Toi Whakaari Award for Graduate ExcellenceView GalleryHide Gallery

As part of the Graduation ceremony we acknowledge the excellence of our past graduates and the work they have made. The 2010 recipient of the Toi Whakaari Award for Graduate Excellence was actor Jennifer Ludlam, who graduated from Toi Whakaari in 1970.

Recently she has starred in August: Osage County for the Auckland Theatre Company, When the Rain Stops Falling at Silo Theatre and Circa Theatre’s production of Four Flat Whites in Italy. Other work includes Vita in Vita & Virginia, Winnie in Happy Days, Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman and Sylvia in The Goat. Jennifer received the 2009 Qantas Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Apron Strings. In 1993 she won Best Actress at the New Zealand Film and Television Awards for the tele-movie Under Cover and the same award in 1996 for her lead role in the series Cover Story. She has also received four Chapman Tripp awards for her roles in Othello (Best Supporting Actress 2007), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Best Actress 2002), Vita & Virginia (Outstanding Performance 1998) and Lysistrata and Daughters of Heaven (Best Actress 1992).

In 2004, Jennifer was appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to the Arts.

TOI WHAKAARI STUDENT LEON WADHAM RECEIVES THE MUSEUM HOTEL SCHOLARSHIP

Second year acting student Leon Wadham received The Museum Hotel Scholarship at the School’s Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday 10 November 2010. The Scholarship which is funded by Chris Parkin, the owner of Museum Hotel Wellington, is presented in association with Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ and was given for the tenth time.

The recipient, Leon Wadham, was selected from eleven candidates by the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand in consultation with Toi Whakaari staff. The Museum Hotel Scholarship is open to Toi Whakaari students who have participated in a Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival and have demonstrated excellence at Toi Whakaari. It covers the recipient’s tuition fees for a year and $500 a month for 10 months living expenses.

“I am overwhelmed and overjoyed – Dawn Sanders’ and Chris Parkin’s generosity is phenomenal.  Without the support of the Museum Hotel scholarship I would be preparing myself for a very different 2011, one far more difficult to navigate. I am incredibly grateful to be in this position and look forward to my final year at Toi Whakaari” said recipient Leon Wadham.

CHANGE OF DIRECTION AT TOI WHAKAARI: NZ DRAMA SCHOOL

After 14 years as the Director of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, Annie Ruth has recently announced that she will be stepping down from the post in May 2011. Annie, a graduate of Toi Whakaari (Diploma in Professional Drama, Acting, 1972), has been involved with the School in a variety of roles throughout the years:  as a student for one year, a tutor for three years, Head of the Acting Department for six years and, since 1997, as the Director.

Annie has always had a strong vision for Toi Whakaari as the leading dramatic arts training institution in New Zealand and beyond and she has played an active role in the School’s productions as director and tutor for the students. Annie has been an outstanding Director, instrumental in developing and growing the School’s expanding range of qualifications, and she will be greatly missed

“I have loved being a part of this wonderful School for the past twenty years and leading it for the last fourteen.  I promised myself when I took over as Director that I would leave before I grew tired of the role.  At this moment I can still say ‘this is the best job in the world’, so I feel I’ve achieved that.  The School has never been stronger and I am deeply proud of my contribution.

I am currently doing a PhD in theatre, to be completed by the end of 2012. In May next year, my wife Jo and I will go travelling in Europe and northern Africa.  After that…? Many adventures I hope, including working with many of Toi Whakaari’s graduates.”

Recruitment for Annie’s replacement will begin shortly.

TRANSITIONS – FOUR DECADES OF TOI WHAKAARI: NZ DRAMA SCHOOL

To celebrate forty years of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, Bill Guest, former Head of Entertainment Technology and Performing Arts Management, has written a book about the School’s history so far. Transitions – Four Decades of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School has been commissioned by Toi Whakaari and published by Victoria University Press.

An official launch of the publication took place in the Grand Hall, Parliament Buildings, on Thursday 28 October 2010. The occasion was hosted by The Hon Chris Finlayson, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage in association with Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and VUP. In addition, a book signing was held at Toi Whakaari on Wednesday 3 November.

You can purchase a copy of the book for $50 from bookshops or at VUP website.