William was born in Bath, the third Son of Robert Mickleburgh, an original British Jazz Maestro of the 40s onwards (The Temperance Seven, The Bobcats, Humphrey Littleton). Although encouraged to pursue a music career, William pursued the craft of acting performance as his real interest, early signs were his writing a short play in Junior School and then winning the Preparatory school Acting cup for his performance as Henry VIII in the musical play '1066 and all that' at the age of thirteen. Time outside of this was spent competing most weekends as a show jumper with his brother (who became an International Competitor). Read about William's recent work with the North See Theatre company.

During his teens his other main interest TaeKwondo (Korean Karate) took hold of him as another passion drawing him further away from the piano and cello - needless to say a career as a musician was not to be, and this job was left to the eldest son.

William attended Prior Park College in Bath, became a Junior Heavyweight Full contact champion in TaeKwondo and then leaving at age sixteen entered a two year Foundation course in Theatre studies at Bath Adult Ed. College. Before leaving he had played his first major Shakespeare role as Prospero in the Tempest and now a Black belt & Senior Middleweight TaeKwonDo Champion, within a year gained entry to the Guildford school of Acting for their three year intensive Actor training.

Upon leaving he joined the Natural Theatre company, a professional Comic Acting troupe known world wide (Pythonesque style humour) and had his first Shakespeare role offered to him as Romeo for Spin Off Theatre Company. He joined Chichester Festival Theatre Company in 1995 (having been auditioned by Sir Derek Jacobi).

Many professional stage engagements were to follow for the next three years until a breakthrough into TV on the drama series 'Harbour Lights' starring Nick Berry in 1998 playing the role of a 'Rough bloke'. Now Dick Lowry, the US Director gave him the chance on US TV as Atilla's first Officer of the Huns for US Network cable which took him to Lithuania in 2000. Other roles then appeared such as the Prince's Equerry, 'James Stuart' in Bertie and Elizabeth for WCHB/Carlton and the obtrusive Journalist he played so well in 'Without Motive' alongside Ross Kemp and Kenneth Cranham. The rest is still to be decided.

Not forgetting his roots as a musical family, William stills sings jazz publicly on occasion with his father and his band and trains in TaeKwondo daily and still rides horses!

Trivia

He holds the rank of Master level (5th Dan Black belt) in both TaeKwonDo and Korean Kick boxing.

He trained sport horses under his older brother, Robert Mickleburgh, who also his trainer (an international rider/professional Horseman - three-day eventing).

He is Artistic Director of North See Theatre Company.

He is currently writing a screen play based on his Father's life as a jazz musician.

The Scotsman: "Mickleburgh handles Austen's English skilfully and gives a heartfelt portrayal of a man torn between his notions of social status and the wishes of his heart.I'm not sure how much any of this would mean to people not familiar with Jane Austen's text, or at least with the film or TV versions of it. But Jane Austen fans will enjoy hearing her words spoken so well."


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