An Unexpected Journey For Local Entertainer

Thomas Armstrong-Robley returns home to perform at The Redcliffe Entertainment Centre in 'Bublé, Broadway & Beyond' this month. It's been an unexpected journey for this man who arrived on the Peninsula as an eight-year-old from the UK.

He attended local schools and although his father Dave was a touring drummer in bands throughout Europe in the '60's, Thomas never considered the entertainment industry as a career option.

That all changed after he supported some friends at a high school musical audition, where he was coaxed to sing 'Advance Australia Fair' and scored a lead role. He later performed at The Mousetrap Theatre and Redcliffe Musical Theatre. One of his proudest memories is playing the Phantom of the Opera at 19 years of age.

After studying film and TV music for a year at the Queensland University of Technology, Thomas transferred to a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith).

Thomas said he formulated a plan to further his performance career.

It was New Years Eve 2016, after a gig in Mackay, alone in my hotel room I decided to write a list of goals,� Thomas said.

I wanted to work overseas, to get out of my comfort zone and really test myself as a person and a performer. I've always believed in the road warrior attitude. If I wanted to improve, I needed to tour.�

Thomas was offered a move to Europe to tour as the lead singer for a Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons Show. Suitcase packed, he left Australia on a one-way ticket and for the next seven months performed for audiences all over the world.

I learnt more in those 200 shows than ever before. It was an education in how to control an audience. Not everyone spoke English, so you had to adapt or you perished.�

Thomas has recently been working on cruise ships as a production manager and principal vocalist in numerous cabaret shows.

'Bublé, Broadway and Beyond' is a brand-new cabaret show that Thomas created especially for his hometown crowd.

(I wanted) to thank the patrons and the people who supported me in those early years, which I used as fuel to push me. I'm a product of my upbringing and the environment/community I grew up in.�

'Bublé, Broadway and Beyond'
(Homecoming Concert)

Tuesday 16 April, 11am
Redcliffe Entertainment Centre
Downs St, Redcliffe
Tickets $18
www.redcliffeentertainmentc...�