John began his career as a child actor with J. C Williamson's, appearing in 'Camelot' and in 'Oliver' as the artful dodger. He produced and directed his first musicals at age 19 when he presented 'Minnie's Boys', based on the life of the Marx Brothers, in which he played Groucho Marx. Work as an actor followed in many shows including 'Salad days' at St. Martins, 'Grease' for Harry Miller, 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' for Kenn Brodziak, 'Lloyd George Knew My Father' with Sir Ralph Richardson and 'The Man Most Likely To' for J. C Willimason.

He then co-wrote, directed and starred with john O'May and Caroline Gillmer in two highly successful revues, 'Gershwin' -a musical tribute to the composer and 'the Twenties and All that Jazz' inspired by the decade of the 1920's.

In 1980 he was taken to London by Cameron mackintosh to play Curly in 'Oklahoma!' at the Palace Theatre, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award as best Actor in a musical. He returned to Australia in 1982 to re-create the role of Curly in the Australian production. In 1987 he co-produced, directed and starred in the innovative Maury Yeston musical 'Nine', for which he was nominated for best director of a musical. 'Nine' was subsequently recorded and won best soundtrack at the Australian Record Industry Awards.
He has recorded five other cast albums.

Johns other theatre credits include; Javert in Les Miserables, 'Wolf' and 'Insignificance' for Playbox, 'Aren't we all' with Rex Harrison and 'High Society' fro the Melbourne Theatre Company. In 1993 he again appeared on London's West End at the Prince of Wales Theatre in the role of Frank Butler in Ronald Lee's production of 'Annie get your gun', he was recently seen in 'Sweet Charity' as Vittorio Vidal.

Since leaving the Australian cast of 'Chicago: the musical', John played the Role of Billy Flynn to rave reviews on London's West End.