Bad Guy: Hayden Tee

Proud Takatāpui man, Hayden Tee is a performer, recording artist, director and make-up artist. He has been prominent on the world stage in leading roles since 2004 in theatre, cabaret and concert, including Lt Cable in South Pacific, Captain Hook in Peter Pan, Javert in Les Misérables and Miss Trunchball in Matilda. Also a proud LGBTQI+ man, as part of his songs and story he also shared his personal experiences, deep distress and passion for Social Protection and Human Rights. Whilst sitting in this lamentably, one only performance, it quickly became apparent that if one was not a Hayden Tee fan at the outset, the power of his voice, performance and message ensured that, after 75 minutes in his presence, you certainly left as one.

A man who embraces what he believes is right and important to fight for, he is an activist who deplores apathy, and as evidence, is the chairperson of the Te Manu Tioriori Trust, dedicated to the development of original Musical Theatre in Aotearoa. He is also a member of the equity diversity committees in Australia and New Zealand.

Accompanied by a lavishly talented and musically diverse six piece band, led by flamboyant Nigel on grand piano, the venue felt intimately lit, and was changed, song by song by Marty, with the two sound engineers, Justin and Patrick ensuring that every note, including Tee’s immensely powerful vibrato was crystal clear and beautifully balanced.

Entering from the rear of the auditorium, Tee burst in singing ‘I Want to Be Bad’, opening this deep dive into some of music’s most loathed anti-heroes. At 164 cm tall, Tee is imposing, holding the audience in his thrall effortlessly. He is dazzling, garrulous and disturbingly likeable, for a man being a bad guy, until he sings. Tee is not just a singer, he is a performer. He uses every part of his face and body, even sans costumes, to ‘become’ the character, interpreting and planting every word, every nuance and gesture, and in doing so, transports the audience, allowing them to stand alongside his character.

Interestingly, whilst the songs that were chosen were not, in the main, songs with which many of the audience would be particularly familiar, that was of little matter, such is Tee’s performance skill.

His vocal range and depth is spine chilling, and he appeared to vocally soar effortlessly, moving, sitting or standing. His breathing, even with finely honed microphones, was not audible, so the story he told was unblemished, uninterrupted.

Reflecting his acting portfolio of starring roles, he performed the best known Miss Trunchball song, ‘The Smell of Rebellion’, from Matilda. Laden with malicious innuendo, the audience loved it, but even this was eclipsed when, as Javert he sang ‘Stars’ from Les Misérables. Tee used this song to underline the dilemma of judging what is right and wrong by highlighting that Javert sees himself as excluded from a society that "irrevocably closes its doors on two classes of men, those who attack it and those who guard it," and perhaps this is Tee’s most powerful message. Such is the power of Tee, the performer, that eyes were brimming, hankies appeared, and you could hear a pin drop until the lengthy thunderous applause.

Tee is indeed a man of many colours, many performances and messages. Importantly, he is a convincing, consummate performer who reminds us of the power of theatre as both a mirror to society, and an agent of change. Ultimately, he is a sublime performer.

Jude Hines

Photographer: Claudio Raschella