Melissa Abigail Western was born in Manchester, England ... the only daughter of a jazz-singing English father and an award-winning Sri Lankan model mother.
Melissa performs internationally, acting, singing and dancing in musical theatre shows and cabarets, writing and producing new works and singing jazz with a variety of ensembles. Her passion is taking to the stage in front of a live audience, seamlessly weaving song, dance and story into an experience they will want to share and cherish.
By turns sassy, soulful, smart and sweet, Melissa straddles the worlds of jazz, cabaret and theatre. She's widely considered a 'pocket dynamite' who delights in unleashing her unique style of entertainment onto an eager audience. Her self-penned musical Ella, Marilyn, Marlene and Me was an official sell-out at the 2008 and 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, garnering a five star review from ThreeWeeks "absolutely brilliant... enthralling vocal talents wowed the audience" and four stars from The Scotsman "Melissa Western is on fire... it’s mainly about the eyes, the face and the voice.".
2009 performances include: UK tour (Lincolnshire/Nottingham shire), “Lush Life” and “Ella, Marilyn, Marlene and Me” @ Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Brisbane International Film Festival Opening Night, Queensland Day Citizenship Ceremony @ Suncorp Piazza (with Premier Anna Bligh and Lord Mayor Campbell Newman), Vanuatu Sebel, Valley Jazz Festival, Queensland Arts Council Tour through regional Queensland with “A-Z of Cabaret”, "Mischievous Minx Cabaret" Mackay Entertainment Centre. Recent highlights include Women in Voice 17 (QPAC, 2008), Brisbane Festival BackYard Concerts (2008), "Ella, Marilyn, Marlene and Me" Edinburgh Fringe (2008 & 2007), The Butterfly Club (Melbourne 2008), L'église – Avaux (France - 2008). "Melissa and the Cunning Accompanist" Adelaide Fringe Festival (2008), Will and Toby's (Sydney - 2008), Paris Cat (Melbourne - 2008). "Mischievous Minx Cabaret" Powerhouse Theatre - Brisbane Cabaret Festival (2006). Brisbane Jazz Club (dozens of appearances since 2002). Jazz is a great love for Melissa, she has performed over 200 public and corporate gigs in the past two years ranging from simple piano accompaniment to 20 piece jazz orchestras.
Melissa was Valedictorian of her graduating Bachelor of Arts at UQ, holds a University Medal from the University of Queensland, first class Honours degree and was awarded her Masters of Philosophy in the field of Drama. She has trained intensively in musical theatre at RADA (London) and NIDA, physical theatre with Zen Zen Zo, and has trained in dance for over fifteen years including: classes with Luis Pinto (Megajam), Jasmine Meakin (Hip-hop, Sexy Cool), Simone Pope (flamenco) and with teachers at the Broadway Dance Centre (New York).
An established theatre actor, writer and producer Melissa has toured around South-East Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne with Sydney-based musical theatre company Tell Tales Entertainment. She opened the Queensland branch of the company in 2005 and both performs and directs the Queensland-based shows.
Melissa was the President of the Brisbane Jazz Club from 2004 – 2007. Under her stewardship the club flourished and is now celebrated both nationally and internationally as one of Australia’s premier Jazz venues. She was the youngest President in the club’s 35+ year history.
If Melissa has one goal it is to make as many people as possible feel that feeling that you can only get from live performance, that ‘zing’ that makes you remember what life and humanity and existence is all about. Her extensive and varied work in the performing arts as singer, actor, dancer, writer, director, producer and mentor are testament to that strong belief.
Venue and festival highlights: The Vault - Edinburgh Fringe Festival, L'église – Avaux (France), Powerhouse Theatre - Brisbane Cabaret Festival, Brisbane Jazz Club, Speigeltent - Qld Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, QPAC, The Basement – Gold Coast Arts Centre, Valley Jazz Festival, Mackay Entertainment Centre, The Tivoli, Gold Coast Jazz and Blues Club, Maggie Black Jazz Club, The Milkbar, Brisbane City Hall, Sirromet Winery, King George Square, Tweed Valley Jazz Club, La Boite Theatre, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre.
Theatre credits include: Wicked Bodies (La Boite Theatre, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre), The Madness of Sweeney, Taliesan (Mog Roith / Eugene Gilfedder), The Dinosaur Show, Captain Flash and the Fantastic Flying Machine, Santa of the Never Never (Tell Tales Entertainment), Boneless Chicken Brecht, Inheritance, Schoolies, An Entirely New Sensation (Cracka Theatre Troupe).
Cabaret history includes: Brisbane Cabaret Festival, VIII World Shakespeare Congress, Alliance Francaise Bastille Day @ QPAC, Mischievous Minx in Winter: A flirty cabaret about alcohol, drugs, sex and sin, (Metro Arts), The Lady Mayoress’ Valentine’s Gala, Velvet Souls: An Exquisite Evening of smooth jazz ballads, Destiny 10 Dance Party, The Speigeltent, Brisbane City Hall as part of Festivus, Le Classique - Bastille Day.
Download a PDF version of Melissa's biography (current May '08)