A talented performer with deep roots in Newcastle is bringing festive cheer to the Sydney stage this holiday season. Hamish Pickering, a Melbourne-based actor, writer and composer who grew up in Warners Bay, has scored a starring role in the Off-Broadway hit Love Actually? The Musical Parody.
From Newcastle beaches to the national stage
Pickering's journey to the professional theatre began in his hometown. He attended St Philip's Christian College in Waratah from kindergarten through to Year 12, where the school's strong performing arts program provided his foundation. "Growing up in Newcastle mostly consisted of sitting on the beach (envious of my mates who could actually surf) and doing theatre," Pickering recalls, describing the city as the perfect, relaxed place to grow up.
His early training came from local institutions like The Voice Studios with Rachelle Schmidt and youth companies including Young People's Theatre and Hunter Drama. "Theatre is a place where kids don't have to be able to run fast, throw a ball far or fit in as much," he reflects, crediting these groups with providing a vital community for young performers.
Award-winning beginnings and professional training
Pickering's local stage credits include a memorable turn in My Fair Lady at Newcastle's Civic Theatre in 2015, a production that earned him and his brother Lachlan a shared CONDA award for Excellence in a Male Actor Under 18. He also served as a youth ambassador for the CONDA awards during his gap year.
After school, he pursued formal training, first completing a Diploma of Musical Theatre at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, followed by a Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
Landing a dream role in a festive favourite
The current production marks a significant milestone for Pickering. Love Actually? The Musical Parody is showing at Sydney's Darling Quarter Theatre until December 23. In the show, Pickering plays the role made famous by Colin Firth in the original film—a shy writer who falls in love too easily. "Colin is a charming, sad fop who falls in love too easily. Typecast," he jokes.
This role represents his professional debut in New South Wales, making it extra special as it allows family and friends from Newcastle and Sydney to see him perform. "Having my professional debut in NSW is such a lovely feeling," he says, noting the timing is perfect for Christmas visits.
Balancing acting with composing and writing
Beyond acting, Pickering is an active writer and composer. He re-staged his debut cabaret, Hello, Asteroid!, at the Melbourne Fringe Festival last year. He also has several projects in development, including a new musical and a children's show called Tiny Doctors, which he co-wrote and will perform at the Adelaide Fringe.
He draws inspiration from Australian multi-hyphenates like Tim Minchin and Eddie Perfect, aspiring to build a career that doesn't force him to choose between disciplines. "I love that one day I can write a couple of tunes for a project, the next I can be present in rehearsals for a musical," he explains.
Despite his busy schedule, Pickering remains connected to Newcastle, visiting several times a year. He holds fond memories of the Civic Theatre and hopes to return there for a professional performance soon. For now, he's enjoying the "fast-paced comedy" of his current role and the chance to celebrate the festive season with a project that parodies a film he watched religiously each year while growing up.
