Costume Teachers

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

Kaarin Macaulay

Head of Costume Construction
After completing a BA in Communications-Theatre/Media at Charles Sturt University in Australia, Kaarin embarked on a freelance career as a costumier which saw her working across Australia for resident theatre companies, big-budget musicals (including Beauty and the Beast, Sunset Boulevarde), and small project-based groups.  In 1997 Kaarin accepted a full-time position with Opera Australia, where she had the opportunity to collaborate with local and international designers, creating costumes for the vast repertoire of Australia’s national opera company.  She moved to New Zealand in 2005 and set up the Diploma of Costume Construction at Toi Whakaari:  New Zealand Drama School.  Kaarin has also been involved in creating costumes for Weta Workshop, Capital E and The Hobbit.

Donna Jefferis

Costume Construction Tutor
Donna has worked professionally in the world of costume for over 20 years, both here in NZ and in the USA. She has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Georgia, USA and a diploma in Design and Craft in Embroidery from City and Guilds, London.  Donna has been a costume maker, cutter and designer for over 60 professional productions and has a penchant for dance. Her favorite production is always the last one that she has worked on! Donna is a part-time Costume Construction tutor at Toi Whakaari and teaches Painting and Dyeing Fabric, Period Costume Construction, Patterning, Tailoring and Costume Design. She is also the Costume Supervisor for the New Zealand School of Dance.

For Context & Practice staff, please click here

Toi Whakaari also has regular guest teachers in technology and managment for stage, screen and events, movement, mask, puppetry, professional development and leadership, voice, singing, text analysis, history, theory and philosophy of theatre and Taha Maori.

Throughout the year Toi Whakaari brings in specialist national and international guest tutors and lecturers.
The following leading lights have taught our costume construction students over the last 12 months: Adam Macaulay, Andrew Pfeiffer, Ben Hawker, Chris Covich, Donna Jefferis, Emily Buttle and James Acheson.