An award-winning vocalist with a penchant for musical theatre, Luke is a trained comedic actor and opera singer, known for his animated and fun character work and his role in the 2014 musical 'Hairspray' at Skycity Theatre. Luke's chirpy and witty sense of humour and infectious ways have seen perform as a featured opera soloist and with opera sensations Ben Makisi, Lilia Carpinelli, Dame Malvina Major and Dame Helen Medlyn.
Luke has a Bachelor Degree in Performing Arts and his diversity, passion and flare for entertaining has seen him take on a variety of roles from the exuberant Widow Twankey in Aladdin to singing alongside New Zealand's finest with Opera North.
Previous experience
Luke is vocally trained by NZ Opera Diva Joan Kennaway QSM. Luke has performed the national anthems of both New Zealand and Australia for the 2013 competition. He has also been the guest artist for the 2014 Opera in the Park Concert, held in commemoration of the 28th Maori Battalion and is confirmed as guest artist for the Opera Extravaganza 'Opera in the Garden 2015'.
Luke has worked on Disney's musical event - Beauty and the Beast, Jekyll and Hyde the Musical, The Full Monty and Cabaret. Luke has recently completed a season with the New Zealand production of The Phantom of the Opera in Wellington, where he played principle role Monsieur Andre - the comedic, fun but sensible theatre owner. Luke received again, rave reviews for his take on the role.
In 2009, Luke went on to be cast as Bustopher Jones in the New Zealand production of Cats alongside well-known entertainers Tina Cross and Shane Cortese, and was later invited to audition in Sydney for the same role. In 2009 Luke was asked to perform as a guest artist for The Sexy Recession Cabaret in Auckland, alongside Jennifer Ward Lealand, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Mike Edwards, Eve Gordon and more. He has worked for Auckland Theatre Company in the modern take of Shrew'd and has gone on to create comedic roles in all aspects of performance. In 2011 Luke was cast as Gabriel Von Eisenstein in the hit Opera Die Fledermaus alongside Dame Helen Medlyn. He has competed successfully at the Lockwood NZ Aria competitions and performed in the 2012 NZ Opera Rigolletto Luke is also a regular touring performer in Coca Cola Christmas in the Park taking on a big role. Luke was invited to perform on board the cruise ship The Pacific Pearl receiving high praise.
Luke has appeared in television shows and commercials including Shortland Street, Power Rangers and Beyond the Darklands. Luke has recently launched Luke Bird Entertainment and already has made a splash in the entertainment world as highly sort after MC and entertainer. He has emceed for clients such as the BCA NZ Conference, CATE, MSD, Nerida Cortese and more, he's entertained for many clients including Fisher and Paykel and the Westpac Business Excellence Awards. Luke is an original member of the hit comedy clan The DG NOFNOFS. He has collaborated and produced comedy stand-up such as A night with a Durty Gurl and Tellulah and Marmite.
Awards
He has excelled as a performer and in 2007, received a NAPTA nomination for his comedic role as Hipockets Duncan in the hit musical The Buddy Holly Story to which he received raved reviews. Luke was also a nominee for the Westpac Business Excellence Awards for his work in the Arts.
Current work
Luke has recently produced his own stage show The Luke Bird Experience to rave reviews, and described as "NZ's very own Graham Norton meets the Royal Variety Show" by The New Zealand Herald.
The Luke Bird Experience is a variety style show based on the whacky, risqué but loving characters Luke himself has created. Luke's witty sense of humour, his on-going wise but keen imagination and over whelming love for the arts has cemented work for him in all aspects of performance art. Luke takes on a role and creates more than meets the eye, all through fun, humour, humility and emotion. Luke doesn't wait for opportunity; he seeks them out and strives on the challenge to create something new and enjoyable.
