In the original long-range forecast of her life, there was a high probability Jenny Woodward would end up as a stage performer.
Now, after more than 35 years presenting the weather on the ABC, the much-loved “professional skywatcher” is relishing that chance with a one-woman stage show Weathering Well.
Jenny has been touring Queensland and will bring her show to the Sunshine Coast and Noosa in early February.
It promises fun, flashbacks, and fashion and is a potted history of her life and times.
Combining comedy, live music, video projections and a killer script with Jenny’s natural wit and charm, Weathering Well is an 80-minute autobiographical theatre experience with a high probability of intriguing anecdotes and behind-the-scenes revelations.
“I’m also going to talk about hairstyles and fashion and how they’ve changed over the years, and I’ve got some fairly startling photos which I am going to share. There’s a lot of, ‘Oh my God, what was I thinking?!'” Jenny revealed.
“It won’t be all about me! Australia has some really interesting weather history and there’s one particular character I’m going to spend a bit of time on, Clement Wragge, who was one of the founders of weather forecasting in Australia.”
The show was two-and-a-half years in the making and signals a return to Jenny’s roots, having studied theatre at university and performed in a NSW touring theatre company before her television career took hold.
“I guess I had always felt that I hadn’t fulfilled my stage career and I got to that point in my life where I thought, if I don’t do this now, I’m never going to do it,” Jenny said.
“And of course, I didn’t have to audition for myself which was the best part!”
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Weathering Well is produced by Jenny’s son, Alex Woodward, and directed by Matilda award-winning Bridget Boyle with Luke Volker as music director, Nathan Sibthorpe designing audio and visual and Karen Berkman co-writing the original script.
While the spotlight is firmly trained on the first lady of meteorology, Jenny will be joined on the Powerhouse Theatre stage by Jake Bristow on keyboard, underscoring the show.
“I think having a live musician on stage gives the whole show a more theatrical edge,” she said.
“Oh, we might have a little sing at the end! It’s the kind of thing I don’t think people would expect me to do.”
After making its premiere at Brisbane Powerhouse in 2021, Weathering Well has been touring regional Queensland and is now heading to the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Ipswich, Redland Bay and the Gold Coast before returning to the Brisbane Powerhouse for two final shows.
“I said from the outset I really wanted to take this show to regional Queensland which has been a huge part of my audience ever since I started in television,” Jenny said.
“I love going out on location, particularly once I get out of the city, as I get to meet so many wonderful people and find out a bit more about their lives which are so different to mine in Brisbane.
“I’m really looking forward to continuing to take this show throughout regional Queensland and to coastal communities.”
For more information on the show, visit jennywoodwardweather.com
Tour dates
Sunshine Coast | The Events Centre – 03 February 2022
Noosa | The J Noosa – 04 February 2022
