Jan Hartley Biography

A well established Singer and Stage/Television Actress most recently playing 'Veronica' in Jennifer Saunders' Jam and Jerusalem for the BBC. She is a well-known West End performer and has played many leading roles including 'Christine' in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre. She is a regular Concert Performer and Voiceover Artist.
Jan's West End starring roles include 'Maria' in West Side Story (Her Majesty's). 'Lucy' in Bless the Bride (Sadler's Wells). 'Wallis Simpson' in Always (Victoria Palace) and a year as 'Christine' in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre. Her appearances for the Royal Shakespeare Company include 'Magnolia' in Show Boat (London Palladium/Opera North) and, The Shakespeare Revue (UK/US Tours, Off Broadway).

Jan has created many leading roles in new musicals, including: 'Belle' in Dreams From A Summer House written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn; 'Andy' in Stepping Out-The Musical, 'Blanche' in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and 'Charlotte Bronte' in Bronte. Recent work includes 'Sally' in Sondheim's Follies (Theatre Royal, Northampton), 'Sarah Brown' in Guys and Dolls (Vienna Konzerthaus) and 'Shirley Vernon' in Gershwin's Lady Be Good (Lisbon Opera House). Concert work includes recitals for the Prince of Wales at Highgrove and St James's Palace, plus Christmas Galas with the RPO at the Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Opera includes the title role in The Merry Widow for The Carl Rosa Opera Company (UK Tour and Cape Town Opera House), 'Alice Ford' in Verdi's Falstaff (Music Theatre London), 'Donna Anna' in Don Giovanni (Barbican), 'Cherubino' in The Marriage of Figaro and the title role in Rossini's La Cenerentola (both Vienna Opera Festival).

For BBC Radio 2 Jan has been a soloist on Friday Night is Music Night and Songs from the Shows. Television appearances include The Oresteia (BBC), 'The Countess' in The Marriage of Figaro (BBC), and 'Elsie Victoria' in Hannay opposite Robert Powell for Thames Television. For BBC1 Jan recently guest-starred in two episodes of Jennifer Saunders' hit comedy series Jam and Jerusalem.