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Michael Veitch

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Michael Veitch
Born (1962-11-29) 29 November 1962 (age 61)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupations
  • Writer
  • actor
  • broadcaster
Years active1985−present

Michael Veitch (born 29 November 1962 in Melbourne) is an Australian author, actor and broadcaster, best known for his roles on the sketch comedy television shows The D-Generation, Fast Forward and Full Frontal, as well as for his books on World War II aviation, marine science and travel.

Life and career

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Television

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Veitch attended Melbourne Grammar School and the University of Melbourne (where he completed an arts degree) where he participated in Melbourne University Revues. After one performance, producers from the ABC in 1985 commissioned The D-Generation, a half-hour weekly sketch comedy series.[citation needed] It was followed by a second season in 1987. Veitch performed a variety of characters over both seasons of the show, and went on to write and perform in the sketch comedy shows Fast Forward and Full Frontal on the Seven Network between 1989 and 1995.[citation needed]

As one of the lead performers, Veitch became known for impersonations and characterisations of current film and TV personalities such as Sonny (Skippy parody), Clive Robertson and Clive James as well as creating original characters, such as Wayne the airline steward which he created and performed alongside Steve Vizard.[1]

In 2005, Veitch made a short-lived return to sketch comedy in Let Loose Live.[2][3] Prior to the show's debut, Veitch had said in an interview with the Melbourne Age that

"I think that there is a hunger for comedy. We need something to hold the mirror up and look at the familiar in a different way. So much of the world is presented to us as a kind of impervious block of information, and what satire does is say well, actually, no, you don't have to look at everything the way that society wants you to look at it."[4]

From 2006 to 2009, Veitch presented ABC Television's flagship arts magazine program, Sunday Arts; this was one of the roles which he had performed in parody a decade before on Fast Forward.[5][6]

In 2012, Veitch starred in the award-winning short film Best Kept Secret, a mockumentary spoof on tourist promotion, filmed in Tasmania and directed by David Pyefinch.[7]

Veitch joined the ensemble cast of the sketch comedy series Open Slather which began airing on Foxtel's The Comedy Channel in May 2015.[8]

Books

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Veitch has written eleven books on the topics of history, military history, travel and Australia's role in the Pacific War. He has also pursued a lifelong interest in the aviation of the Second World War, the subject of his first three books. Flak – True stories from the men who flew in World War II[9] published in 2006 by Pan Macmillan and later, Fly: True stories of courage and adventure from the airmen of World War II[10] published by Penguin Australia in August 2008.

A third book, The Forgotten Islands, exploring the lesser-known islands of Bass Strait, was published by Penguin Australia in August 2011.[11] In 2015, Veitch wrote Southern Surveyor, a book about the CSIRO's Marine National Facility's research vessel.[12]

Also in 2015, Veitch produced a third volume of Second World War airman stories, Heroes of the Skies, published by Penguin Books.[13] In July 2016, he released 44 Days – 75 Squadron and the Fight for Australia through Hachette Australia. This work explores the six-week period in early 1942 when a single squadron of RAAF airmen defended Port Moresby against the ascendant Japanese.[14] His seventh book, detailing the ordeal of an Australian airmen fighting with the French Resistance in 1944, was released by Hachette in late 2017.

Radio

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In 2010, Veitch moved to Hobart, Tasmania, to host afternoons on 936 ABC Hobart local ABC radio. At the beginning of 2012, he began hosting the evening program across Tasmania. Later that year, he left ABC local radio to commence working with a theatre production, with his final broadcast occurring on 20 September 2012.[15]

Theatre

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In 2003, Veitch played one of the lead roles in the Australian production of the musical The Full Monty, based on the 1997 film.[16][17] In 2004, he starred in the musical comedy It's a Dad Thing which toured nationally.[18]

In 2009, Veitch played the lead role of Molly Meldrum in the Melbourne musical comedy Countdown, a tribute to the iconic Countdown TV show of the 1970s and '80s.[19] Veitch was praised for his performance, one reviewer remarking (of the show's return in 2011), "renowned Australian actor Michael Veitch brings the role of Molly Meldrum to life – his portrayal is nothing short of outstanding. One would be forgiven for thinking that Meldrum himself was back on stage. Veitch's imitation skills are flawless and his comic timing is second to none."[20]

In 2014 and 2015, Veitch toured Australia in Flak – True stories from the men who flew in World War Two, a one-man stage version of his aviation books, in which he performs, in character, several of the men whose war stories he uncovered in his books Flak and Fly.

Personal life

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Veitch has a daughter who edited the student magazine Farrago, and two sons.[21] In 2020, he was admitted into the RAAF as a Special Reservist officer, joining the History and Heritage Branch as a Community Liaison Officer with the rank of Squadron Leader.[22]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Type
1984 The Bark is Worse than the Byte Short film
1992 Garbo Town Clerk Feature film
1993 A Royal Commission Into the Australian Economy Alan Bond / Prime Minister Paul Keating TV movie
1993 The Making of Nothing Morris Burke TV movie
1994 Lucky Break (aka Paperbook Romance) Det Sgt Scott Feature film
1996 Brilliant Lies Paul Connor Feature film
1996 Turning April Additional voice Feature film
2000 The Magic Pudding Fergus the Bandicoot (voice) Animated feature film
2002 The Real Thing Commercial Director Feature film
2003 Take Away Barry Burgie in Burgies TV Commercial (uncredited / voice) Feature film
2005 The Extra Doctor Feature film
2005 The Adventures of Roman Pilgrim Guardian of the Threshold Short film
2005 Ten Feet Tall Doug Short film
2012 Best Kept Secret Short film
2017 The Fox Timekeeper Short film

Television

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Year Title Role Type
1986–87 The D-Generation Sonny / Clive Robertson / Clive James / Wayne the airline steward TV series, 16 episodes
1988–89 The D-Generation Goes Commercial Various characters TV specials, 4 episodes
1989 Space Knights Blunderblock Animated TV series, 1 episode
1989–92 Fast Forward Kelvin Cunnington / Redmond Herring / various characters TV sketch series, 90 episodes
1992 Bligh Governor William Bligh TV series, 13 episodes
1993 Stark TV Presenter TV miniseries
1993–94 Full Frontal Various characters/ Announcements TV sketch series, 20 episodes
1995 Halifax f.p. Doctor Baker TV series, 1 episode
1995 Jimeoin Various characters TV sketch series, 10 episodes
1996 Mercury Rocco Kostas TV series, 2 episodes
1996 In Melbourne Tonight Various characters (including Fergie) TV variety series
1996; 2003 Blue Heelers John Garris / Det Sgt Daryl Darcy TV series, 2 episodes
1997 Eric Various characters TV sketch series, 9 episodes
1997 Ocean Girl First Officer Danton TV series, 10 episodes
1997 Get a Life Trevor Bayliss TV series
1998 Driven Crazy Mr Bellows TV series, 1 episode
1997–98 Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers Duncan (voice) Animated TV series, 26 episodes
1999 Chuck Finn Franke Tingalla TV series, 1 episode
1999 The Late Report Various characters TV sketch series
2000 Something in the Air Ralph Dewey TV series, 3 episodes
2000; 2003 Pizza Nerd / John Pokonjak TV comedy series, 2 episodes
2001–02 Shock Jock Jack Piper TV series, 26 episodes
2002 McLeod's Daughters Lenny Bradshaw TV series. 2 episodes
2003 Comedy Inc TV series
2004 Stingers Donny Swan TV series, 1 episode
2005 Let Loose Live Various characters TV series, 2 episodes
2005–09 Sunday Arts Presenter TV series
2006–11 Dogstar Mark Clark (voice) Animated TV series, 52 episodes
2010 City Homicide Scott Meyers TV series, 1 episode
2011 Dogstar: Christmas in Space Mark Clark (voice) Animated TV movie
2014 Black Comedy Guest cast TV series, 1 episode
2015 Open Slather Various characters TV series, 20 episodes

Theatre

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Year Title Role Location
1981 The Cherry Orchard Pyetya Trofimov University of Melbourne, The Mill Theatre, Newtown, College Church Hall, Parkville
1981 Saved Harry University of Melbourne with The Previous Theatre Company
1984 Ivanov Anthill Theatre, Melbourne with Australian Nouveau Theatre
1985 Too Cool for Sandals University of Melbourne, The Last Laugh, Collingwood
1986 Macbeth Warehouse, South Melbourne with Australian Nouveau Theatre
1991 A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy Universal Theatre for Melbourne International Comedy Festival
1993 The Dutch Courtesan Master Mulligrub Russell Street Theatre with Melbourne Theatre Company
1993 Much Ado About Nothing Borachio Playhouse, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Princess Theatre, Launceston with Melbourne Theatre Company
1994 Loot Mietta’s, Melbourne (also director)
1994 Red Nose Comedy Night Festival Theatre, Adelaide
1994 See How They Run Mietta’s, Melbourne
2002 All Het Up Czech House, Melbourne for Melbourne Fringe Festival
2003 The Full Monty Harold Nichols State Theatre, Melbourne & Australian national tour
2004 It's a Dad Thing Australian national tour
2009; 2011 Countdown Molly Meldrum Melbourne production
2011 The Sound of Music Herr Zeller Hobart with Exit Left Productions
2014–15 Flak – True stories from the men who flew in World War Two One man show - various characters Australian national tour
2018 Opening Gala Concert MC / Compere Opera Pavilion, Olinda for Yarra Valley Opera Festival
2018 The Handmaid’s Tale Professor Pieixoto Opera Pavilion, Olinda for Yarra Valley Opera Festival
2019 A Very Very Very Short History of Opera MC / Narrator Memorial Hall, Healesville for The Opera Studio

[23]

Bibliography

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  • Veitch, Michael (2008) [2006]. Flak. Sydney, New South Wales: Pan Macmillan Australia. ISBN 978-0-330-42408-0. OCLC 224762224.
  • —— (2009) [2008]. Fly. Camberwell, Victoria: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-301194-1. OCLC 301793193.
  • —— (2011). The Forgotten Islands. Camberwell, Victoria: Penguin Group Australia. ISBN 978-0-67-007181-4.
  • —— (2015). Heroes of the Skies. Melbourne, Victoria: Penguin Group Australia. ISBN 978-0-67-007825-7.
  • —— (2015). Southern Surveyor. Clayton South, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 978-1-48-630264-2.
  • —— (2016). 44 Days. Sydney, NSW: Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-73-363363-8.
  • —— (2017). Barney Greatrex : From bomber command to the French Resistance : the stirring story of an Australian hero. Alex Lloyd and Angus Hordern (researchers). Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-3723-0.
  • —— (2018). Hell Ship – The true story of the plague ship Ticonderoga, one of the most calamitous voyages in Australian history. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-76063-084-3., also presented as a one-person play
  • —— (2019). Turning Point – The Battle for Milne Bay 1942, Japan's first Land Defeat in World War II. Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-4055-1.
  • —— (2021). The Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-4589-1.

References

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  1. ^ Wood, Leonie Funny Business
  2. ^ "Wit or lose". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 May 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  3. ^ "The Tribal Mind". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 June 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  4. ^ "All right on the night". The Age. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Aunty keeps axe out for arts show". heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Sunday Arts gravitates to online". tvtonight.com.au. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  7. ^ Best Kept Secret (2021) on YouTube
  8. ^ "Laugh in for comic giants". news.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Flak!!". abc.net.au. 10 August 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Fly: Michael Veitch". abc.net.au. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  11. ^ Morris, Linda (2 October 2011). "My island tome". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Southern Surveyor: Stories from Onboard Australia's Ocean Research Vessel". Australasian Science. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  13. ^ Barlass, Tim (16 August 2015). "Heroes of the Skies by Michael Veitch records the last World War II pilots". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  14. ^ "Author Q&A: 44 days – an RAAF squadron's fight for Australia". insidehistory.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  15. ^ Jennifer Crawley, Radio host to sign off, The Mercury, 18 July 2012
  16. ^ "Full Monty cast reveal almost all". The Age. 28 August 2003. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  17. ^ "Mercurio's naked ambition hits stage". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 May 2003. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Bub Hub Newsletter July 2004". bubhub.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  19. ^ "Son of a Veitch, is it Molly?". heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  20. ^ Julia Roper (15 February 2011). "I Can't Believe It's Not Countdown, It's A Musical Comedy". Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  21. ^ "Michael Veitch: actor, writer" by Anne Lim, The Australian, 4 December 2008
  22. ^ "Michael Veitch". LinkedIn. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  23. ^ "AusStage".
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