Acting Teachers

Your Teachers

All the tutors at Toi Whakaari are also practising professionals. All have worked extensively in theatre, film and television both nationally and internationally and bring this experience to bear in their teaching.

Jonathon Hendry

Head of Acting and Associate Director

Jonathon is a graduate of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. After periods on the Trust Board,Board of Studies and as a guest tutor he joined the staff of Toi Whakaari in July 2007. Now an Associate Director and Head of Acting, he established himself as an award winning actor before directing with ATC, Silo, Downstage, Circa, Centrepoint and BATS. He was Head of Acting at UNITEC 2004 – 2007 and has also taught at Massey and Victoria Universities, Wellington Conservatorium of Music, NZ College of Performing Arts and Wellington Performing Arts College (WPAC).

Jonathon is also an artistic fellow of Shakespeare’s Globe London. He has played many Shakespeare roles including Richard III, Macbeth, Iago, Jaques and Malvolio. Jonathon has taught Shakespeare workshops to students, teachers and professional actors around New Zealand.
In 2007 he directed Dave Armstrong’s The Tutor for Auckland Theatre Company, which was followed by a national tour where he took over the role of Sellars. He also directed Othello for Downstage and The Cut at Silo. He collaborated with Dean Parker on the highly successful The Hollow Men, which premiered at BATS and then toured to Centrepoint, Circa and the Maidment theatre Auckland.

Jonathon has worked as an actor, script advisor and director in a many script development processes. He serves on the Trust Boards of the National Youth Drama School and Downstage Theatre.

Tom McCrory

Senior Tutor, Movement

Tom read drama at Bristol University before training for two years under Jacques Lecoq in Paris. His work in the UK was selected for and performed at many festivals including The British Festival of Visual Theatre, London, The National Review of Live Art, Glasgow and The Edinburgh Festival.

He has worked extensively as a Movement tutor at a variety of drama schools including The Young Vic, London; Bristol Old Vic Theatre; Rose Bruford Drama School; California State University, Fullerton and East.15 . Prior to leaving England Tom was Senior Movement Teacher at Mountview Drama School, London.

Tom, along with his wife, Nina Nawalowalo, is co founder of Wellington based Pacific Island visual theatre company The Conch, whose award winning show Vula toured nationally and internationally to festivals including The Sydney Opera House and the BITE season at London’s Barbican Centre.

Nathaniel Lees

Senior Tutor, Acting & Screen

A recent addition to the acting staff, Nathaniel has been an actor and director for almost 30 years. In this time he has acted in many productions, both here in Aotearoa and internationally, and as an award winning director has also directed works throughout Aotearoa and the Pacific including productions for the New Zealand International Arts Festival. His work in the film and television industry is well documented, from numerous NZ television series and productions to blockbusters such as The Matrix Trilogy and 30 Days of Night.

Nathaniel works with acting students on acting for stage and screen.

Perry Piercy

Acting Tutor

Perry is an award winning actor and director.  Over the past 30 years she has combined her work on stage and screen with experience as a casting director of national and international film and television. Her solid professional background is coupled with  experience as a trained teacher and journalist.  This year (2011) Perry spent time in England at the Globe studying Shakespearean performance, and is enjoying incorporating what she learnt into her work at Toi Whakaari.

Perry is interested in work that raises our awareness of our humanity, our commonality and our place in the world.

Senior Tutor, Voice & Speech
Position to be filled.

For Context & Practice staff, please click here

Visiting Tutors

Toi Whakaari also has regular guest teachers in acting for stage and screen, professional development, Alexander technique, voice, singing, yoga, Laban, script writing, text analysis, combat choreography, mask, percussion, improvisation, contracts and tax, camera work, radio voice, Mana Wahine, history, theory and philosophy of theatre, dance and Taha Maori.

Throughout the year Toi Whakaari brings in specialist national and international guest tutors and lecturers.