2007 Inductee: Toni Lamond

Thank god for Times Of My Life. Had it not been for this amazing cabaret show, written by Toni Lamond and her son Tony Sheldon and produced for the first time in 2007, the younger generation of theatre would not know half as much as they now do about Lamond, an extraordinary Australian talent whose history in theatre is both long and glamorous.

As she proved at the 2007 Light The Night event, Toni Lamond has still got it, even though she is now well into her 70’s.

Lamond’s career started at the age of 10, performing in her family’s variety shows both on stage and on radio.

She would go on to become one of the greatest Australian theatrical talents ever.

Lamond appeared in the Australian casts of shows such as The Pajama Game, Oliver!, Anything Goes, Gypsy and Wildcat.

She became a regular figure in lounge rooms across the country thanks to the medium of television, and then re-located to America in the mid-70’s where she appeared in many major musicals and television shows.

Eventually, she returned home and her theatrical credits continued – 42nd Street, The Follies Concert, Pirates Of Penzance and My Fair Lady, to name just a few.

Lamond’s life has not always been full of glamour. Amongst the highlights there has also been significant tragedy.

As she told Talking Heads on the ABC in 2005, “I was on the road with Oliver and my marriage was in the process of breaking up. And after we closed in Sydney I took the overnight train to Melbourne, and the police stopped the train at Goulburn. And got on to tell Tony and I that my husband had taken his own life. What a waste.”

Lamond would go on to deal with many demons but she managed to get through her pain, and in the process her career continued to strengthen.

These days, Toni Lamond continues to tour with solo shows. She remains one of Australia’s greatest and most sought-after talents.