THE ARTISTS
Greg MacLeod - Vocals & Acoustic Guitar
Greg trained at Toi Whakaari: The New Zealand Drama School in 2004 and has since built an extensive and varied career as a performer, director and writer. Known for his professionalism, integrity and strong connection with Dunedin audiences, Greg is passionate about creating engaging and high-quality theatre.
His performance credits span musical theatre, live entertainment, film and television. Notable roles include Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys, Javert in Les Misérables, The Wizard in Wicked, Tick in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Edna in Hairspray, Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Engineer in Miss Saigon. and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast (Dunedin and Wellington).
Additional credits include Mary Poppins, Blood Brothers, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Full Monty and Rock Tenors. Greg has also performed for the Fortune Theatre, on screen in The Royal Treatment, and in major concerts. As a director and writer, he has led numerous productions and pantomimes.
Ben Hayward - Vocals & Acoustic Guitar
Ben Hayward is a well-established performer with a strong background in musical theatre. His stage credits include Nick Devito in Jersey Boys, Galileo in Invercargill Musical Theatre’s We Will Rock You, Edward Lyons in Blood Brothers, and Sky in Musical Theatre Oamaru’s Mamma Mia. Ben has also appeared in ensemble roles for Musical Theatre Dunedin’s Les Misérables, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert and Wicked, as well as Taieri Musical’s Ovation.
In 2024 Ben performed ABBA with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestera, conducted by Tom Rainey.
A regular performer with the Rock Tenors, Ben will head off on the nationwide tour in April.
Having grown up listening to David Bowie, he is delighted to share his love of Bowie with Dunedin audiences alongside his father, Greg, who inspired that passion.
Stuart Walker - Musical Director, Grand Piano & Keys
Stuart is an experienced music director and pianist for major live performances, including The Big Night In concert opening Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium. His musical direction credits span numerous productions such as Mamma Mia, The Producers, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Phantom of the Opera, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Wicked and Jersey Boys. At the Fortune Theatre he worked on I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and several Roger Hall pantomimes. Stuart has also musically directed Les Misérables, The Rocky Horror Show and major concerts. An associate of Trinity College of Music London, he works across various music styles.
Che Long - Guitar
Che Long is a UK-born guitarist with over 30 years’ experience playing, touring and recording across a wide range of genres, including funk, Latin, blues, country, Irish folk, RnB and rock. Now based in Dunedin, Che teaches guitar and ukulele at several local schools.
He is a regular performer on the Dunedin music scene, appearing in bands and projects such as The Plus Ones, Niche and The Funk Foundation. Recent performance highlights include DKCM’s Mayfair Theatre season of Rock to Motown, along with Jersey Boys, Chess, Footloose and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Che is also co–musical director of the Rock Tenors and will co-lead their nationwide tour in April.
Samuel Leaper - Keys
With many accolades to his name Samuel Leaper has built a dynamic career across performance, musical direction and sound engineering. He has toured New Zealand with a variety of bands and was an inaugural recipient of Six60’s scholarship, living at the iconic 660 Castle Street.
Alongside his work as a musician, Samuel is an experienced live sound engineer, mixing both local and touring acts throughout Dunedin and the wider South Island. Most recently Samuel musically directed Jesus Christ Superstar and will head out on tour with the Rock Tenors in April.
Stevie Rice - Sax & Flute
A talented multi-instrumentalist from Belfast, Ireland, Stevie cut his musical teeth on the Irish showband circuit playing Bass and guitar. Later, moving to Saxophone, while working on a BA (Hons), he attained an ABRSM performance Diploma before commencing his Post Graduate Music studies at Queens University Belfast.
During that time, up to relocating to Dunedin, Stevie traveled extensively, as a session musician, for a number of international artists and with his own band. Stevie continues to perform at local festivals, venues and record with local musicians.
Maddy Parkins-Craig - Drums
Maddy Parkins-Craig is a composer, songwriter, performer and producer based in Dunedin. Originally from Australia, she completed her Bachelor of Music (Hons) and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the University of Otago.
After finishing study, she taught at multiple tertiary education facilities in Aotearoa, before settling back at Otago as a Lecturer of Music in the School of Performing Arts, where she specialises in song writing and composition.
Maddy regularly performs as a drummer, bassist, or vocalist, in styles and ensembles including alt-rock, disco, pop, musical theatre and orchestra
Georgie Watts - Percussion
Georgie Watts has worked as a percussionist in Otago since 2010, after training and performing professionally in the UK. Alongside her role as a secondary school music teacher, she regularly performs with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and has played in numerous musical theatre productions demanding high-level multi-percussion skills. Career highlights include Dunedin productions of Miss Saigon, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Wicked, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Classically trained, Georgie enjoys collaborating with local contemporary composers and performing new orchestral and operatic works. Recently, she performed with the Synthony ensemble at Electric Avenue and Rhythm & Alps on New Year’s Eve.
Andy Lynch - Bass
Andy Lynch is a versatile Dunedin-based electric bass player, known for his adaptability across jazz, pop, and blues styles. Since graduating from the Christchurch Jazz School in the early 1990s, he has built a wide-ranging performance career, from intimate jazz gigs to major concerts and festivals throughout Otago.
His professionalism and musical sensitivity have seen him perform with the Dunedin City Jazz Orchestra, numerous local bands, and as a bassist for Dunedin Jazz Club events. Recent work includes Chess, Jesus Christ Superstar, and DSO’s ABBA and Simply the Best. He’s now thrilled to join fellow Dunedin musicians in a tribute to David Bowie.
Charlotte Hayward - BVs
Charlotte has been performing in Dunedin for most of her life. Highlights include Mamma Mia (2014), Grease: The Arena Spectacular Live (Marty, 2016) and Chicago (2022), Wicked (2019), The Highlights (2020) and Les Miserables (2021), Chess (2025) and Jesus Christ Superstar (2025).
As a secondary teacher, Charlotte is also passionate about creating opportunities for youth to be involved in musical theatre. She produced Taieri Musical’s Moana Jr (2021) and, through Ōtepoti Youth Musical Theatre, of which she is a co-founder, runs musical theatre holiday programmes.
Charlotte is thrilled to join the family on stage and share the joy of Bowie's music.
Sophie Whibley - BVs
Raised in Dunedin, Sophie trained in classical singing before completing a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Musical Theatre Voice) at the University of Otago under Arlie McCormick, performing locally throughout her studies.
Her musical theatre credits include Mary in Jesus Christ Superstar, Svetlana in Chess, The Highlights, Les Misérables and Jersey Boys. Hunyak in Chicago, Louisa in The Sound of Music, Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family, and Francine Valli in Jersey Boys.