Jason Donovan: Doin’ Fine Encore
He’s the Aussie hearthrob who’s ageing like fine wine… from a starring role in sunny soaps to a pop career and a list of theatrical performances in some of the world’s most popular musicals, Jason Donovan is doin’ fine, as you can see for yourself this month
Jason Donovan is a performer whose career has unfolded in chapters, each one distinct yet clearly connected. For many, his name still evokes the pop anthems and television moments that defined a generation.
For others, it brings to mind a long and respected career in musical theatre, built on discipline, adaptability and a genuine love of live performance. As he returns to the stage with the Doin’ Fine Encore tour, Jason is reflective, grounded and very much focused on the present rather than the past.
Now permanently based in Britain, Jason has lived here for more than three decades. “I’ve been based in Britain for many, many years now,” he says. “Probably since around 1990 or 1991. It was mostly work-orientated. I had a wonderful, burgeoning career that was really enticing me to this part of the world.” With an English father and deep professional roots in the UK, the move felt natural. “It’s been a good country to me. The people have been good. My children are educated here, my wife’s from the UK, so it’s home.”
Born in Melbourne in 1968 into a family already immersed in performance, Jason’s path into entertainment began early. He was acting professionally by the age of nine, learning his craft long before fame arrived. That grounding would later prove invaluable when his career accelerated at extraordinary speed following his casting as Scott Robinson in Neighbours. The show’s arrival on British television turned Jason into an international star almost overnight, with his on-screen partnership with Kylie Minogue becoming one of the most iconic storylines in soap history.
Music followed swiftly. Signed by Stock Aitken Waterman, Jason’s debut album Ten Good Reasons became the biggest-selling album in the UK in 1989, producing a string of hit singles and cementing his place in pop history.
Yet he has always been candid about that period. “I didn’t get into this business to be famous,” he says. “Fame was a by-product of what I did.” It was an intense time, but also one of immense opportunity, leading directly to his first live tour in 1990, the moment that inspired the title of his current show.
“Doin’ Fine was the title of my first ever live tour,” he explains. “At that time I went from being in a TV show to having hits all around the world, and suddenly I was touring big venues. Doin’ Fine felt positive then, and it still does now.” The Doin’ Fine Encore tour marks 35 years since that transition. “This tour is really about celebrating 35 years of live work,” he says, a milestone that reflects both longevity and evolution.
As musical trends shifted in the early 1990s, Jason made a decisive move away from pop stardom and back towards acting and theatre. His casting in the title role of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium became a turning point.
The production ran for 18 months, earned him an Olivier Award nomination and redefined his public image. Theatre, rather than chart success, became the foundation of his working life. Over the years, Jason has built an impressive stage career, appearing in productions including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Annie Get Your Gun, The Sound of Music, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Chicago.
More recently, his portrayal of Dr Frank‘n’Furter in The Rocky Horror Show has allowed him to surprise audiences once again. “Frank is the complete antithesis of what people think I am,” he says.
“That’s acting. I get to reinvent myself, and sometimes people say they didn’t even realise it was me on stage.” The role, he admits, holds a special appeal. “I get to be a rock star every night. It’s a wonderful role to play.”
Despite his success across multiple disciplines, Jason remains refreshingly pragmatic about work. “I’ve kept busy,” he says. “I think I’ve got a good work ethic, and I genuinely like what I do.” That sense of enjoyment is crucial. “It’s a wonderful thing in life to build on something you enjoy and to keep being challenged.”
Now approaching his late fifties, he shows no desire to slow down completely. “You might think I’d be taking things a little slower,” he says, “but it’s all about work-life balance.”
Family life is central to that balance. Jason speaks with pride about his children and their emerging careers, but is careful not to impose expectations.
“We educate our kids to make their own choices,” he says. “As long as they’re passionate, that’s the most important thing.”
His own experience has shaped that philosophy. “It’s a competitive, up-and-down industry, but if you keep your eye on the craft and you care about what you’re doing, then why not?”
The Doin’ Fine Encore tour reflects that same ethos. The show is music-driven rather than conversational, designed to flow naturally rather than follow a strict chronology. “It’s a biographical celebration of 35 years of live work,” Jason explains. “It just evolves. We work out what songs segue the best, and I might punctuate moments with the odd story or anecdote, but it’s always about the music.”
Audiences can expect a blend of chart hits and musical theatre favourites, from Too Many Broken Hearts and Especially For You to songs from Joseph and Rocky Horror. While nostalgia plays its part, Jason is keen not to dwell solely on the past.
“I respect the foundations,” he says. “Neighbours, Joseph, those things are important. But I like to look forward.” Life, he insists, is not just about work. “I’ve got a family. I enjoy mowing my lawn, painting my house, doing normal things. That matters to me.”
Jason is realistic about his audience, acknowledging that many fans have followed him for decades. “Most of my core audience is probably 40-plus,” he says. “But I don’t really concentrate on that. I just get out there and do it.” What matters most is authenticity. “I enjoy the process, and hopefully people see that.”
Live performance, he admits, remains demanding. “It’s exhausting,” he says. “I still get anxious, which probably means I still care.” Singing, travelling and being away from home takes its toll, but the rewards are undeniable. “Most artists have to get on the road and sell what they do. That’s what I’ve been doing for a long time now. I love it, but I also love being at home.”
As the Doin’ Fine Encore tour reaches venues across the UK, including dates close to home for readers in Lincolnshire, Rutland and Stamford, it offers a chance to see a performer who has navigated fame with honesty and resilience. Jason Donovan’s career is not defined by a single role or era, but by a willingness to adapt and keep moving forward. “I still believe there’s creative fuel left in the tank,” he says. For audiences, that confidence is unmistakable, and it is exactly what makes this latest chapter such a compelling one.
Jason will appear in our area as part of his Doin’ Fine Encore tour:
Friday 13th March, New Theatre, Peterborough
Saturday 14th March, Embassy Centre, Skegness
Sunday 15th March, Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Wednesday 18th March, De Montfort Hall, Leicester
For ticket availability and prices, VIP ‘meet ‘n’ greet’ opportunities and other details, see www.jasondonovan.com.