Goori Knox’s grandfather Roger Knox, known as Australia’s Black Elvis.Credit: Fairfax Media
“My dad was a driving force for getting me out of town. He took me to Sydney to take part in the talent development project for a couple of days every month for two years,” he said.
After school Knox was scouted to attend Sydney Actor’s School on a scholarship, and has since performed in television shows like Black Snow, Erotic Stories and While the Men are Away.
His breakthrough role was at this year’s Sydney Festival in Big Name, No Blankets where he played George Rrurrambu Burarrwanga, the charismatic lead singer of the Warumpi Band, alongside his elder brother Teangi, as Warumpi drummer Gordon Butcher. He was thrilled to be cast as Washington in the Tony, Grammy, Olivier and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical in its final season.
Jason Arrow (centre) returns as lead role Hamilton in the musical which starts its final season later this month.Credit: Daniel Boud
“Having read up about George Washington now, his mastery of himself is what made him a great leader. Under all circumstances, he kept his composure. He was one of history’s most powerful stoic men,” Knox said.
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Along with Knox, Etuate Lutui, Vidya Makan, Gerard-Luke Malgas, and Tainga Savage are making their Hamilton debuts in principal roles. They join Australia’s original Alexander Hamilton, Jason Arrow, in the rap-inspired musical that includes over 21,000 lyrics written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Producer Michael Cassel said Sydney would be the final stop for the musical which first opened here in March 2021.
“Sydney embraced the show so it felt right to come home here to end,” Cassel said.