Mick Stuart

Photo by David Solm

Self-taught artist Mick Stuart has many strings in his bow, but his performance at MPavilion (as part of Melbourne Festival) centres on a musical instrument he designed and built himself: the Polymba. Essentially a wooden box housing fifteen amplified African thumb pianos of various tones, the Polymba produces a fittingly distinctive sound. Stuart (with and without said Polymba) has popped up in numerous bands and productions over the years—including Keating! The Musical, Eddie Perfect and The Renovators, and Green Man Theory. Right now he’s leading the band behind LIMBO—the circus cabaret extravaganza playing at the Famous Spiegeltent.