Directed by Australian theatre luminary David Bell (End of the Rainbow, Gloria) with musical direction by revered composer Andrew McNaughton, rising theatre star Tom Oliver (Rolling Thunder Vietnam, Velvet National Tour) premieres his brand new one-man show, More Than A Boy at the Brisbane Powerhouse as part of the 2016 Wonderland Festival.
More Than A Boy is an original rite-of-passage yarn about family and adventure, fight-or-flight ultimatums and seemingly arbitrary events that ultimately build character and shape destiny.
Based on an incredible true story of a young Croatian’s chance journey to Australia, More Than A Boy combines wit, heart, and a soaring soundtrack of original songs by Oliver, McNaughton, and Australian Idol winner Wes Carr performed live by a band of Australia’s top musicians.
Tom Oliver is one of Australia’s brightest young talents with a broad portfolio that includes music, theatre, film, television and cabaret. In 2014, Tom came to prominence as a member of Kylie Minogue’s inaugural team on Nine Network’s top rating television show, The Voice. Shortly after, he starred in the first and second national tour of Rolling Thunder Vietnam (Directed by David Berthold), backed by Chong Lim (Dancing With The Stars), Stuart Fraser (Noiseworks) and Australia’s best rock band.
Tom’s most memorable theatre credits include; Romeo & Juliet (as Romeo), Into The Woods (as Jack), Song Contest: The Almost Eurovision Experience (as Ireland & Hungary), Rumour Has It: 60 Minutes Inside Adele (vocalist), Rolling Thunder Vietnam (as Johnny), Pirates Of Penzance, The Empty City (as Tom), Next To Normal (as Henry), Spring Awakening (as Georg), Thomas and The Hidden Treasure (as Cecil Steamwhistle), You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (as Charlie Brown), and hosting The Octonauts Live On Stage opposite Captain Barnacles at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Internationally, Tom has toured theatres and arenas in Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Australia as a lead role in Thomas & Friends (a musical about Thomas The Tank Engine), and hosted the Razzle Dazzle Golden Christmas Show in Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2017, Tom will tour Australia & New Zealand as the lead male vocalist in the global disco phenomenon VELVET opposite Marcia Hines
Director: David Bell Performer / Writer: Tom Oliver Musical Director: Andrew McNaughton
More Than A Boy
Studio 53 1/2 – Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm
Season: 24 – 27 November 2016
Information and Bookings: www.brisbanepowerhouse.org
Image: Tom Oliver stars in More Than A Boy at the Brisbane Powerhouse (supplied)