Arthur Shacklock (or “Shack”) did not really start singing publicly until in his 40s, when living in Hong Kong. He later took singing lessons in Perth, where he gave his first major public performance in the late 1980s. Arriving on the Gold Coast in 1995 he became a soloist with various groups including “Intermezzo” and in a duo “Nice ‘n’ Easy”, as well having regular singing engagements in restaurants, at weddings and functions.
His musical theatre work began with a baptism of fire when he was cast in the lead role of Emile de Becque in the Gold Coast Little Theatre’s (GCLT) successful 50th Anniversary performance of South Pacific. Since then Shack has been cast in 11 musicals at Gold Coast Arts Centre, GCLT, Twin Towns and Spotlight Theatre. His musicals have included: My Fair Lady, Can Can, Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat, West Side Story, Funny Girl, Broadway in Concert, Annie Get Your Gun, Oliver, Showboat, “Let’s Misbehave” (a celebration of the music of the roaring 1920s) and, most recently, Spotlght Theatre’s 2018 sell-out performance of Oliver.
Playing Emile de Becque in South Pacific (with the very talented Louise Harris playing the opposite lead as Nellie Forbush).
He has many singing awards, including having 5 times won the Spotlight Entertainers’ Festival trophy for the “Best Entertainer Over 40”. In 2011 he also came 3rd in the “Gold Coast Golden Idol” competition which led to him being invited on to “Australia’s Got Talent“, where he got through two rounds.
Shack sings regularly at concerts, dinners, weddings, other private functions, competitions and some charity events around the district. Although initially his “comfort zone” used to be crooning the old standards, he now includes more “semi-classical” pieces from musicals, popular hits, country, folk and even rock ‘n’ roll music, as people prefer. Usually his performances are a mix of different song styles. Shack also performs the role of Master of Ceremonies at events, if clients wish this role to be included.
Shack has won multiple awards for his singing talents