MiG Ayesa

Set to rock Singaporean audiences this month as Galileo Figaro in We Will Rock You, the musical lovechild of Queen and Ben Elton. We get up close to the Aussie Philipino hottie before he slips into his leather pants

Congrats on snagging one of coolest gigs in town. How did it happen?
My first audition in London was a disaster! I wasn’t warmed up, and I sang like a strangled cat! I had to beg to be seen again, and thanks to Brian May and Mike Dixon, I got a second chance. This time, I made sure I was warmed up and nailed the audition.

I performed the role for two years, but left the show to do Rockstar: INXS. It was in 2007 at the Toronto premiere of We Will Rock You that the director Andrew Pole asked if I would be interested in a tour of We Will Rock You, visiting Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul and Auckland. Of course I said yes!

So just like that, I was back in the show doing this amazing tour. I love touring Asia, but to take this show there is a dream job.

What are you looking forward to in your new role?
I am totally psyched about it! I am looking forward to seeing crowds around the globe explode the same way they have everywhere it’s played. Some of the greatest rock anthems are in this one show. Combine that with Ben Elton’s witty imagination, and you’ve got dynamite (with a laser beam!).

What’s been your most memorable stage moment?
Being on stage in London at the Dominion Theatre, playing Galileo, and Brian May (from Queen) rises from below the stage to do the guitar solo for Bohemian Rhapsody. We then did an encore of We Are The Champions and began by improvising and scatting with each other before launching into the song. That was a life-changing moment – I’ll never forget it.

How do you like Singapore?
Singapore is always an exciting place to visit. I toured here with The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (1996) and Fame – The Musical (2002).

I love the weather, the shopping, the cleanliness, the modern chic, the cosmopolitanism of the city, the sophistication – and the food is out of this world! I enjoy going to the beach in Sentosa, and always love having a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel. I am thrilled how every time I visit, I find new places to fall in love with. Don’t even get me started about the food…

What are your favourite must-see travel destinations?
I was born in Manila and love it for being my hometown. The Philippine Islands like Boracay and Palawan are truly paradises on earth.

Darwin is also a fantastic destination. You must go to the Litchfield National Park and swim under natural waterfalls.

When in Perth, have a long lunch at the Indiana Tea House (www.indiana.com.au) on Cottesloe Beach… long enough to stay see the sunset over the water and then stay for dinner.

If you ever get to Alice Springs, the “Sounds Of Silence” dinner (Ayers Rock Resort, tel: +61 (0)2 8296 8010) is a must. Imagine tables with white cloths under the setting desert sun between Ayers Rock and The Olgas, with the most exquisite wine selection and the finest Aussie cuisine possible. Truly breathtaking!

Melbourne has so much to offer it’s hard to narrow it down, but you have to walk up and down Chapel Street and have a latte at my favourite spot, Cafe e Cucina (www.caffeecucina.com.au).

I also love St Kilda – from the cafes to the bars to the shops to the bakeries, even to the beach itself.

When in Hobart, a trek up Mount Wellington is always an incredible way to see the city. The views are spectacular, if you don’t mind a bit of snow and wind.

If ever in Newcastle, just go to the beaches. I think they are Australia’s best-kept secret.

As for the Sunshine Coast, make some time to discover Noosa – it is one of the most beautiful towns I’ve ever seen. The beaches are remarkable, but the town is equally exquisite.

MiG’s carry-on essentials

• My MacBook laptop  
• My iPod  
• The current book I’m reading  
• My passport and all important travel documents  
• Bose headphones  
• Chewing gum  
• Latest copy of Rolling Stone  
• Digital camera

Catch MiG in We Will Rock You, 28 March to 13 April 2008 at the Esplanade Theatre, Singapore. Tickets are available from www.sistic.com.sg