Melbourne’s vibrant cultural history is set to be illuminated in an upcoming project by opera and cabaret performer Ali McGregor, who has been awarded the Frank Van Straten Fellowship for 2024.

McGregor’s project focuses on the life of Australian stage actress Nellie Stewart, a beloved figure in the late 19th century, known as “Our Nell” and “The Rose of Australia.”

McGregor received a $15,000 grant to explore Stewart’s legacy and create a stage production that revives the actress’s cultural significance. Stewart, who rose to prominence in the 1880s, made a name for herself in productions such as Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado and her iconic role as Nell Gwynne in Sweet Nell of Old Drury. Though Stewart performed internationally, she remained a celebrated figure in Australia throughout her career.

Ali McGregor. Photo © Alan Moyle

McGregor, who is known for her ability to seamlessly traverse between opera and cabaret, felt an immediate connection with Stewart’s life story.

“To realise that just three generations ago, there was an artist so well-known and loved here in Melbourne that I did not know of, was humbling, to say the least,” she said, adding that her exploration...