By Richard Stoker

Twenty-four year old Myles Hollo-Russell won the auditions to play the lead male role of Danny in the up coming production of ‘Grease’, which will commence its season at the Clink Theatre on March 29.


Myles is the son of a builder and hails from the northern suburbs of Cairns. He attended Redlynch Primary and then Trinity Bay High School. At both, he played Aussie Rules football and tried out for the Brisbane Peninsula (eight teams) state level competition.


In Year Eight at school he discovered drama and by Year Eleven was captivated by CAD (Centre of Artistic Development). This effectively meant that in the performing arts he became immersed in comedy, drama, music and dance. This plethora not only included musical theatre but also Shakespeare.


In Trinity High’s CAD class, Myles and all performers each wrote a scene in the murder mystery play ‘Big Brother’. In other classes, Myles was forever getting into trouble for singing. By age fifteen he had his first guitar and was teaching himself to play.


At age twenty he found himself living in London with his English solicitor girlfriend, who was older by a few short years. She was a family friend whom he met when she stayed with his family, in Cairns. They haunted London’s cultural and artistic centres, including the theatres of the West End. Additionally they visited Seville and Malacca in Spain and in Germany, attended the October (Beer) Fest in Munich.


Two years later they split-up and Myles journeyed to Canada. While there he met his Canadian girlfriend. They travelled extensively throughout Canada, northern USA and back to London.


In Canada, Myles worked at various occupations including operating snow-making machines. He also sang in hotels, performed hip-hop and wrote a rap song. On Australia Day in British Columbia, he sang Paul Kelly songs.


Back in FNQ, Alteouise De Vaughn the Musical Director of the Clink Theatre, continued Myles’ musical education and he became part of the chorus in the recently successful production of ‘Black, my Story’.


His girlfriend was forced to return to Canada due to the expiration of her Australian visa but they’re planning her return for the opening night of ‘Grease’.


For a young man of twenty-four, Myles has already lived a life which could be turned into its own mini-series. So what does his future hold after this season of ‘Grease’?


Rumour has it that he has an eye on a course at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts), which years ago graduated the Clink’s own playwright, producer, director and actor, Jack Heywood.


So if (or should that be when), Myles makes it big time onto the world stage and purchases the mansion in Florida USA next to that of John Travolta, he has assured the writer that he’ll never forsake FNQ and the Clink Theatre.