Nancye Hayes AM
Nancye Hayes began her career with J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd as a chorus member in My Fair Lady. She went on to star in many major musical productions including Sweet Charity, Chicago, Sweeney Todd, Guys & Dolls and 42nd Street and is now celebrating over 60 years in the industry.
Most recently Nancye performed in 4000 Miles at Sydney Theatre Company. Nancye’s other recent credits include Mary Poppins as ‘Bird Woman’ (Michael Cassel), A Little Night Music (Hayes Theatre co) for which Nancye won the 2023 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical, Ripcord (State Theatre of South Australia) and her one woman show Hayes (Hayes Theatre Co) for which she received Best Cabaret Performance at The Sydney Theatre Awards. Other credits include Minnie and Laraz (Melbourne Theatre Co), Six Dance Lessons with Todd McKenney (Ensemble Theatre and Christine Dunstan Productions), Follies in Concert (Story Board Entertainment) , Sondheim on Sondheim (Manilla Street Productions), as ‘Ruth’ in Pirates of Penzance (Harvest Rain), as ‘Lady Bracknell’ in The Importance of Being Earnest (State Theatre Company SA), as ‘Miss Hannigan’ in the Australian Tour of Annie (The Gordon Frost Organisation), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Jerry’s Girls (The Production Company), Grey Gardens, Follies, Oklahoma, Music Man, Funny Girl, Brigadoon (The Production Co.), Murderers (Ensemble), A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady (Opera Australia), and Sunday in the Park with George (Victorian Opera).
Nancye also made a significant contribution as a theatre director. Her credits include The Boy from Oz, Sweet Charity, Gypsy (The Production Co.), Crazy for You and The World Goes Round (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts), Australia’s Leading Ladies Concert (Brisbane Festival), The Wizard of Oz (GFO/SEL/Macks Entertainment) and Noel & Gertie (Christine Dunstan Productions).
Nancye received the 2025 Equity Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Helpmann Awards in 2011, The Sydney Theatre Awards in 2009 and The Green Room Awards Association in 2003. Nancye was honoured with The Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 1981 and an AM in 2014.