Chess

Michael Murphy

Michael Murphy has enjoyed a very successful career in the music industry throughout New Zealand and internationally. Michael signed to BMG Records in 2004 aged 17, where his first single debuted at number 1 and further singles spent a considerable amount of time at the top of radio airplay charts. His debut album 'No Place To Land' earned him gold status and took him around the country performing to sold out audiences and eager fans. Michael, later formed rock band 5Star Fallout and spent the next four years touring through New Zealand, America and England performing on some of the greatest stages in the world. Michael has also enjoyed success in the Musical Theatre industry, playing the role of ‘Roger’ in ‘Rent’ at Auckland’s beloved Civic Theatre and also ‘Kenickie’ in the sold out season of ‘Grease’ at Christchurch’s Court Theatre. He has previously starred in Coca Cola Christmas In The Park  performing to over 350,000 people over two cities each year. Michael is currently the lead singer for rock band, Written By Wolves who are one of the most streamed rock bands from New Zealand with over 350,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Their most recent EP, ‘The Collab Project’ features artists from all over the world as well as Michael’s wife, Rebecca Wright (Svetlana) on soaring, climactic track, ‘Forever & Always’.

Heather Wilcock

Heather is no stranger to the stage having made numerous appearances in musical theatre productions, corporate events and on the concert stage throughout New Zealand.

Heather studied Musical Theatre at The New York Film Academy in Manhattan, New York, and since graduating she has played some of the most demanding roles in musical theatre. Most recently Heather was prepared to open NSMTs production of Wicked at Sky City, reprising the role of Elphaba which she performed in Showbiz Christchurch’s production in 2018.

Other notable roles include - Cathy in The Last Five Years, Wendla in Spring Awakening, Tracy in Hairspray and Eva Peron in Evita, the latter being a role she has had the pleasure of performing in both Auckland and Wellington.

Heather is thrilled be reprising the role of Florence Vassy, and to be performing this show in her home town of Tamaki Makaurau adds to the excitement.

She would like to thank her family and friends for their constant support and encouragement in pursuing what she hopes will be a life long career.

Heather is currently based in Auckland and looking for representation.

Edward Laurenson

Originally from Auckland, Edward graduated from London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama with a Master of Performance (Distinction), studying with renowned Australian Soprano - Yvonne Kenny.

He won the Guildhall Prize at the 2013 IFAC Australian Singing Competition and received significant support from the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation throughout his studies. He is especially grateful to Dame Kiri Te Kanawa for providing him with personal coaching and mentorship throughout his career.

Soon after landing back in New Zealand, Edward received a scholarship to continue his postgraduate study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of César Ulloa. He was then engaged as an Artist in Residence with Opera Colorado before being selected into the prestigious Merola Opera Program with San Francisco Opera.

While abroad, Edward has performed a wide range of operatic roles, including Count Almaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro; Mercutio in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette; Tarquinius in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia; Older Thompson in Cipullo’s Glory Denied; Sam in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti; Peter in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel; Jonathan in Heggie’s If I Were You; Barone Douphol in Verdi’s La Traviata; and Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni among others. A highlight from his time in the United Kingdom was having the privilege of performing for Her Majesty The Queen of England.

Edward was recently signed as a recording artist with Decca Records and Universal Music Group and returned from recording in Los Angeles earlier this year.

He is excited to be returning home to perform the role of Anatoly in Chess, one of his favourite musicals. His early stage experience in New Zealand includes roles as Marius in Les Miserables, Danny in Grease, Tony in West Side Story, Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, and Edward in The Factory.

He would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported him on his journey to date and would like to especially acknowledge his appreciation for the sponsorship, support, and mentoring he receives from a number of private individuals.

Stephen Butterworth

Stephen - Ngati Porou, graduated from Toi Whakaari : NZ Drama School in 1994 and is grateful to have worked for over 3 decades as a professional actor in Theatre, Opera and Musicals. He was a magician in Japan, a ghost in Hawaii and has taken productions from Kaitaia to Invercargill in one year. In 2016 he was a crowd favourite of the Pop -Up Globe cast as Maria in “Twelfth Night” and Capulet in “Romeo & Juliet”. Season 2 he then played Duke Frederick in “As you Like it” and the French Ambassador in “Henry V” to rave reviews both here and Australia. In 2019 he coveted the role of Richard in Shakespeare’s Richard the Third which remains one of his greatest achievements on stage. He has appeared in many Television and Film roles including, recently “Cowboy Beebop” (Netflix), “Lord of the Rings” (Amazon) and New Zealand’s own “Shortland Street “ in 2021. Covid has left many performers to fall on the hardest of times in a career that is already precarious at best. He wishes courage and hope to all of them. Stephen is grateful to be on stage again in this production of Chess with an incredible company and crew. He is also a proud member of NZ Equity (MEAA).

Matthew Cutts

Matthew’s first professional engagement was in 1988, performing alongside Marcus Craig in The Diamond ‘Lil Show. The venue was either Inglewood Rugby Club or the Ohura Cosmopolitan Club, he can’t quite remember.  Regardless, he earned 50 bucks - a small fortune for a 16 year old back in the day.

Matthew’s next paying gig was at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London’s West End performing in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Starlight Express”. For the next 25 years, he performed leading roles in many of the biggest shows in London and Europe. Theatre Credits include Miss Saigon, Dogfight, Mamma Mia, Victor Victoria, Starlight Express (again), Grease, Cats, Saturday Night Fever, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Jersey Boys. Other highlights might be winning The World Peace Film and Music Award and being upstaged by a runaway French cockerel while singing the National Anthem at an All Blacks Test Match. Yeah, showbiz!

Now back in NZ, Matthew has his first ever qualification; a Masters Degree from Tech Futures Lab in Auckland, and is the founder of Social Enterprise startup, The Bank of Smiles.

Jackie Clarke

Jackie Clarke MNZM is renowned for her maverick entertainment style, whether it’s treading the boards, making music with her friends or MCing events.

In recent times she’s starred in the one-woman-play Shirley Valentine, taken her solo show Jackie Goes Prima Diva to Te Tairawhiti Arts Festival, debuted Rock Follies Forever at the Auckland Cabaret Festival with Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Laura Daniel, performed a concert series with opera tenor Simon O’Neill and baritone Tim Beveridge, celebrated 15 years singing in The Lady Killers with Tina Cross & Suzanne Lynch and performed with Dust Palace  (don’t worry, she wasn’t hanging from a silk in any life-threatening positions).

Jackie has starred in musical theatre shows such as Once, Mamma Mia, Anything Goes, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Porgy & Bess  and Sweet Charity.  She was a member of When the Cat’s been Spayed and has toured with rock ‘n roll royalty like Dave Dobbyn and Annie Crummer  as well as performing with those legendary rock bands the NZSO and the APO. Jackie has been a member of Jubilation Choir  for 20 years & has toured with Kids For Kids for the past 8 years.

T.V work includes guest hosting The Project, appearances in The Jacquie Brown Diaries, core cast roles in comedy shows Skitz & The Semisis, presenting docos, hosting Saturday Live and judging NZ Idol & Showcase.

In 2018 Jackie was awarded an MNZM for services to the entertainments industry. She’s an all-round choice wahine.

Rebecca Wright

Rebecca Wright has enjoyed an illustrious career in the musical theatre industry, most recently performing the role of Fantine in Les Miserables at Auckland’s beloved Civic Theatre to critical acclaim. Previous highlights include Oz in We Will Rock You staged at The Bruce Mason Centre, Eva Peron in Hamilton Operatic Society’s successful production of Evita at Hamilton’s Clarence St Theatre, the title role of Cinderella and Mimi in Rent – also both staged at the Civic Theatre. Prior to that she lead a stellar cast around the country and learned to roller skate as the lead role of Pearl in the Starlight Express NZ Arena Tour.  Other credits include the lead role in homegrown musical, Amour Fantastique and the beginning of her professional musical theatre career as part of the cast of the NZ tour of Evita in 2004. She has achieved the near impossible and maintained a career as a professional musician and is currently a member of leading NZ corporate covers band, Halo. She has starred in both Coca Cola Christmas In The Park and Symphony Under The Stars, was a finalist in NZ Idol back in 2006 and has even held the Guinness World Record for Singing Upside Down.