Mike MacLeod

About Mike

I'm delighted to be doing my first show with CAS'n'OVA PRODUCTIONS and to be playing one of the most iconic comedy roles in the history of British light entertainment. Dad's Army is one of the gems that I, like millions of others, grew up with and loved it's insights into the English system and of course its catchphrases which are now embedded in our culture.

I love comedy but my starting point in performance art was singing: church choir, school choir and later operatic society and drama group in my home town, Margate, on the English south coast in the post war era - not too far from Walmington! Years of chorus and stagecraft later paid off with top roles in G&S including Nanki Po in 'Mikado' and Grosvenor in 'Patience'. Other key roles included Curly in Oklahoma, Miles in 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' and Father Virgil in 'Nuncrackers'. Here in NZ one of my singing coaches recognised that my voice was suited to operatic roles and cast me as Tamino in 'The Magic Flute'.

Straight acting roles include Professor Riley in 'Shadowlands', Father Peter in 'Ladies for Hire' and five different roles in 'The Laramie Project'. Voice coaching and stage management for 'Hay Fever' and Assistant Director for 'The Beauty Queen of Lennane'.

I love the choral repertoire as well and have sung most/all the major works as a chorister and tenor solo in a few including Handel's Messiah, Handel's Jephtha and Steiner's Crucifixion.

Locally I have worked with Riccarton Players, Atlas Voices, Christchurch City Choir, Sumner Theatre Group and the Choir of St Mary's Merivale.

Lately I have come to enjoy the film arts and worked with Section 59 Films (in association with Intelligent Design) on two films: 'Refute' and 'In Bread, Love' as writer, actor, sound technician and catering manager; the latter possibly the toughest role of my career!

 Oh and I have a 'day job' too: as Operations Manager for Ebborn Law in Christchurch