Ben Mingay gets ready for his Barry White disco role
The screen and stage actor is ready to get his ‘Barry White’ on for his role in the Brisbane Festival’s Disco Wonderland.
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Living above a boat shed next door to your parents doesn’t work for everyone, but for actor Ben Mingay who is on the road for roles a lot of the time, it works out just nicely.
“Spending time with mum and dad is something I never got to do much of, being on tour most of my life,” he says.
“Living on top of the boat shed means I can whip downstairs at any time and tinker with all sorts of things, which I love. My work life involves a bit of everything, acting, singing, voice overs ... and fixing things.”
Best known for his roles in Packed to the Rafters and Wonderland, Ben lists performing in stage show Dirty Dancing around the world among his career highlights to date, as well as playing Alan Bond, Sweeney Todd and Jim in Frayed, alongside Sarah Kendall.
“And Shrek – eight shows a week in a fat suit,” he says.
Now he’s getting ready for his next role in Brisbane Festival’s finale.
“I am looking forward to getting my ‘Barry White’ on and singing up a storm with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Disco Wonderland,” he says.
But when he’s relaxing a thome, listening to music in his mancave or chilling around a firepit, comfort reigns in his flanno, trackies and Ugg boots.
“I have a huge hi-fi system with way too many speakers, which the neighbours absolutely love.”
Ben is performing in Queen’s Wharf Disco Wonderland as part of the Brisbane Festival on September 24. brisbanefestival.com.au
Who Ben Mingay
Where In the middle of the pandemic I sold my place in Sydney and moved to Coal Point on Lake Macquarie. I live in a flat above a boat shed, right next door to my folks.
Favourite thing The lake, being by the water makes me happy.
Inspiration The only way to describe the style of my place is mancave. I have all my favourite artworks and posters, including an autographed Bon Jovi guitar and framed Silverchair poster, signed by all three Newie legends!
Home means Letting my guard down and feeling at ease, in my trackies, flanno and Ugg boots. Heaven.
BEAST’ 2017 LAND CRUISER SAHARA
I spend half my life in my car and have set it up accordingly. The OCD in me struggles with not having tools, camping equipmentand food rations with me at all times. Therefore my ‘Beast’ is a rolling Doomsday Prep mobile, fully equipped for at leastmonth off-grid at any moment. People laugh… until I fix their drywall… or save their life.
FIREPIT
If there is any opportunity for a firepit, I’ll take it. We got Mum a special one for her 80th birthday. In my spare timeI love barbecuing and hanging out with family. Firepits are a bonus.
THE LAKE/SUNSETS
Sitting lakeside with a beautiful sunset, having a G&T and yarn with the folks. Precious time️. In my spare time I love barbecuingand hanging out with family.
BOAT SEA RAY 210 SIGNATURE BOWRIDER
The freedom of being on the water makes me happy… and I can go anywhere I want as fastas I want.
HI-FI STEREO AND RECORDS
Nothing beats analogue sound. I have more than 3000 records and listening to them through my 1969KEF Concerto loudspeakers is the best.
KELLERMAN’S JACKET FROM DIRTY DANCING
I ‘carried watermelons’ as Billy in Dirty Dancing all over the world for almost six years. This is my original, custom-madejacket, which found its way into my suitcase after the final show in LA.
MY GUITAR ‘SUNBURST TAKEMINE’
I bought it when I was 12 with money from washing cars. It is still one of the best sounding steel-string acoustics I’ve everplayed.
MY ‘PILLOW BAG’
A travel essential with everything I need for an overnight stay. Contour pillow, phone dock, charger, night light, boxer shorts… and strawberry flavoured Chapstick.
BEAR GRYLLS’ SURVIVAL KNIFE
Because you never know when you’ll need a knife, hammer, fishing lure, fire starter… and whistle.
MY FLANNOS
Those who know me have accepted that I’m rarely without a flanno, it’s just part of life for me, even worn some on the redcarpet! I have several, of course, one for every occasion.
Originally published as Ben Mingay gets ready for his Barry White disco role
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