BIO
Michael is currently the President of the University of Surrey Students Union's award winning Musical Theatre Society, with whom he has appeared in Pippin (Pippin) as well as their lauded production of Jekyll and Hyde (Sir Danvers Carew). Michael also recently directed a showcase with this group, 'Songs for a new show' and is looking forward to their next performance opportunity, in May.
Michael is currently rehearsing the role of Jean Valjean in a student production of Les Misérables with Surrey Youth Music Theatre. In addition to this, he was recently cast in one of the first amateur productions of new British musical Made in Dagenham and has just finished performances in the first workshop of a new musical, 'Elysium', written by Ashley Walsh and Timothy Vest, and is also featured on the original cast recording. Michael is also the co-writer of an original musical entitled Frankenstein: A Paradise Lost, currently in development, and is featured on the original studio cast recording on which he plays The Creature. Michael would like to thank his friends and family for their unwavering support. |
ABOUT ME
I'm a University Student and aspiring theatrical writer and director (producer, performer, stage manager, costume designer, prop holder, I do lots of things). Given a recent move to the outer vicinity of London and a thirst for live theatre that is facilitated by having slightly more money than sense (which isn't saying much about my finances), I see everything I can. This is my most recent blog to stick some reviews and channel my thoughts, excitements and frustrations with the theatre world, occasionally as a means to prevent myself from arguing with critics on twitter.
I was first truly inspired by theatre when, after becoming obsessed with Bernadette Peters on youtube, I was taken to see Timothy Sheader's production of Into the Woods at Regent's Park open air theatre. This innovative and artistic production of Sondheim's intricate masterpiece not only showed me that musicals could be intelligent, dark and dramatic, but that theatre as an art form was limitless in terms of its creativity and depth, and that a great director can achieve theatrical bliss in the right setting if a vision for a piece is nurtured. As such, Into the Woods remains one of my favourite musicals.
After this, my theatregoing became significantly more frequent, with a steady stream of productions each year, each of them hugely varied and different from the next, as I was keen to explore every aspect of the genre I could. From glitzy west end musicals I discovered more artistic, intimate pieces which led me to the fringe theatre circuit, and eventually to plays which brought me back to the bigger theatres with the National and the Old Vic, whose auditoriums remain a few of my favourite places on earth.
Having officially become an avid theatregoer, I became inspired to begin creating myself, whereupon my aspirations of becoming a theatrical playwright began. In my first experience of this, I was also given the chance to direct the 30 strong ensemble cast in the premier production with my first opportunity to sample the life of a theatre director, one which was highly informative and, though not the simplest task, more than slightly enticing.
In the future I plan to be able to continue to channel my inspiration and passion for theatre by expanding my portfolio of written work and seeking every opportunity I can to explore directing, so that I can, in any way possible, affect people by using the most complex, expressive and rewarding medium I know, live theatre. To learn as much as possible, I plan to continue to see everything I can get to, whether it's a classic musical, a sombre family drama or a rock opera in a shed on the Southbank, I'll probably be there.
"I love familiar stories, they're the best" - Arthur Miller
I was first truly inspired by theatre when, after becoming obsessed with Bernadette Peters on youtube, I was taken to see Timothy Sheader's production of Into the Woods at Regent's Park open air theatre. This innovative and artistic production of Sondheim's intricate masterpiece not only showed me that musicals could be intelligent, dark and dramatic, but that theatre as an art form was limitless in terms of its creativity and depth, and that a great director can achieve theatrical bliss in the right setting if a vision for a piece is nurtured. As such, Into the Woods remains one of my favourite musicals.
After this, my theatregoing became significantly more frequent, with a steady stream of productions each year, each of them hugely varied and different from the next, as I was keen to explore every aspect of the genre I could. From glitzy west end musicals I discovered more artistic, intimate pieces which led me to the fringe theatre circuit, and eventually to plays which brought me back to the bigger theatres with the National and the Old Vic, whose auditoriums remain a few of my favourite places on earth.
Having officially become an avid theatregoer, I became inspired to begin creating myself, whereupon my aspirations of becoming a theatrical playwright began. In my first experience of this, I was also given the chance to direct the 30 strong ensemble cast in the premier production with my first opportunity to sample the life of a theatre director, one which was highly informative and, though not the simplest task, more than slightly enticing.
In the future I plan to be able to continue to channel my inspiration and passion for theatre by expanding my portfolio of written work and seeking every opportunity I can to explore directing, so that I can, in any way possible, affect people by using the most complex, expressive and rewarding medium I know, live theatre. To learn as much as possible, I plan to continue to see everything I can get to, whether it's a classic musical, a sombre family drama or a rock opera in a shed on the Southbank, I'll probably be there.
"I love familiar stories, they're the best" - Arthur Miller