By Anthony McCarthy
Donald Macdonald, an original Play School presenter and one of Australia’s most prolific theatre talents, passed away on the Gold Coast 30 June after a year-long battle with cancer.
Donald had a distinguished theatre and television career spanning more than 60 years and was an award-winning playwright and author. As a director, Donald was also widely acclaimed for his extraordinary vocal coaching, directorial expertise and his calm and generous spirit.
As an artist, Donald believed deeply in the power of the words as well as in the Truth of “The Word made Flesh” which later manifested itself in extraordinary ways through his one-man play The Gospel of St John and in other acclaimed works.
Born in Sydney in 1939, Donald’s father ‘Mac’ Macdonald served in World War II but died of war wounds shortly thereafter. Donald was too young to remember his father and was an only child brought up by his mother ‘Nelly.’
Donald was delighted to grow up alongside his beloved cousins Robert, Carmen, Warren and Paula Duncan. Carmen and Paula Duncan both went on to have highly decorated careers in the arts.
After completing school, Donald began his acting career as the “Hero” at Sydney’s famous Music Hall with later performances including in East Lynne and Lady Audley’s Secret.
From 1966-69, Donald was one of the ABC’s original Play School presenters where he was warmly regarded for his friendly manner, wonderful clear voice and comic timing. His instinct for comedy was to prove vital as his career blossomed in future decades.
In 1968, Donald starred in the ABC’s I Married a Bachelor where he played Mervyn MacGregor – the show won the Logie for Best Comedy in 1968.
For the ABC, Donald also starred in Come in Spinner as well as Is Australia Really Necessary alongside the legendary Miriam Karlin, whilst on stage he starred in A Cup of Tea, a Bex and a Good Lie Down.
After establishing his career in Sydney, Donald moved to the UK where he made his West End debut in Sons of Cain before first appearing on UK television in Colditz.
Later, Donald appeared in the ABC’s Backberner and in the films Black and White, Superman Returns and Kenny. Donald also had guest roles in dozens of other shows including Kingswood Country, Cop Shop, A Country Practice, Rafferty’s Rules, Heroes II, GP, Jag, and Rake.
Other stage credits included multiple appearances for The Sydney Theatre Company and QLD Theatre Company as well as in the musicals Camelot and MacKillop. He also played Pontius Pilate for the WYD08 performance of the Stations of the Cross on Sydney Harbour.
An award-winning screenwriter, novelist and author, Donald wrote one of Australia’s most successful stage comedies Caravan which delighted audiences originally at the Sydney Opera House for The Ensemble Theatre then in London where Donald also personally starred in the cast. Caravan is still regularly performed to this day.
Donald also wrote several other plays including Hot Taps, Giuseppe, Saints Alive, Seasons, Boulevard Play, Truth and The Italian Classic. His novel With a Wise Man was published by Pan.
Beginning in the mid-1980s, Donald explored various eastern and western spiritualities and following a long period of discernment, ultimately converted and became a Catholic. Focusing his interest in eastern mysticism, Donald later became an enthusiastic proponent of Christian meditation.
At one time, Donald also considered a late vocation with the Redemptorists but ultimately felt called to remain as a layperson. At another time, after spending time in meditation and prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament, Donald felt drawn to contribute his talents to the church and felt especially called to perform “The Gospel.”
Donald subsequently learnt the entire Gospels off by heart and developed his own one-man play The Gospel According to St John, where he brought the story to life in a captivating 90-minute production. Over the next 25 years, Donald performed The Gospel of St John across Australia and overseas including in 2011 as part of a world tour with performances at the Edinburgh Festival, in London and in New York.
Almost every year for two decades Donald also performed St John’s Passion on Good Friday in several churches in NSW and QLD including at St Anne’s Bondi and Sacred Heart Surfers Paradise, the church where his funeral Mass was ultimately held on 4 July.
In 2002, Donald also became principal theatrical director with Artes Christi where over the next two decades, he directed multiple productions including A Man for All Seasons (2002 and 2011), Murder in the Cathedral (2005 and 2018), Shadowlands, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Jeweller’s Shop, and his own play Saints Alive.
Donald grew to have a legendary reputation with the actors he directed – almost every actor spoke of being profoundly uplifted in their work – all felt challenged to improve their craft while feeling greatly supported and encouraged by Donald.
Donald was deeply committed to truth and meaning through performance and would famously instruct his casts “Use the words – it’s all there. It’s in the words.”
On another occasion while directing a poignant play, Donald gave clear guidelines to his actors: “This may be a spiritual experience for the audience – but not for you. You are working.”
A strong supporter of Australia’s veterans, Donald also became artistic adviser to The Australian Remembrance Foundation and in 2021 performed in the original Anzac Sunset Tribute alongside Christine Anu, Judy Nunn AM and Bruce Venables.
One of Donald’s final great successes was Letter to Larry – a play based on the life of Vivien Leigh staged in London and Paris to rave reviews. The play has now had three successful West End productions and a feature film is in the planning.
Like so many actors of his generation, Donald was fiercely protective of his age. I knew Donald for 25 years and despite us identifying that he had the same birthday as my grandmother on 2nd December, he never told me his year of birth.
On one occasion I was booking a flight for Donald for an upcoming production and a date of birth was required. Donald was appalled and directed me towards Virgin Airlines where his Velocity account meant his age was not a requirement.
We now know Donald died at 85 – I would have guessed he was somewhere between 78 and 83.
Perhaps Donald’s hesitancy with his age was because he never intended to retire. And he never did. He was prolific even until his final weeks, continuing to write and develop multiple works right up until the final days of his life while suffering with cancer.
In my last conversation with Donald, the Monday before he died, he told me he was now in his final months. I responded that I was devastated as he had been like a second father to me. With his usual conviction, stability and deep faith, Donald declared simply “Don’t be sad my son – I’m going home.”
Donald was the greatest artistic influence of my life, a truly extraordinary person who I and many others had the deep honour to work with for more than two decades.
Donald will be sorely missed by his family, hundreds of artists and thousands of audience members across Australia and overseas.
Donald Macdonald’s funeral was held at Sacred Heart Church Surfers Paradise 4 July with the video now available at https://vimeo.com/event/5230930
