Simon Pryce
Pryce at the 2014 ARIA Music Awards, Sydney, 26 November 2014
Pryce at the 2014 ARIA Music Awards, Sydney, 26 November 2014
Background information
Birth nameSimon James Pryce
Born (1972-03-07) 7 March 1972
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresChildren's, musical theatre
Occupation(s)
  • Children's entertainer
  • singer
  • actor
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • cowbell
  • bass
Years active1997–present
LabelsABC Music
Spouse(s)
Lauren Hannaford
​
(m. 2017)​

Simon James Pryce (born 7 March 1972) is an Australian children's entertainer, singer and actor. He is best known for his work as the Red Wiggle of The Wiggles since 2013, and also for the children's show The Kingdom of Paramithi.

Early life and education

Pryce, whose grandparents were opera singers, started performing at an early age. He studied drama at the University of Western Sydney.

Career

Theatre

He has performed in several musicals, including Cats as Old Deuteronomy, Masterpiece: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Witches of Eastwick, Villain of Flowers, South Pacific, Fidelio with Opera Australia, and The Sunshine Club with the Sydney Theatre Company. He also played the title role in a 2007-09 Australian production of Phantom of the Opera over 100 times. Pryce has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, including Water Rats, All Saints, Home and Away and Hunt Angels.[1] In September 2020, Pryce was revealed to be the "Puppet" on The Masked Singer Australia, placing fourth on the second season of the show.[2][3]

The Wiggles

Pryce joined the Wiggles organization in 2002, beginning as "one of their main voice artists"[1] on several of their CDs. He joined their regular tour in 2009-10, as Ringo the Ringmaster and understudying for founding member Murray Cook. He also starred as King John in the Wiggles' production The Kingdom of Paramithi.[1] In August 2012, Pryce was slated to replace Greg Page as the Yellow Wiggle. However, Page's departure was delayed until the end of that year, after Cook and Purple Wiggle Jeff Fatt decided to retire from the group then, asking Page to extend his stay until then so he would leave alongside them.[4]

Pryce ultimately replaced Cook in early 2013.[5]

In 2016, the Wiggles released The Carnival of the Animals, its narration was written and performed by Pryce. The album, based on the piece by the French Romantic composer Camille Saint-Saëns and performed by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, introduced children to classical music and instruments.[6]

Personal life

Pryce has described himself as "always into fitness and health", but that the Wiggles' performance schedule demanded an even higher level. In early 2016, he described his workout routine and the group's competitive culture of fitness, especially among its male members, to ex-rugby league footballer Adam MacDougall.[7]

In late 2015, Pryce became engaged to ex-gymnast and fitness professional Lauren Hannaford who created online fitness program FHIT. They met four years earlier, when she toured with the Wiggles.[8][6] Pryce and Hannaford were married in Sydney, in January 2017.[9] The couple have a son, born in January 2021.[10]

Discography

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Meet the next generation Wiggles". wiggletime.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  2. ↑ Bond, Nick (7 September 2020). "live: Masked Singer 2020: Puppet unveiled as Red Wiggle Simon Pryce". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  3. ↑ Whitehead, Mat (8 September 2020). "All The Clues From Episode 10 Of The Masked Singer 2020". 10 Play. Network Ten. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  4. ↑ Greg Page Remembers...or Tries To! (Part 11) (Video). YouTube. 23 July 2018. Event occurs at 18:13. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  5. ↑ Gelineau, Kristen (2012-05-17). "New Wiggles to wear the purple, red and yellow shirts". Chicago Sun-Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 2013-10-27
  6. 1 2 "Red Wiggle Simon talks music, Wiggle weddings and children". 17 July 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  7. ↑ MacDougall, Adam (13 February 2016). "MadFit: The Wiggles' Simon Pryce doesn't kid around when it comes to fitness". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  8. ↑ Goulis, Leah. "EXCLUSIVE: Simon Wiggle's big romantic proposal". Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Inside Red Wiggle Simon Pryce's wedding to Lauren Hannaford". Woman's Day. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Mastroianni, Bianca (10 January 2021). "Red Wiggle Simon Pryce welcomes son with Lauren Hannaford". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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