Management/Technology 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.

Kate Robertson

Head of Entertainment Technology and Performing Arts Management

Kate completed the Diploma of Professional Drama (Technical Production) at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in 1997. Since then she has worked At BATS Theatre and Downstage Theatre in business, production and facilities management roles. She returned to Toi Whakaari in 2007 to work as the Production Coordinator, a relatively new role in the School. She was appointed to the position of Head of Department (Entertainment Technology and Performing Arts Management) in 2008 following Bill Guest’s retirement.

Lisa Maule

Senior Tutor, Performing Arts Management and Entertainment Technology

Ko Tauiwi toku iwi; No Whanganui-a-tara ahau.

Lisa Maule is a critically acclaimed lighting designer including receiving several awards and nominations at the Chapman Trip Theatre Awards. Lisa has extensive professional practice in the performing arts sector as part of the core creative team and management. Professional companies she has worked with include Taki Rua Productions, Armstrong Creative, Kowhiti Productions and the New Zealand International Arts Festival.   Lisa’s most recent outside projects are lighting design for Michael James Mania by John Broughton and production coordinator on Masi by The Conch both premiering in the 2012 New Zealand International Arts Festival.

Alongside her passion for light Lisa is committed to building new New Zealand work and is co-producer of Eko Theatre, a socially engaged arts practice.  Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and a Bachelor of Design from Victoria University of Wellington and is a currently student of Maori language with Te Ataarangi. Lisa’s working questions include; finding the balance as a mentor to allow autonomy in students on productions, and the role of AV in creative lighting design.

Pam Hindmarsh

Senior Tutor, Performing Arts Management and Entertainment Technology

Pam joined the Toi Whakaari staff in 2008. She specialises in stage and event management and feels lucky to have worked on a variety of stage and opera productions and outdoor events with great people. During her career Pam has worked in many of the theatres in New Zealand. In 1991 she was selected for a scholarship to work on the Opera programme at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada. Pam’s international experience has included The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Mermaid Theatre London; Benjamin Britten’s opera A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Manchester, England and at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Scotland. Some of the highlights of her career have been stage managing the pre-match entertainment for DB Bitter Warriors at Ericsson Stadium, the Axis Advertising Awards, a Louis Vuitton party, Auckland’s Millennium Celebrations involving over 500 performers, New Zealand Opera’s production of Don Giovanni starring Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in 1996, and a Hayley Westenra concert for television. Pam holds a BA in Education and Psychology.

Tony Toufexis

Teaching & Resources Technician

Tony started working/training as a technician for the Michael Folwer Centre and Town Hall in 1997. He worked on numerous conferences, concerts and tradeshows during his time there. From there he went to work more specifically on shows; from the NZ International Arts Festival to the Millennium concert on Wellington waterfront. Tony joined Toi Whakaari in late 2000 as the Teaching & Resources Technician. He is involved in the day to day operation and maintenance of the Schools’ Audio/Visual resources. He also maintains the School’s Mac Computer Lab and Sound Studio. Tony has also recently produced several promotion videos for the School and is an invaluable resource to all students and staff!

“One of the more enjoyable aspects of the job is following the students through their careers once they graduate. This always gives YOU itchy feet!”

Paul Tozer

Production Co-ordinator

Paul graduated from Toi Whakaari’s Diploma of Entertainment Technology course in 2007 and since then has been working freelance on various theatre productions throughout the Wellington region and abroad. Most recently Paul was the Production Manager for Victoria University’s Summer Shakespeare, he toured to AK09 and Queensland’s The Dreaming Festival with Taki Rua’s Te Karakia as Lighting Designer, and he worked on the critically acclaimed 2009 BATS STAB commission Death and the Dreamlife of Elephants.

Paul’s Lighting and Audio Visual designs have toured both nationally and internationally. He is experienced in a wide range of production roles from Stage and Production Management to Set Construction and Technical Direction and has been highly sought after as a co-collaborator within the New Zealand Performing Arts Industry since his graduation.

Visiting Tutors

Toi Whakaari also has regular specialist industry tutors.

The following leading lights teach in our Performing Arts Management and Entertainment Technology courses:

Brian Boothroyd (Electrician training and farmer), Briar Monro (Producer and Arts Advocate)  Bill Guest (Theatre maker, writer, director, props master), Andrew Gibson (Theatre and events mechanist and rigger, Metro Productions), IZZAT Design (Props makers), Cathy Knowlsey (Production, Events, Tour Management), Chris Morley-Hall (Cuba St Carnival Director, events management), Mark Westerby (Events manager, producer), Chris Prowse (Financial management, accountant, arts advocate), David Patten (Barrister, contract law) Derek Simpson (Production management, set construction), Ed Dennis (Elevated Work Platform training), Gil Craig (Sound designer and engineer), Chris Gee (Sound engineer),  Ian Ferguson (Production management and stage mechanist), Thomas Press (Sound designer, composer), Jane Chewings (Arts marketing), Jo Hiles (Film production management), Lani Morris (Leadership, entrepreneurship  and management), Mike Farrand (Lighting, Director MJF Lighting), Nigel Scott (Sound designer, Senior Sound Operator Park Road Post), Sam Johnston (Audio visual production, Multi-Media Sytems) and Steve Sanders (Vectorworks, Grouse Lighting), Cerridwyn Roberts (Marketing, writer and publicist), Brian King (Designer).

Other Staff

Teina Moetara

Context & Practice Senior Tutor

 Ko Whiria te Maunga, Ko Te Hokianga te Moana, Ko Pakanae te Marae, Ko Ngati Korokoro te Hapu, Ko Nga Puhi te Iwi.

Ko Manawaru te Maunga, Ko Te Arai te Awa, Ko Manutuke te Marae, Ko Ngati Kaipoho, Ngai Tawhiri nga Hapu, Ko Rongowhakaata te Iwi.

Born and bred in the world of ‘Maori’ Performing Arts, Teina hails from Manutuke, Turanganui-A-Kiwa (Gisborne). A performing member of the internationally recognized Waihirere Maori Club for over 20 years, many of them as a core composer, Teina has since moved on, becoming co-founder and tutor of Tu te Manawa Maurea Kapa Haka.

Whilst assistant principal and head of the immersion unit at Manutuke Primary School, Teina was offered a role in Disney’s theatrical production of The Lion King in Sydney, Melbourne and Shanghai. It was here he became interested in translating forms of the performance across different theatrical contexts. He has since co-directed and performed in a number of shows using tikanga marae frameworks to hold, challenge, support and innovate the creative process, including Manawa Pou, Pakiwaitara and The Trial of the Cannibal Dog for NZ International Arts Festival.

Jade Eriksen

Context & Practice Senior Tutor

Jade grew up in Gisborne, Tairawhiti; of Greek, Irish, Scottish and Danish descent. Since completing a Master of Theatre Arts – Directing from Toi Whakaari/Victoria University, her interest in the area of intercultural politics, identity and composition have led her to work mainly within the devised theatrical form. Jade has directed and devised award winning collaborative works including Yatra, Stamping Grounds, Migrant Nation, arcane and Penumbra as well as leading and directing several seasons of the Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School: Go Solo project.

She is a Senior Tutor in Context and Practice at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School and also teaches and mentors within the Masters of Theatre Arts Directing and Design for Stage and Screen degree.