Member Profiles

Byron was Assistant Director on 'Oliver!' and also played the part of Dr Grimwig (and, if you looked closely you could see him running around as a Policeman as well!)

Byron, when did you first start singing? I was 12 when I started and I was very priviledged to have  Max Orwin from the Sydney Opera as my first teacher. 

What inspired you to start singing? I can credit seeing 'Phantom of the Opera' with that. I loved the show so much so that I thought, "Yep, I want to be involved in that!" I've loved the theatre ever since! 

What are some of the musicals that you've been in? I actually had the lead in 'Oliver!' when we performed it in high school. I've also been in 'How the West Was Warped' and 'Collide-a-Scope'.

Have you done any performances outside of the musical theatre realm? Yes, quite a few. I used to perform in a number of eisteddfods and used to sing quite a variety of pieces: 'Pie Jesu', 'Panis Angelicus', 'Ave Maria' and 'How Are Things In Glocca Morra'. When I was 14, I studied with Tim Collins from McDonald College. My repertoire changed quite a bit then and used to feature 'I Dreamed A Dream', 'Colours of the Wind' and 'His Eye On the Sparrow' amongst others. I was also in the Mater Dei Choir for four years under the direction of Sally-Ann Baxter.

You've done a fair bit of acting in 'Oliver!, have you had good drama coaches? Yes I have. I've had some quite well respected teachers including Pam Campbell,  Peta Bollard and Ruth Crawley.

Show Business is definitely in your blood, so much so that you have your own show? Yes, I present a show on 2CCC Radio called 'Show Business' here on the Central Coast. The show covers all the news and gossip happening in the industry but also features both contemporary and classic musical numbers. It has been a hugely successful show and I really enjoy dong it.

What are your future ambitions for a career in the theatre? Well, I'd love to be a critic! But I'd also like to try my hand at Directing a show. I travel pretty much anywhere to see a show so thankfully there's always something on. 

You can catch Byron's 'Show Business' on Wednesdays from 6pm-8pm on 2CCC FM 96.3 in the Central Coast and Hunter region.