Biripi performer Ethan Jones is bringing his experience across Australian musical theatre to the national tour of Monty Python's SPAMALOT, with the production arriving in Sydney this week.
The Tony Award-winning musical opens at the Sydney Event Centre at The Star Sydney from October 15 to 18 before moving to Western Sydney's Coliseum Theatre from October 22 to 25, following an extended Melbourne season.
For Mr Jones, the production adds another major stage credit to a career that began after moving to Yugambeh Country on the Gold Coast as a child.
He reflected on how music and theatre first opened the door to performance.
"Music was a big part of the culture at home and my access point for storytelling," he told National Indigenous Times.
"Eager for experience, I travelled overseas for work until I landed back in Oz on the west coast in Noongar boodja to study at WAAPA amongst the Music Theatre crowd, the Performance Makers, and the Aboriginal Theatre Mob."
He was also exposed to performance through school arts programs and the Gold Coast's community theatre scene before later studying at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Over the past five years, he has toured Australia in commercial productions and credits the people he has worked with along the way with shaping him as a performer.
"The last five years have seen me touring the country in commercial shows meaning I've had the privileged experience of travelling our great country and meeting a diverse range of brilliant storytellers; my admiration for them has made me a better entertainer," Mr Jones said.
His credits have since included 'The Rocky Horror Show', 'CHICAGO' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar', alongside a growing list of major musical theatre productions.
In SPAMALOT, Mr Jones takes on the roles of Sir Galahad and Prince Herbert in the musical comedy based on the humour of Monty Python.
The production features a book and lyrics by Eric Idle and music by Idle and John Du Prez, and won three Tony Awards following its Broadway debut in 2005.
Mr Jones said the two roles had given him plenty to work with during the Melbourne season and upcoming Sydney dates.
"Playing both Sir Gallahad and Prince Herbert has me feeling all sorts of spoilt; I get some of the most brilliant dialogue, memorable songs, and hilarious wigs in the show!" Mr Jones said.
"We have such a strong company on and off stage, and I feel lucky to get to support the team effort and enjoy the boisterous live feedback from audiences every show."
His place in the production also carries significance for Mr Jones as a Biripi performer working in commercial musical theatre.
For Mr Jones, representation on major Australian stages is connected to wider conversations about history, identity and reconciliation.
"As a white Blackfulla, I'm a result of a complicated past," he said.
"Reconciliation can only come from acceptance of our nation's history through truth-telling, justice and healing. That involves being honest about how we got here — and I'm proud of my heritage and proud to represent my community at such an elite level."
Despite his experience, Mr Jones said the comedy of 'SPAMALOT' had presented its own challenge.
"Being funny is hard," he said.
"Thankfully, the writing in Spamalot is so brilliant that not even a no-talent like myself can mess it up. What I have learned it that a silly wig does most of the work for you."
'Monty Python's SPAMALOT' will play at the Sydney Event Centre from October 15 to 18 before continuing to the Coliseum Theatre in Western Sydney from October 22 to 25.
