Colin Porteous played guitar in a succession of bands from the age of 17 before embarking on his first West End musical in the 1986 production of Charlie Girl at the Victoria Palace Theatre.
Other West End shows followed, including CanCan in 1987, Ziegfeld in 1988 and Metropolis in 1989.
In August 1989 Colin joined what was to become the longest running musical in the world, Les Miserables, at the Palace Theatre. He remained with Les Mis for 14 years until the controversial introduction of the Sinfonia 'virtual orchestra' which replaced 12 of the orchestra's 22 musicians.
During the preceding and following years Colin provided 'deputy' cover in shows including Cats, Chess, Miss Saigon, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Cabaret, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Bat Boy, The Full Monty, Jerry Springer The Opera, Wicked, Mama Mia, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Evita, and Spamalot, before assuming a full time position in Mary Poppins from July 2007 until the end of the run in 2008.
His career has taken him to almost every continent in the world, including a period in the 1980s and 1990s when he participated in the Combined Services Entertainment which provided entertainment for troops stationed overseas. He played in the Falklands, Belize, Ascension Island, Germany and Northern Ireland.
Overseas tours of Les Miserables, Starlight Express and Chicago have taken him to every part of Europe and further afield to countries like Japan and Dubai.
