Benjamin Maio Mackay

Benjamin is an actor, director, writer, producer, host, podcaster and all-round performer. Benjamin has been in more than 30 musicals, 30 stage plays and has been interviewed for radio and TV numerous times. He has attended vocal and acting training through various institutions including NIDA, Ann Peter's School of Acting, Heesom Casting and Urban Myth Theatre. Benjamin has been singing and playing the piano since a young age and has also completed dance classes to increase his range of abilities. At the age of 14 he graduated the AMEB Speech and Drama course with honors. Benjamin studied speech and drama under acting coach, Peta Shannon for 18 months. He has written, produced and performed in his own sell out shows at the Adelaide Fringe 2013 and 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. He also performed one of his shows at the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival to great critical acclaim (4 1/2 Stars - Herald Sun). In 2014 Benjamin turned his internationally acclaimed podcast into his OnLine & OnStage production company, enabling him to further expand his collective range of projects! In the Adelaide Fringe 2015 Benjamin directed, produced, adapted and performed in the critically acclaimed premier production of Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Live! Benjamin was then seen in the Adelaide Rep's critically acclaimed production of The Cripple of Inishmaan. As part of the 2016 Adelaide Fringe Benjamin adapted, directed and performed in Preachrs Podcast OnLine & OnStage's premiere production of Matthew Reilly's Ice Station Live! Benjamin over 2016, 2017 and 2018 toured a new version of Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Live! It received 6 Broadway World Sydney Theatre Nominations including, Best Actor - Benjamin, Best Director and Best Play. Benjamin adapted, produced, directed and performed in the tour for more than 25 performances. Benjamin is excited to be adapting, directing, producing and performing in an audio drama adaptation of The Phoenix Files. The first installment of the series was released in 2017 on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play and starred John Jarratt and Paul McGann. The second installment was released in June 2018 and the final installment will follow in November. Benjamin is also a supa-star guest host at Supanova Comic Con & Pop Culture Events across Australia. You can listen to Benjamin Maio Mackay's Talk 2 Me! (his chat show podcast online and on iTunes).