For Tauranga performer Fletcher Oxford, coming home to star as Fiyero in Wicked is more than another acting job.
It is a return to the community that helped launch his career after almost three years performing around the world.
Oxford left New Zealand for China nearly three years ago, spending much of his time away working at Universal Studios Beijing.
“One of my roles was dressing up in a gorilla suit and a prosthetic mask, singing, dancing and frolicking about as Johnny the Gorilla from the animated film Sing,” Oxford said.
Fletcher Oxford performing as Johnny in Sing at Universal Studios
He also performed in the Frog Choir at the Harry Potter attraction and was part of Universal Pop, a pop singing and dancing troupe popular with visitors.
“Being able to live and work overseas and doing what I love – performing - has been a highlight,” he said. “Singing, dancing and acting in all of these amazing new corners of the world that I might otherwise not have gone to.”
Fletcher Oxford enjoying visiting the Middle East while performing in Shrek the Musical in 2023
In 2023, Oxford travelled to the Middle East with Shrek the Musical, performing in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and at Dubai Opera in the United Arab Emirates.
He subsequently returned to NZ for productions including Kinky Boots and The Music Man with the Royal New Zealand Navy Band.
Fletcher Oxford (on right) performing in Shrek the Musical in the Middle East in 2023.
But for all the places he has travelled, there are some things about New Zealand that are hard to replace.
“Mince and cheese pies, maybe,” he laughs. “I’ve definitely missed the pies.”
More importantly, he has missed his family and animals, including his cat and horse.
“It’s nice to be back with the family for a bit and back with my animals,” he said.
Oxford said a performing career is often a matter of taking things “contract by contract”. His first Beijing contract was for about 15 months, but he was offered another and chose to stay.
Fletcher Oxford performing in Universal Pop in Beijing.
Now he is back in Tauranga to take the lead role of Fiyero in Tauranga Musical Theatre’s production of Wicked, at Baycourt from September 17 to October 3.
It is a role with particular significance for Oxford.
When Tauranga Musical Theatre first staged Wicked in 2019, he understudied Fiyero.
Seven years on, he is getting the chance to step into the role properly.
“I absolutely love Wicked. It’s such a brilliant show,” he said.
“It’s so vibrant and beautiful, and the music is catchy and moving.”
Fletcher Oxford performing as Fiyero in Tauranga Musical Theatre’s 2019 production of Wicked.
Returning to the production allowed him to revisit the character with more experience, he said.
“I’m enjoying the process of recreating that character, improving upon what we did last time – just finding new and different ways to do it.
“I’ve had a lot of growth as just a human and a performer over those last seven years, so I can bring that extra seven years of experience to the role.”
He is also enjoying being back among the local theatre community.
“I have a lot to thank Tauranga Musical Theatre for.”
Fletcher Oxford with the cast of Kinky Boots.
Oxford’s connection with the performing arts can be traced back to when he attended Pyes Pā School, Tauranga Intermediate and Tauranga Boys’ College, becoming involved in music, drama, jazz and choral events.
He remembers taking part in the Tauranga Music Schools’ Choral Festival, with themes including The Beatles, The Muppets and Sesame Street.
“You name it, I was probably involved in it some way,” he said.
Those local opportunities, and the teachers who encouraged him, helped give him the confidence to pursue performing professionally.
Fletcher Oxford, age 12, in November 2012 strumming a tune to his new cat Zoe. He took up singing and songwriting after his previous cat Sushi went missing. Photo / John Borren
Today Oxford is giving back through Oxford Performing Arts, the Tauranga-based music and drama school he founded in 2019.
While he has been overseas, a team here has continued teaching local students.
“It’s been really awesome to pop into some of these classes that I haven’t visited in a while and relieve some lessons, or just pop in and say hi to the tutors and the kids,” he said.
Oxford has also been recording an independently funded album of songs he wrote over roughly the past decade, working with producers and musicians in NZ, the UK and Nashville.
“It tells stories about my upbringing and ups and downs and all of those life rollercoasters.”
Fletcher Oxford (centre) on stage performing in The Music Man.
He hopes to continue working across the performing arts, including his own music, musical theatre, television and film.
He has already worked in the screen industry, including on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power when it was filmed in New Zealand.
He has a message to pass on to young Tauranga performers considering a career in the arts.
“This really is a career. It is a real job. There is sometimes a perception that performing is simply a hobby people eventually leave behind to ‘return to reality’,” Oxford said.
“The last five years of my life have proven to myself and hopefully to others, that this is a real thing – a beautiful, exciting career, full of opportunities all around the world.”
He hoped his own journey demonstrated to young performers that a career in the arts is possible.
“I’m really passionate about making the next generation of performers aware of that and being an example to them of somebody that dreamt of it, wanted it, and then went out and made it happen.”
His next chapter is already waiting. Wicked closes in Tauranga on October 3 - Oxford’s birthday - and the following day he leaves for Singapore for another performing opportunity.
He cannot yet reveal what that project is. For now, though, he is home - back on a Tauranga stage, this time as Fiyero.