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

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and a Bachelor of Design from Victoria University of Wellington. She has also studied Maori Language and Public Policy.

Lisa is a very skilled Lighting Designer, receiving several Chapman Tripp nominations and awards for Lighting Designer of the year, most recently winning in 2008 for The American Pilot at Circa Theatre. She has extensive professional practice in the Performing Arts Sector living and working from Wellington, New Zealand for the last 18 years as a designer and manager. Teaching experience includes tutoring at Weltec, (interior lighting), Massey University (lighting for design) UCol (lighting mechanics and design) and Victoria University of Wellington (theatre lighting). Professional companies she has worked with include Downstage Theatre, Taki Rua Productions, Capital E, and the New Zealand International Arts Festival and many in the independent sector.

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 Fowler Centre and Wellington 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.

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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).