Rhonda Burchmore rallies troupes as showbiz carries on

But lately even she admits to feeling a little scared - not so much for herself as for others - as the coronavirus crisis wreaks havoc on her industry.

"It's a frightening time for everyone, but especially for those in live entertainment," Rhonda said.

It's easy to see why.

Her new show, Menopause: the Musical, was due to start its national tour in Sydney on May 6. That show was cancelled this week, with the tour now scheduled to kick off in Melbourne on July 14.

"I'm in a slightly better position than people who have just opened or are in shows like Shrek and still in rehearsal. Or like Billy Elliot, who were given their notice last Sunday (March 15) after the show."

Rhonda told The Senior the situation was "devastating", saying many in the industry "live from day to day, gig to gig".

"The crews, the dressers, the ushers - everyone. We're all in this horrible place. l think all we have to do is not panic."

The irony is that all this is happening as Rhonda's career is going hot and strong.

Menopause: The Musical has been a worldwide smash since its US premiere in 2001. Rhonda will play one of four women of a certain age (her co-stars being Silvie Paladino, Gina Hogan and her bestie Lara Mulcahy) brought together in a New York department store in the quest for a frilly black bra.

Wisecracks, laughs and songs come aplenty as they take stock of their lives and loves and contemplate what The Change may bring.

Known also for her work on the telly, Rhonda recently had a star turn in the reality show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, where her South African adventure unfolded over three gruelling months.

At times her fear was palpable, like when she was required to step on out the "Dreadmill", a treadmill rigged to sit on the edge of a cliff, high above the valley floor.

"People ask was it as bad as it looked. I tell them it was worse. You are standing on a metal beam two kilometres up and you can't look down. Sure you've got a wire but things go wrong."

Afterwards she learned the challenge had been built only the day before: "I'm so glad I didn't know that."

Still, Rhonda is made of strong stuff, surviving not only the Dreadmill, but tedium, food ordeals, scorpions and cobras to come third, having outlasted all the other female contestants.

She is quick to acknowledge what drove her.

"The only thing that got me through it was thinking of the strength of my late sister and the fight that she had with motor neurone disease.

"And that's what I channelled. I thought that if she could be courageous right through to the end, this is only a game I'm doing and it's all going to be over."

With a new TV show coming up - she will play Grandma Viv in the Seven Network sitcom Fam Time - and private and corporate gigs in her diary, Rhonda has plenty of work to go on with.

But as tough as it was, and in light of the troubled times, Rhonda can't help but look back wistfully at her time on set in Africa.

"I came back out of the jungle but, my goodness, I think I was safer in there!"

Fingers crossed she's only kidding.

For full tour details, go to www.menopausethemusical.com.au