Like many of her generation, one of Marina Prior’s first memories is singing along to the Seekers’ Georgy Girl as a small child living in 1970s Melbourne.
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The 54-year-old soprano said she feels privileged to be growing as an artist with age, and has learnt from “a series of revelations” leading her to enjoy the stage and life even more.
The minute you stop learning as a performer you may as well give up.
- Marina Prior
“We get so judged in this industry,” Prior said.
“We’re putting ourselves on the line, so you can’t be crippled by fear.
“One of the greatest things about getting older is you really don’t give a toss about what people think.
“Follow your gut, take the step, take the risk, and take the difficult role, even if people say you can’t.”
Prior’s love of music has never faltered, and filters through every aspect of her life as she continues to learn as a performer.
“There is a lot of jamming around the dinner table,” she said with a laugh.
“I’ve always learnt by doing, and by making mistakes.
“I learnt everything on stage, in front of hundreds of people staring at me every night.
“The minute you stop learning as a performer you may as well give up.”
Joined by tenor David Hobson, Prior has sold out shows across the country as the pair’s The 2 Of Us tour looks to bring a raw and honest performance to fans.
“It is hard work, but we’re not doing rock ‘n’ roll and drinking until 5am, we have a glass of wine and go to bed,’ Prior said.
The performance is a reflection of more than three decades of friendship, delving down diverse avenues with a much more relaxed approach.
Breaking the creative shackles of the structured world of theatre, Prior describes the show as relaxed and pure.
“The audience sees us as who we are, and I don’t think they have expected so much laughter,” Prior said.
”It’s a great joy, we genuinely love it, and I love what I do, we love what we do.
“It’s what I feel I was born to do.”
Aside from her prolific career in musical theatre, the soprano has for years been a regular on Australian television screens belting out the national anthem.
Prior said the key is to “sing it well and get the words right”, and shared her sympathy for former Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie, who hit the headlines after this year’s NBA Allstar Game when she was criticised for her unique performance of the US National Anthem.
”I think she possibly might have been ill advised by somebody,” Prior said.
”It hasn’t ruined her career though, she’ll be fine.
- Marina Prior and David Hobson perform The 2 Of Us at Club Sapphire in Merimbula on Saturday August 4.