Martin Croft started his professional career at the age of 17 with appearances on Melbourne TV. Initially trained as a classical singer, his first major show was Jesus Christ Superstar for Harry M. Miller touring Australia and New Zealand. This led to a full career in music theatre and opera, first as performer and then adding director/musical director, writer, teacher, event manager and producer to the list.

Martin has starred in most of the major shows of the last 25 years in Australia, the U.K. and USA including Les Miserables, Godspell, Cats, Miss Saigon, and The Phantom of the Opera. He has been a guest principal singer with Opera Australia and he produced and performed in Closer Than Ever, Putting It Together and the award-winning 3 Vile Men. Martin produced, co-wrote and starred in the highly successful Joe Starts Again which received the 2004 Green Room Award for Best New Musical and was invited to the inaugural New York Music Theatre Festival in September 2004.

Martin's recent credits as resident director include: Come From Away (Melbourne), Jersey Boys (New Theatricals Australasian Production), Les Miserables (Asia/South Africa Tour), The Boy From Oz (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth), Oliver (Cameron Mackintosh Australia/Singapore), and as director: Into The Woods In Concert at Melbourne's Regent Theatre, Hats Off 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 Hats Off To Sondheim, Chelsea Plumley - Live and Luscious, Nothing's Changed - Nehama Patkin, Alex Rathgeber - Momentary Act, Ship of Fools, Dutch Courage, Boxed In, Kim Smith is Madly Adored, Thrill Me - The Leopold and Loebe Story, Up, Is There Life After High School, Into The Woods, Company, and A Little Night Music. He has also directed numerous award ceremonies, concerts, workshops, cabarets and plays in Australia and overseas.

STAGES caught up with Martin in his studio where he imparts infinite knowledge to a new generation of performers. His career has taken him around the world and he shares some of that in this insightful conversation.

The STAGES podcast is available from Apple podcasts, Whooshkaa and Spotify. Also from where you find your favourite podcasts. www.stagespodcast.com.au