Melbourne Concert Hall
|
1997 |
Festival of the Dreaming - White Baptist Abba Fan, Sydney Opera House
Young Australian of the Year Award Ceremony, Parliament House Canberra
|
1996 |
Porgy and Bess – the roles of Lily and the Strawberry Woman - Brisbane Festival
|
Television Appearances
Featured interviews, documentaries and performances.
BBC (UK) Beyond The Fatal Shore
ABC (Aus.) Journey of A Nation
ABC (Aus.) People Scape
ABC (Aus.) People Dimensions
Sky News Viewpoint
7 (NZ) Holmes Report
7 (Aus.) Rugby World Cup, Opening Ceremony
10 (Aus.) Good News Week Comedy Debate
9 (Aus.) Today Show
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