GUEST TUTORS
He tangata I akona ki te whare, tūnga ki te
We stand on the shoulders of giants
While we pride ourselves on being excellent and knowledgeable teachers at THESPA, we know that we alone cannot provide the best training possible. Therefore once every term, your company class will transform into a masterclass of expertise from a leading industry professional in Aotearoa New Zealand.
This programme is an imbedded part of your Company class term fees.
PREVIOUS GUEST TUTORS
JANE LEONARD
AUCKLAND
Since graduating from NASDA in 2013, Jane has worked professionally throughout New Zealand as a theatre practitioner and educator. She has a strong passion for providing high quality performing arts education to all ages and believes that everyone should have to opportunity to learn and grow in their artistic endeavours.
Some of her theatre credits include; Elphaba, WICKED (NZ premier); Maureen, RENT; Crystal, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS; Lorraine, JERSEY BOYS; Vivienne Kensington, LEGALLY BLONDE; Velma (Alternate), CHICAGO (The Court Theatre); Kate Shepard, THAT BLOODY WOMAN; Scaramouche, WE WILL ROCK YOU; Diva, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT; Meg Giry, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.
During 2023 she has been pursuing a dream piece of Māori theatre with 5 other incredible wāhine called Kōpū, presented by Te Pou Theatre. She will continue to work on this mahi into next year with multiple festivals and performances so keep an eye out!
Jane has also worked as an Academic Tutor at Wintec's Music Theatre Degree, facilitating acting, voice and dance.
FINLEY HUGHES
Wellington
Finley is an award winning actor and musical theatre performer originally from Kirikiriroa. He is a graduate of The National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (NASDA). Since graduating, Finley has worked with The Court Theatre, Auckland Theatre Company, Circa Theatre, Barbarian Productions, Two Productions, Red Leap Theatre Company and many more. He also devised and performed his own solo show DEMON CAT SPACE BOY.
Finley toured New Zealand in the critically acclaimed play THE HAKA PARTY INCIDENT in which he won 'Most Promising New Comer' at the Wellington Theatre Awards. Finley has trained in Clown, his true passion, and plans on attending the prestigious Ecole Philippe Gaulier in France next year.
His other credits include: Ensemble, ALL THE FRAUDULENT HORSE GIRLS (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Ensemble, U R BACK 2024, U R HERE (Barbarian Productions); Prospero, LADS ON THE ISLAND; PINNOCHIO PANTOMIME (Circa Theatre)
Film/TV credits include: Sam, THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES 11 (South Pacific Pictures)
CIENDA MCNAMARA
Brisbane
Her directing credits include: UNDIES: THE CABARET; THE HUM SERIES (Joymas Creative); PRIVATE LIVES and A DOLL'S HOUSE (Starlight Theatre); THE FOOL'S JOURNEY (Judith Wright Warehaus Theatre Company) at QPAC; FOOD OF LOVE (Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble); SHAKESPEARE'S BITS (Carpe Diem Productions); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Grin and Tonic); A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra); YOURS SINCERELY, BANANA BRAINS by Lizzie Flynn (Queensland Cabaret Festival and Nik Nak Productions); 35MM, A MUSICAL EXHIBITION ( Australian premiere) Britten's THE LITTLE SWEEP (Australian Festival of Chamber Music;) THE 25PROJECT (Joymas Creative); WORLD GOES 'ROUND (Qld Conservatorium of Music); RHYTHM JUNKIES, and RHYTHM JUNKIES: REVIVED (Red Hot Rhythms - recipient of an Australian Dance Award); CURTAINS (NASDA).
She was the Associate Director on The Danger Ensemble’s new work LET MEN TREMBLE (Theatre Works, Melbourne). Cienda was part of the I've Been Meaning to Ask You The Good Room’s National Touring team which included seasons in Canberra, Parramatta, and Bundaberg. In 2023 she directed Stephen Sondheim's Company for NASDA in Christchurch, New Zealand. In September 2023 Cienda directed the premiere of Alexandra Ellen's new work BETSY AND I for Indelability & UnderCover Artists at the UnderCover Arts Festival as part of Brisbane Festival.
Cienda was a resident artist with Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe, performing with its inschool program. As well as performing for G&T in their productions of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, A WINTER'S TALE, TIMON OF ATHENS, PERICLES PRINCE OF TYRE, and ROMERO AND JULIET (Del ArtË award). Other credits SKIRTS, ASSASINS, ANYTHING GOES, CHILDREN OF EDEN, RICHARD III, and ANTIGONE. In 2012 Cienda wrote and performed her cabaret, NOBODY DOES IT LIKE ME (Brisbane Cabaret Festival). In 2014 she premiered HARDLY THE PORTRAIT OF LADY (Short+Sweet+Cabaret, Sydney) winning awards for Best Female Performer, Best Script, Best Comedy, and again at the Tasmanian Cabaret Festival as part of The Festival of Voices. Cienda also appeared in TROUBLE for Drop Bear at Tamarama Rock Surfers, Sydney. In September Cienda appeared in A DOLL'S HOUSE, adapted by Lally Katz for La Boite Theatre, receiving a Matilda Award for her portrayal of Kristine Linde. In June 2015, Cienda premiered UnPC as part of the Brisbane Cabaret Festival. And was featured as The Ice Queen for The Myer/Brisbane City Council Christmas Pantomime. In 2016 Cienda previewed NATURAL BORN SPINSTER. In 2017 Cienda performed in MACBETH for The Danger Ensemble. 2018 saw Cienda appear in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHINGS for the Brisbane Shakespeare Festival.
SAVANNAH McNATTY
TAURANGA
Originally from Christchurch, Savannah began her performing arts training at the age of 6. After years of competing and completing exams in NZAMD, Glenn Wood Tap and RAD, she relocated to Melbourne to study on scholarship at Jason Coleman's Ministry of Dance and has been dancing professionally ever since.
Her credits include working as Dance Captain aboard Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and was an ensemble member / understudy Marty and Cha Cha in 'Grease; The Musical for Royal Caribbean International. Musical theatre credits include Beauty and The Beast for the Rob Guest Endowment and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat for Showbiz Christchurch.
She has worked extensively in the corporate realm for companies such as The AFL Footy Show, Mercedes, Nickelodeon, Marvel International Comedy Festival, Australian Open, KPMG, Coca-Cola, Marvel and Dreamworks among others. Savannah is also a former Melbourne United Cheerleader. Savannah has featured in blockbuster Bollywood movies and hosted live children's entertainment such as Dora The Explorer, Shaun The Sheep and Dino Train. Savannah is also a co-director of the entertainment company, APEX Productions.
JACK SHATFORD
CHRISTCHURCH
Jack is an Ōtautahi born music theatre performer and creative. He is a graduate of the Western Australian of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Jack's performance credits have included Madagascar the Musical Australia and NZ Tour, Cinderella (GMG Productions), Rudolpho in Matilda the Musical (Showbiz Christchurch), Shrek the Musical TYA NZ Tour (Showcase Entertainment Group) He Says, She Says, and Severely Queer: It's A Pirate Life (Blackboard Theatre Collective). He was a soloist on The Isolation Mixtape Vol. 2 with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Blackboard Theatre Collective, which can be found on Spotify. Upon graduating in 2019, he received the Music Theatre International Australasian Award.
When not performing, Jack works as an acting coach and dance tutor. He was assistant director for On the Town at NASDA and Elf Jnr at JK Performing Arts, and has been a core tutor at the New Zealand Boys Dance Convention for the past two years.
HOLLY CHAPPEL-EASON
(2PRODUCTIONS)
CHRISTCHURCH
Holly has a Master of Theatre Arts in Directing from Victoria University and Te Kura Toi Whakaari O Aotearoa: NZ Drama School. She is the co-artistic director and producer of 2Productions which has produced the
devised works Moemoea at Te Papa Marae, If You Only See One The Disaster Brothers, the immersive theatre show, The Powerful Event, on a vacant space in Christchurch, The Wild Hunt for The Body Festival 2014,
Open for Business in St. Kevins Arcade, Auckland and The Little Prince for the 2018 Anthony Harper Summer Theatre. She has directed for The Court Theatre, Auckland Theatre Company, Red Leap Theatre and the Fortune Theatre.
She is the Artistic Director of Little Andromeda, having programmed their 2019, 2020 and current seasons. She is head of acting at Original Scripts Theatre School, had a successful high school teaching career and worked as a director and tutor for Toi Whakaari and Whitireia Polytechnic.
