Tom Knowles (Rongowhakaata) is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, with an extensive acting career under his belt encompassing stage shows, television and advertising. Some of his most notable appearances include Shrek: The Musical (in which he starred as the titular ogre), the TV series The Brokenwood Mysteries, and as part of the Modern Māori Quartet. Tom has toured extensively in theatres around New Zealand, North and South America and Australia. As a musician, Tom has opened for artists such as Sons of Zion, The Black Seeds and Drax Project. He's played with various groups, and under various guises, at numerous Kiwi festivals, shows and events. As a writer his original comic rock opera, Allergic to Love: Curse of the 80s, has toured both Aotearoa, America and Mexico, his Reggae-roots musical Atarangi: Morning Sky was both performed and released as an album, and this year he picked up the ‘Most Innovative Work’ award at the NZ Fringe Festival for his new solo show, ROADKILL: The Uber-cool Musical, which is performed inside a van.
