- CHS 1966-1969
- ARIA-award winning actor, singer, musician, screen composer, songwriter, fire-eater, magician, tap dancer, juggler, One Man Band.
On September 6, 2022, CHESS hosted a conversation with ex-student, musician & entertainer Mic Conway: see the video at https://youtu.be/ENAMyWqwXaI
Mic was born into a family of vaudeville theatre and opera. With his brother Jim, Mic performed in the school’s Talent Quest as The Jelly Bean Jug Band. The band was formed just for a laugh, but they annihilated the competition. In the 1970s, again with his brother Jim, Mic founded the Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band and, to their surprise, the band became a cult phenomenon, making a total of seven records, two of which achieved gold status. It was also in the 1970s that Mic joined the legendary Pram Factory Theatre in Melbourne, creating Soapbox Circus with Matchbox, where he was ringmaster, musician, juggler and acrobat. In 1978, Soapbox became the now world-famous Circus Oz, of which Mic was a founding member.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mic toured across Australia, Britain, USA, New Zealand and Asia, delighting audiences of all ages with his unique and entertainment-packed shows. He recorded several more albums and worked in theatre, music, cabaret, TV and film. He launched the Mic Conway’s National Junk Band, successfully touring and recording unique music and entertainment.
Film and television productions include Coca Cola Kid, Molly, Vietnam, Play School, Mr Squiggle, House of Fun, Vaudeville, Come in Spinner, The Wiggles Movie, the Humphrey Bear TV series, Long Way To The Top and writing the music for the ABC series Bad Cop.
Theatre appearances include The Threepenny Opera for the Sydney Theatre Company and Blossoms and Wrinkles for the One Extra Company. Mic was awarded an ARIA for his ABC album Whoopee, and has recorded and co-written several CDs, radio shows, TV scripts and various children’s theatre productions. He is known as an original, unusual and versatile performer-a modern, one-man vaudeville show. More information: www.micconway.com Updated 2020