John Michael Narres
John Michael Narres
Actor
John Michael Narres is an MEAA stage & screen actor living on Dharawal land, most recently appearing as Bottom in Merrigong Theatre Company’s acclaimed professional outdoor production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A familiar face on the independent theatre circuit in Sydney, JM is now a professional full-time actor.
Biography
John Michael, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community since 1994 is a 2000 graduate of ACTT, receiving an Advanced Diploma in Acting.
JM was a resident actor with the Sydney Shakespeare Festival, appearing in 8 productions over 4 years in lead roles such as Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing), Petruchio (The Taming Of The Shrew), Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) & Malvolio (Twelfth Night).
In the last 12 months, JM has been tutored by acting coaches Marcus Graham, Jo Briant & renowned LA Meisner coach, Fran Montano. He played the co-lead role of Ian in the Broadway World Australia nominated NIDA production of How To Win A Plebiscite (And Tennis) & also appeared in So Popera’s Priscilla The Musical as Bernadette where he was awarded a Canberra Area Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor. He has worked with Belvoir St Theatre, was a participant of the inaugural Actors Intensive Lab with Bell Shakespeare & also appeared in Theatre Travel’s double bill production The Laramie Project & The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later at the Seymour Centre.
Recent roles in the last 12 months include Bottom in Merrigong’s professional production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rudolph & Jack Frost in Em’s Entertainment’s professional Christmas Panto Carol Claus, Ken Railings in So Popera’s Strictly Ballroom (WIN Entertainment Centre), Dr Wilcox in Cate Fucking Blanchett (Sydney Fringe Festival), Raymond in Subtlenuance’s Catherine At Avignon & Constable Hicks in Purple Tape Productions’ Come Again at KXT Theatre.
Ad Astra Plays
Upcoming Plays
Past Plays
Other Theatre
2024 – Sydney Sunset (Feature Film), ELOI Pictures, Actor – MICHAEL
2024 – Picnic At Hanging Rock (Theatre), CTGInc, Production Director
2023 – The One (Theatre), Little Cup Productions & Sydney Fringe Festival, Actor – HIM
2022 – Chicago (Musical), So Popera Productions (IPAC), Actor & Assistant Choreographer (Fosse Expert Consultant) – HARRY / JUROR
2022 – The Invisibles Season 2 (TV Series), Beyond Productions, Actor – LOBO
2022 – When The Rain Stops Falling (Theatre), CTGInc, Production Director
2021 – Macbeth (Theatre), CTGInc, Actor – MACBETH
2019 – The Crucible (Theatre), CTGInc, Actor – JOHN PROCTOR
2019 – Singin’ In The Rain (Musical), So Popera Productions (IPAC), Actor – DON LOCKWOOD
2019 – Next To Normal (Musical), CTGInc, Actor – DR MADDEN / DR FINE
2018 – Yesterday’s Girl (Feature Film), Jaggi Films, Actor – TORTURED FATHER
2018 – Angels In America Part 1: Millenium Approaches (Theatre), Wollongong Workshop Theatre, Actor – LOUIS IRONSON
2018 – A Chorus Line (Musical), So Popera Productions (IPAC), Actor – ZACH
2018 – Fucking Men (Theatre), New Theatre, Actor – JACK
2017 – 5 Guys Chillin’ (Theatre), New Theatre, Actor– B
2017 – Wyrmwood: Chronicles Of The Dead (TV Teaser), Guerilla Productions, Actor – CAGED ZOMBIE
2017 – Deadly Women (TV Series), Beyond Productions, Actor – SERGEANT CHARLIE
2017 – The Taming Of The Shrew: A Gender Reversal Experiment (Outdoor Theatre), Shakespeare On The River, Actor - KATERIN
2017 – After The Dance (Theatre), New Theatre, Actor – John Reid
2017 – Beauty & The Beast (Musical), So Popera Productions (IPAC), Actor – LUMIERE
2016 – The Producers (Musical), So Popera Productions (IPAC), Actor – ROGER DEBRIS
2016 – Embedded (Feature Film), Jaggi Entertainment & Stephen Sewell, Actor – SHEIK’S BROTHER
2014 – 54 Days (Feature Film), 54 Days Productions, Actor – ANTHONY
2014 – Star Wars At Home (TV Series), Disney Channel, Actor – DAD
2014 – Forget Me Not (Feature Film), Showkhan Pictures, Actor – UNCLE ZACH
2014 – Atomic Kingdom (TV Series), Penigma Pictures, Actor – BREEZE
2014 - The Merchant Of Venice (Theatre), EHTC & Q Theatre Penrith, Actor – ANTONIO / LAUNCELOT GOBBO
2014 - Deadly Women (TV Series), Beyond Productions, Actor – JOHN SCHLOSSER
2014 – Pinball Revival Production (Theatre), Duck Duck Goose Theatre & Mardi Gras, Actor – KURT / SOLOMON
2014 – Oedipus Schmoedipus (Theatre), Belvoir St Theatre, Actor – GREEK CHORUS
2013 – The Crucible (Theatre), EHTC & Q Theatre, Actor – REVEREND JOHN HALE
2013 – A Streetcar Named Desire (Theatre), CTGInc, Actor - MITCH
2013 – Much Ado About Nothing (Outdoor Theatre), Sydney Shakespeare Festival, Actor – BENEDICK
2013 – As You Like It (Outdoor Theatre), Sydney Shakespeare Festival, Actor – TOUCHSTONE / ADAM
Training
2023 – Actors Workout Studio Los Angeles, Meisner, Fran Montano
2023 – Private Screen Acting Coaching, Jo Briant
2022 – Hub Studios, Casting & Self Tape Techniques, Jo Briant
2022 – Private Acting Coaching, Marcu Graham
2015 – Ivana Chubbuck Technique Masterclass, Anthony Brandon Wong
2013 – Bell Shakespeare, Actors Lab Intensive, Sean O’Shea
1998 – 2000 – Actor’s College Of Theatre & Television, Advanced Diploma In Acting
Representation
Reviews
“John Michael Narres, who was jaw-dropping in Alex Tutton’s “Come Again” as a constable, once again shows he’s a pioneer in playing utterly discomforting, shiver-down-your-spine characters. His role as the headmaster, a brutal foil to the imaginative and playful 11 year old Hemming, show Narres knack for getting under the audience’s skin.”
Michael Di Guglielmo - Stage Door Podcast | Read Review Here
“The supporting cast matches his energy, bouncing between realistic portrayals of adult professionals to theatrically enthusiastic children. Let me cherry pick some favourites.John Michael Narres’ school principal is deliciously meanspirited.”
Paul Gilchrist - Theatre Red | Read Review Here
“Michelle Carey’s production is first class and engages the audience from the get go.”
David Kary | Sydney Arts Guide | Read Review Here
“Led by Director Michelle Carey there’s a lot going on in this intense production. Toy Symphony explores bullying, substance abuse, death and grief. At times this play is uncomfortable to watch but it’s also a compelling look at creativity and human response.”
Natasha Ciesielski | Sydney Scoop | Read Review Here
“Lively direction by Michelle Carey keeps us invested in the storytelling”
Suzy Wrong - Suzy Go See | Read Review Here
“It is fitting that the first production in the space is from one of the giants of Australian playwriting. Michael Gow’s “Toy Symphony” reminds us that we should embrace creativity and difference with compassion and patience. And that there can be a little bit of magic in everyone!”
Kate Gaul - Theatre Travels | Read Review Here
‘…this production is raucous, risqué and fun - and frequently laugh-out-loud hilarious’
Kate Mcllwain – Illawarra Mercury | Read full review
‘John Michael Narres in a hilarious bit part as Dr Wilcox was also a real highlight of an already incredible cast. His fast-paced energy and frantic charm was the perfect contrast to Nina’s trepidation at the IVF clinic’
Jordan Anderson – Fourth Wall | Read full review
’Jones often plays against John Michael Narres as Raymond. These two performers have a wonderful rapport from their first scene which is important for the emotional punch that is the plays ending. Narres does a great job of balancing the comedy and the earnestness required from the character and shines in the closing moments of the play’
Daniel Conway – Fourth Wall | Read full review
‘Performing a very extensive range of roles, is a remarkably cohesive ensemble, including John Michael (Narres)…who leaves a strong impression with varied and often flamboyant approaches to his respective catalogues of personalities’
Suzy Wrong – Suzy Goes See | Read full review
‘John Michael (Narres) plays the revolting B, fearless and memorable in his portrayal of a man with no redeeming features. These are difficult personalities to make convincing, but we believe every disgusting word that comes out of his mouth…’
Suzy Wrong – Suzy Goes See | Read full review
‘John Michael (Narres) really shone as Jack and I found his performance confident, touching and truthful’
Dennis Clements – Australian Stage | Read full review
Awards
2023 – Broadway World Australia, Best New Play – How To Win A Plebiscite (And Tennis)
2022 – Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Award, Best Supporting Actor – Bernadette, Priscilla The Musical