about DAVID BUTLER (HE/HIM)
David is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (Voice) and is a freelance performer, musical director and vocal coach based in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia. David is director of David Butler Studio where he works with actors, singers and other professional voice-users; he is also a referred voice teacher with the Melbourne Voice Analysis Centre in rehabilitating voices. David often works as a casual voice tutor and lecturer in Musical Theatre for Theatre Blacks, Transit Dance, and the University of Melbourne, Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts.
As a performer David can be regularly found on the cabaret and independent theatre circuit. Highlights include ongoing touring with Tash York’s HAPPY HOUR, hosting events such as BOWIE BALL AUSTRALIA and CINEMASONG, as well as contributing to numerous projects in the Melbourne International Comedy, Midsumma, and Fringe Festivals as drag alter ego Peppy Smears. David has also performed in two seasons of the Australian premiere of Dave Malloy’s GHOST QUARTET (Melbourne); two seasons of MAD WORLD: The Immersive Theatrical Experience (Melbourne), and FROM: NEW YORK, FOR: HIM (Melbourne & Adelaide seasons).
David’s musical direction credits include William Finn’s FALSETTOS (StageArt) – for which he received a Green Room nomination, Stephen Sondheim’s INTO THE WOODS (Bottled Snail Productions), the new Australian work MAD WORLD (DBS), WOMAN (Melbourne & Adelaide seasons), two seasons of the Australian premiere of Dave Malloy’s GHOST QUARTET (Antipodes Theatre Company) - for which he also received two Green Room nominations. Most recently David musically directed Antipodes Theatre Company’s highly regarded production of GUYS & DOLLS at Chapel Off Chapel, and continues his work on Tash York’s HAPPY HOUR as it tours. Upcoming projects include Bradley Storer’s EXHUMED (Melbourne Fringe) and Scott Hollingsworth’s OLDER THAN I EVER INTENDED TO BE (Chapel Off Chapel). David was also the resident musical director for Brooklyn Runaways’ online series CONTAGIOUS CABARET (2020-2021) and has written original music for Mel & Peppy’s #REALLY?! and Tash York’s HAPPY HOUR.
Through his studio, David has produced various concerts, events and productions. Particular highlights include the national tour of ELABORATE LIVES (2014), hosting audition workshops and masterclasses with US based director Chuck Hudson, a comedy fundraiser for Thorne Harbour Health, and two seasons of MAD WORLD: The Immersive Theatrical Experience.
David is a founding member of Antipodes Theatre Company, and is passionate about developing voice and arts practice in Australia with a primary focus on vocal health, sustainability, and representation diversity. David respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and all First Nations people as the traditional custodians of the unceded land on which he lives and works. He pays his respect to Elders past and present, and to our shared future.
Photo credit: Lachlan Woods Photography
Stylist: Simon Setter
QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE
BACHELOR of MUSICAL PERFORMANCE (Voice)
- Victorian College of the Arts (VCA)
18 YEARS PRIVATE TUTORING EXPERIENCE
- 11 Years Specialised in Voice
TUTOR IN VOICE (casual)
- University of Melbourne, Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts (2015 to 2019)
- Theatre Blacks (2019 - 2022)
- Transit Dance (2022 - 2023)
LECTURER in VOICE & MUSICAL THEATRE (casual)
- University of Melbourne (2017 to 2019)
REFERRED VOICE TEACHER
- Gary May (Gary May Voice Studio)
- Melbourne Voice Analysis Centre
MUSICAL DIRECTION CREDITS
2023
Fringe World Perth and Bondi Festival seasons of “TASH YORK’S HAPPY HOUR” (Big Hair Productions)
Midsumma Festival’s “BOWIE BALL” (Brooklyn Runaways; The Night Cat)
Antipodes Theatre Company’s “UNSUNG” as part of the Festival of the Unseen (Meat Market)
Pride Month Season of “DOLLY DIAMOND’S RATHER LARGE VARIETY NIGHT” (Victorian Pride Centre)
New original concept show “IT’S UP TO YOU: Tash York, Tash York” (Big Hair Productions)
Antipodes Theatre Company’s “GUYS & DOLLS” (Chapel Off Chapel)
Independent season of “EXHUMED” with Bradley Storer (Melbourne Fringe; Butterfly Club)
2022
Midsumma Festival’s “BOWIE BALL” (Brooklyn Runaways; The Night Cat)
Premiere performance of “AN EVENING WITH PEPPY SMEARS” (Club Clocktower)
Independent season of ”THE DARK PRINCE” with Bradley Storer (The Hare Hole)
Independent season of “ADULTING” with Tash York (Motley Bauhaus)
Melbourne Fringe’s “CINEMASONG” (Cameron Stewart Productions; The Toff In Town)
Melbourne Fringe season of “HAPPY HOUR” with Tash York (Big Hair Productions, Best Cabaret Award Nomination, Market-Ready Award WINNER)
Antipodes Theatre Company’s “UNSUNG” (Brunswick Ballroom)
Independent season of “A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS” with Tash York & Dolly Diamond (Butterfly Club)
2021
Online Series “CONTAGIOUS CABARET” (Brooklyn Runaways)
Mel & Peppy’s “#REALLY?!” Melbourne International Comedy Festival & Midsumma Festival seasons (Brooklyn Runaways)
Remounted season of Dave Malloy’s “GHOST QUARTET” (Antipodes Theatre Company)
2020
Midsumma Festival’s “BOWIE BALL” (Brooklyn Runaways; Evie’s Disco Diner)
Online Series “CONTAGIOUS CABARET” (Brooklyn Runaways)
2019
Independent season of ”MAD WORLD: The Return Season” (David Butler Studio & Richard Taki)
Adelaide Fringe Festival season of “WOMAN: It’s a Mother of a Cabaret” with Jodie Stubbs (The Bally, Gluttony)
Adelaide Fringe Festival season of “FROM: NEW YORK, FOR: HIM” with Melissa David (Brooklyn Runaways; La Boheme)
Australian Premiere of Dave Malloy’s “GHOST QUARTET” (Antipodes Theatre Company, Green Room Award Nomination)
Independent season of “HEROINE” with Courtney Glass (Brooklyn Runaways)
2018
William Finn's "FALSETTOS" (StageArt, Green Room Award Nomination)
Stephen Sondheim's "INTO THE WOODS" (BottledSnail Productions)
Isabella Valette’s "HI-VISABELLA” season as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne season of ”WOMAN: It’s a Mother of a Cabaret” with Jodie Stubbs for the Melbourne Cabaret Festival
Independent season of "FROM: NEW YORK, FOR: HIM” with Melissa David (Brooklyn Runaways)
Independent season of ”MAD WORLD” (David Butler Studio)
PERFORMANCE CREDITS
“IT’S UP TO YOU: TASH YORK, TASH YORK” (2023) as Peppy Smears
- Big Hair Productions
“DOLLY DIAMOND’S RATHER LARGE VARIETY NIGHT” (2023) as Peppy Smears
- Victorian Pride Centre
“BOWIE BALL” (2023) as host/MC Peppy Smears
- Brooklyn Runaways; Midsumma Festival
“TASH YORK’S HAPPY HOUR” (2023) as Peppy Smears
- Big Hair Productions; Fringe World Perth and Bondi Festival seasons.
“A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS” (2022) as Peppy Smears
- Butterfly Club
“UNSUNG” (2022) as host/MC Peppy Smears
- Antipodes Theatre Company; Brunswick Ballroom
“TASH YORK’S HAPPY HOUR” (2022) as Peppy Smears
- Big Hair Productions; Melbourne Fringe Festival Best Cabaret Award Nomination, Market-Ready Award WINNER
“CINEMASONG” (2022) as host/MC Peppy Smears
- Cameron Stewart Productions; Melbourne Fringe Festival
“ADULTING” (2022) as Peppy Smears
- Motley Bauhaus
“AN EVENING WITH PEPPY SMEARS” (2022) as Peppy Smears
- Club Clocktower
“BOWIE BALL” (2022) as host/MC Peppy Smears
- Brooklyn Runaways; Midsumma Festival
Remounted season of “GHOST QUARTET” (2021) as Dave
- Antipodes Theatre Company
“#REALLY?!” (2021) as Peppy Smears
- Brooklyn Runaways; Melbourne International Comedy Festival & Midsumma Festival
“CONTAGIOUS CABARET” (2020-2021) as co-host Peppy Smears
- Brooklyn Runaways; Online Series
“BOWIE BALL” (2020) as host/MC Peppy Smears
- Brooklyn Runaways; Midsumma Festival
“MEL & PEPPY’s ALL HOWLERS EVE” (2019) as co-host Peppy Smears
- Brooklyn Runaways
Australian Premiere of “GHOST QUARTET” (2019) as Dave
- Antipodes Theatre Company, Green Room Award Nominations (Best Ensemble Cast)
“FROM: NEW YORK, FOR: HIM” (2019) as Peppy Smears
- Brooklyn Runaways, Adelaide Fringe Season
“MAD WORLD: The Return Season” (2019) as Peppy
- David Butler Studio & Richard Taki
“THE COUNTDOWN” (2019) as Peppy Smears
- Midsumma Festival
“MEL & PEPPY’s CHRISTMAS SPECIAL” (2018) as co-host Peppy Smears
- Brooklyn Runaways
“THIS IS HALLOWEEN” (2018) as Peppy Smears
- Brooklyn Runaways
“MAD WORLD” (2018) as Peppy
- David Butler Studio
“FROM: NEW YORK, FOR: HIM” (2018) as Peppy Smears
- Brooklyn Runaways
Offenbach’s “LA BELLE HELENE” (VIC) ensemble
Bizet’s “CARMEN” (VIC) ensemble
Faure’s “REQUIEM” (TAS) soloist
Handel’s “MESSIAH” (TAS) soloist
Rossini’s “PETITE MESSE SOLENELLE” (TAS) soloist
Purcell’s “DIDO & AENEAS” (TAS) soloist
Purcell’s “KING ARTHUR” (TAS) soloist