On the road again

The old saying ''necessity is the mother of invention'' is behind New Zealand singer and performer Helen Medlyn's latest skill set. Rebecca Fox finds out how she is combining her two greatest passions: driving and music.

Most people's image of singer Helen Medlyn involves sparkly dresses and exuberant performances, not Harley Davidson motorcycles and buses.

But those who know her well have always known she has had a longing for hitting the wide open road on a motorcycle.

Last year, aged 56, she made that dream come true, buying her own Harley-Davidson.

More recently, she has been doing it behind the wheel of a bus.

Medlyn, who is well known to Dunedin audiences for her opera roles and her ''Hell'' cabaret shows with friend Penny Dodd that have featured in Otago's Festival of the Arts over the years, and who became a member of the NZ Order of Merit in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours for her services to the performing arts, is not one to sit quietly between commitments.

''While I still do lots of singing work and I'm a wedding celebrant as well, I needed something to fill in the gaps.''

Enter her love of driving and of seeing New Zealand.

''So I thought, `come on, I'll go learn how to drive a truck'.''

She did an intensive five-day driving course last year and gained class 2, motorcycle and passenger licences.

So when John Cameron and Susan Boland from Operatunity (a touring opera and musical company) called to say their bus driver was sick and asked would she fill in, she jumped at the chance.

''I did two weeks around the North Island, not singing. I just drove the team, and loved it.''

So when they called to ask if she wanted to join the company for a tour singing and driving the bus, she just could not say no.

''They're a fabulous team of people.''

She will share the driving with another team member and perform along with four others in the revue-style show, which features ''the best musicals of all time'' and will visit the Mosgiel Coronation Hall next Thursday.

''Seriously, instead of combining two passions, it's in fact three: singing, driving and going through our wonderful country.''

Over the years she has always enjoyed mixing up the types of music she performs, from opera and classical to jazz and musical theatre.

Her old friend, pianist Dodd, was also part of the tour and they would perform numbers such as Don't Cry for Me Argentina, among others, together.

''I love being on stage with my mate. We've been working together for 30 years.''

While born in the United Kingdom, Medlyn has lived in New Zealand since she was 3 and is its biggest fan.

Her family first settled in Taranaki before following the work to Auckland, where her father was a butcher and her mother was heavily involved in musical theatre.

''That's where I got it. She was a director, actor, singer. So I've followed in her footsteps.''

However, she described herself as a ''Westy chick made good'' in true Outrageous Fortune style.

So the Harley-Davidson should not be that surprising, although she admits she does not know where her fascination with the bikes comes from.

''The boys next door, when I was growing up, had motorbikes and I was always begging for a ride, but no-one had a Harley.''

Then there was a visit to Dunedin's Harley-Davidson franchise about 10 or 15 years ago.

''I did a photo shoot with a Harley-Davidson - I loved it.''

These days she believes it is the ''voice'' of a Harley that she loves so much.

''It's such a distinctive sound; its voice sings to me. Every time I hear one, I smile.''

She started to learn to ride when she was 54, on a 250cc bike, then graduated to a 650cc Yamaha Star before she got her licence.

Now she rides a 1600cc motorbike she describes as a ''big muscly boy''. She has named him Po, Maori for night, as he is black and shiny.

''As soon as I sat on him, I thought of him as night.''

She hopes to soon be able to take Po on a tour of the South Island, but in the meantime is content driving the bus around the countryside.

Despite her long and varied career, she says she is still passionate about the work and, no matter how she is feeling, getting out on stage makes her feel like she is ''coming alive''.

''I feel music is healing. You step out [on stage] and you get the energy of the audience: what you give out, you get back.''