1. Mika X has toured across the world performing his cabaret stage shows and music, including performing ten times at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
48 Facts About Mika X
1. 2.
Mika X has acted in TV shows and movies including Shark in the Park, The Piano, and Shortland Street.
3.
Mika X was named Terrance John Pou at birth, but was adopted to a family who changed his name to Neil Gudsell.
4.
Mika X was born on 8 February 1962 in Timaru, New Zealand to Elizabeth Halkett and was adopted at birth by New Zealand European couple Dawn and Bill Gudsell.
5.
In 1988 Mika X placed eighth in the inaugural Suzuki World Cup aerobic championships.
6.
In 1982, Mika X moved to Los Angeles with his boyfriend, an African-American man in the US Navy, for nine months before returning to New Zealand.
7.
Mika X moved to Christchurch in 1984 and attended the New Zealand School of Dance in 1985, but left the school nine months later.
8.
In 1985, Mika X joined Te Ohu Whakaari, a Wellington Maori theatre company which toured nationally and internationally.
9.
The next year, Mika X left Te Ohu Whakaari and moved to Dunedin to work on a Te Maori exhibition.
10.
Mika X performed his one-man show Mahi Whakangahau in 1988.
11.
Mika X's solo show Neil Gudsell Uncooked produced by Merata Mita was performed at the 1990 Adelaide Fringe.
12.
In 1991, Mika X released his first song, "Juiced", with producer Alan Jansson.
13.
Mika X toured a show called Juiced World Tour in 1991 and 1992.
14.
Mika X played the minor role of takatapui man Tahu in the 1993 film The Piano.
15.
Mika X performed at the 1992 Hero Party at Princes Wharf in Auckland singing his original song "Lava Lover".
16.
Mika X ended his performance with a gay haka that he created called "Tenei Toku Ure".
17.
Mika X was a model for photographer Christine Webster's photograph Mika X: Kai Tahu.
18.
In 1996, Mika X released his first debut album titled Do U Like What U See.
19.
Mika X was cast in the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Timaru Theatre in October 1997.
20.
In 1998, Mika X collaborated with composer Gareth Farr and Mark James Hamilton on the show Ahi Ataahua.
21.
On 1 November 1998, Mika X performed on the Stonewall Equality Show 1998 at the Royal Albert Hall, and then toured internationally.
22.
In 2000, Mika X created a dance company, Torotoro, with Mark Hamilton and 10 young Maori and Pacific Island performers.
23.
In 2004, Mika X starred in his own TV variety show on Maori Television, Mika X Live which first aired on 28 March.
24.
In 2005, Mika X performed with a metal band Te Plastic Maori, including at the Montreal Fringe Festival in 2005.
25.
In March 2010, alongside the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Mika X performed at the ASB Theatre at Aotea Centre to open the Aroha Festival.
26.
Later in that year, Mika X released his third album, Mika X Versus Fashion.
27.
On 23 September 2011, Mika X put together the largest show of his career called Mika X's Aroha Mardi Gras.
28.
In 2012, Mika X assumed the role as Chair person for the non-profit organisation, "Nga Aho Whakaari".
29.
Mika X did a season of cabaret shows with a live band and special guest including Megan Alatini at one of Auckland's busiest nightclubs "Switch Bar".
30.
Mika X went on to perform eight shows during the festival, to a sell-out crowd.
31.
On Waitangi Day 2014, Mika X put together a small variety show at one of Auckland's nightclubs.
32.
On 1 May 2016, Mika X put on a one-day festival similar to the 2011 Mika X Aroha Mardi Gras closing down Karangahape Road to perform on the street.
33.
Mika X Haka opened the event with a branded new song, a remixed version of "Loved Me a Man" featuring Lavina Williams.
34.
Mika X was the creator, creative designer and executive producer of the TV series.
35.
In February 2017, Mika X released his fourth album, Swimming with Sharks.
36.
Mika X featured in Costa Kerdemelidis' song "Tango on a Tightrope" from Kermelidis' 2017 album The Big Shake.
37.
In October 2017, Mika X put together a charity concert to raise money and supplies for the Auckland City Mission to give to the homeless in Auckland City.
38.
In June 2019, Mika X returned to his hometown of Timaru and accepted 2018 Teschemaker Cup for his contribution to demonstrating outstanding achievement in his chosen field of performing arts at his high school, Timaru Boys' High School.
39.
On 10 September 2019, it was announced that Mika X was cast as Ngati Haua entertainer for "Natives Go Wild" show at the Sydney Opera House.
40.
On 10 April 2020, Mika X released his fifth album "The Aroha Collective".
41.
Mika X directed, wrote, produced, and played the lead role in the short film GURL about the life of drag queen Carmen Rupe.
42.
Mika X wrote the album soundtrack to the movie which released on 24 July 2020.
43.
Mika X offered to pay the victim $15,000 to drop the charges.
44.
Mika X offered the victim work in the Gold Coast and the United States.
45.
Mika X was granted temporary name suppression while on trial.
46.
In February 2021, Mika X pleaded guilty on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, and on 30 March 2021, he was sentenced to 11 months of home detention.
47.
Mika X stood for The Opportunities Party in Auckland Central at the 2017 New Zealand general election, and was ranked tenth on TOP's party list.
48.
Mika X came fourth in the electorate, with 681 votes, and did not enter Parliament.