When Lachlan Greenland came of age, he bypassed regular work to spin on ropes and fly through hoops – even as a winged monkey! I spoke to him while on solid ground.
You’re so young and yet, you’ve made your mark as a singer, dancer and aerialist. Were you born an entertainer?
(Laughs) Well, music was always a part of my childhood. I grew up singing, and my dad played the mandolin. By the time I was ten, I began taking vocal lessons, and my first musical was a community theatre production of Hairspray. I played Sketch – one of “The Nicest Kids in Town”.
That sounds like art imitating life. What was it like growing up gay in a regional town?
I come from Townsville, Queensland, but I don’t have a bad story to tell. In fact, I was lucky to have a very supportive community surrounding me and a close family network. Townsville is a Northern military town, and I attended an all-male school, so I was almost set up for a totally different lifestyle, but my older sister is also gay and paved the way for me.
Lachlan Greenland Photo credit: Joel Devereux
When did you come out?
I didn’t focus on my sexuality for a long time. It wasn’t until I was around eighteen that I did, and until that point, I was just a kid living his life, which was so nice. I felt like I was in a community that fostered and cared for me. It was like, “He’ll figure it out”, in a gentle way of guiding me toward becoming who I was. I didn’t realise who I was entirely – and I feel like I’m still trying to figure it out – but when I went to university, I discovered a whole new world. I met friends like Jarrod Moore (see interview in DNA #306), who helped me get to know myself and my wider community.
When Lachlan Greenland came of age, he bypassed regular work to spin on ropes and fly through hoops – even as a winged monkey!
Are you currently in a relationship?
I was, but I’ve been single now for so long (Laughs). Because I’m so transitory with my work on tour, it’s difficult to be in a steady relationship. I’m twenty-nine and in the classic situation of meeting many people, but because I don’t have a home base, it’s not steady enough to form a relationship. But even if there’s no relationship right now, while I’m travelling the world, there’s a lot of love and people around me. I’m not too stressed about finding that one person as I have many in my life to annoy, nag and cry to (laughs).
You studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. How did you enter the industry after that?
It was a kind of soft entrance, to be honest. The ‘Con’ set me up well with performances and meeting the right people. I had a gig at Dreamworld during my third year, but my big break, to my own shock, was a contract with Norwegian Cruise Line as a singer/dancer. They have a famous show called Elements, which is a contemporary Cirque show, and I didn’t understand how I got it, because I wasn’t a dancer. Here I was in an insanely famous show that kills your body, busting my butt with rehearsals. I was calling my boyfriend at the time, saying, “I think I’m going to get fired!”. However, I persevered, and when I came home, I decided to train more in dance. I wanted to be ready for the next contract!
Lachlan Greenland Photo credit: Joel Devereux
And you worked with the famous Broadway star Patti LuPone?
Yes, during my third year of study, when Patti was in Australia with her cabaret, Don’t Monkey with Broadway. One day, our director, Paul Sabey, called us in and said we were about to get a great opportunity. Then this tiny woman popped out and said, “Hi! I’m Patti LuPone. Let’s sing together!” And we did! It was the most incredible night, and I thought, “What the heck am I doing here?” It was one of those weird moments where you meet an absolute star. She was very sweet.
Lachlan Greenland Photo credit Sonia Warrell
You act, sing, dance, tap, do ballet and aerial circus acrobatics. That’s a way lot more than a triple threat! Where did you learn the acrobatics?
I trained at the Australian Dance Performance Institute, utilising apparatus such as silks (fabric) and lyra (hoop). Then, in 2021, I began doing acrobatic work with Royal Caribbean Cruise. After the COVID lockdown began to lift in the United States, they released a new ship called Odyssey of the Seas, and I was part of its 270 cast, which features a multi-story aerial entertainment venue. The contract called for a singer/dancer and an aerialist, so I continued to learn the apparatus on the ship, which included climbing the Spanish web (a vertically hanging rope). After that, my following shows always included aerial to some degree, such as bungee, 3D flying and duet flying, like when I played Nikko the flying monkey in The Wizard of Oz. I became an aerial captain, and it all snowballed, where I became the supervisor and featured aerialist.
“I didn’t focus on my sexuality until I was around eighteen, and until that point, I was just a kid living his life”.
Lachlan Greenland entertaining on the high seas
You also played the crooner in A Very Naughty Christmas – the same role your mate Jarrod played.
Yes, Jarrod was in the Melbourne production, and I was in Brisbane. The show is so much fun. It was also the best way to be reintroduced to Australian theatre after working overseas. I was fortunate to utilise all my skills, which helped me secure other work afterwards.
What was your ‘naughty’ part in the show?
I came out dressed in a harness! Another guy and I were the boy toys for the Nutcracker, while she danced on an apparatus. I also did a striptease to Winter Wonderland, where we modified the lyrics to, “Walking round in women’s underwear”. It’s the first number of the show and sets the atmosphere. There’s also a nude dance in the finale where we strategically use big Christmas cards to cover ourselves. It was my first time doing that sort of thing, and I was terrified, but I found it liberating.
Lachlan Greenland Photo credit Sonia Warrell
Are there any future dream roles you have your sights on?
I don’t think about specific shows and roles, but my dream is to tour Australia in a musical. I’ve designed and centred my career working as a swing, understudy and dance captain, which is great because it continually trains me, and keeps my skills up. I say I want a musical, but life always sends me in every other direction from that path! But that’s the beauty of my journey. I can say I’ve run away with the circus! If I were to zoom in on a role, I’d love to be Fiyero in Wicked, Elder Price in The Book of Mormon or maybe Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors.
“I came out dressed in a harness! Another guy and I were the boy toys for the Nutcracker”.
Who inspires you in the industry?
Lauren Jimmieson and Anthony Craig, with whom I worked on A Very Naughty Christmas. They are two massive inspirations, and it’s not because of their work or their connections. It’s their attitude towards the industry. They’re so positive, graceful and humble, and I respect that. I’m inspired by people who keep a level head and continue to train themselves. I worked with Nicole Valla on Norwegian Cruise Line, and she continues to be a shining light to me because she celebrates everyone’s achievements.
Lachlan Greenland as a winged monkey!
What about a favourite female singer?
When I’m in the mood to reflect and fulfil myself, it’s Sara Bareilles. I used to write music quite a bit, and I’d get inspiration from her. Her lyrics are beautiful, and when she was in the musical Waitress, it was like two worlds colliding for me. But lately it’s been Robyn and Renee Rapp. I’m all over Renee’s new album, Bite Me, and Robyn is someone I always come back to. I don’t know why, but she makes me feel something special. I have Honey and Missing U on repeat a lot!
You’re about to start work again on Cirque Alice. What is that experience like?
It’s a dream come true. Obviously, it’s influenced by Alice in Wonderland with all of the zany characters like the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and others down the rabbit hole. I’m so grateful to my creative team and our choreographer, Dane Bates, for having faith in my ability to lead as Dance Captain. Being surrounded by such incredible artists is inspiring. In fact, it’s opened my eyes to how expansive artistry can be.
Lachlan Greenland Photo credit Sonia Warrell
What advice can you give to people wanting to pursue a career on stage?
Turn up to anything and everything. And say yes to everything, even if you think it’s not going to be pertinent to your career, because it probably will be. It’s a classic thing to say, but never feel that you’re better than a gig. I started dance training at nineteen, which is arguably a very late age to start. Ten years later, I became a dance captain, and the only reason I got here was because I kept going to dance class. In my first three weeks of university, my jazz teacher pulled me aside and said, “You’re very flexible. Why can’t you dance?” I was gagged in front of everyone, but a few years later, I was a top-level jazz dancer with a contract. I wanted to prove my jazz teacher wrong!
For more, visit: cirquealice.com
Follow Lachlan on Instagram @lachthomas
Lachlan Greenland Photo credit: Joel Devereux
