Mitchell Butel joins cast of South Pacific for Perth season

Opera Australia's South Pacific will be welcoming acclaimed actor Mitchell Butel to the company as the raucous Seabee Luther Billis for its Perth leg this November 

Butel, who has worked extensively with Opera Australia, Bell Shakespeare, MTC, STC and Belvoir will be stepping into the role after the show concludes its return season at Sydney Opera House in November. He will be the third Australian actor to perform the role in this production, with Eddie Perfect (Offspring, Shane Warne The Musical) and Gyton Grantley (Underbelly, House Husbands) having both appeared as Billis in previous seasons.

Butel said he is looking forward to joining the ranks of the South Pacific company in Perth, which will play at Crown Theatre from 10 November – 8 December.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the cast of South Pacific in Perth” he said.

“It’s a show and a production I love, and Luther Billis is a role I’ve coveted for many years. Rat cunning, chutzpah and hilarity all rolled into one man. I can’t wait!”

Well known for his performances in a myriad of productions like Avenue Q to The Mikado and Belvoir's recent Angels In America, Butel is one of Australia's most lauded performers, having either won or been nominated nearly every year as 'Best Male Actor' at the Helpmann Awards.

Butel joins leading cast members Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Lisa McCune and Christine Anu for the Perth season of South Pacific. Although Rhodes, McCune and Anu are continuing, it is not confirmed whether Butel will be remaining with the show for the Adelaide season, which officially opens on December 31, 2013 at the Adelaide Festival Centre.

Read fellow South Pacific cast member Marika Aubrey's featured interview with Mitchell Butel:
How We Do What We Do: Mitchell Butel with Marika Aubrey

For more information visit southpacificmusical.com.au