Celebrating research, industry practice, and creative excellence at Toi Whakaari
Graduates of Toi Whakaari took home some of the top awards at the Wellington Theatre Awards.
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We welcome the four experts and leaders who join our Board of Trustees
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We are excited to announce the appointment of Dr Michelle Johansson as our new Poukōkiri Mātauranga, Director of Academics.
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It was with sadness but great aroha that we announce Dr Sean Coyle will be resigning from his role as Poukōkiri Mātauranga at Toi Whakaari from the 9th of October.
Toi Whakaari is excited to present both The Undertow: The Ragged and The Undertow: Dog & Bone, the first two instalments of writer Helen Pearse-Otene’s quartet of plays about Wellington, as part of our Term 2 Productions.
We are now open for applications to study at Toi Whakaari in 2024! Register now to attend Open Day and our Online Q&A Sessions.
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Important Notice / Pānui for Toi Whakaari whānau and community in light of the fire event in Newtown that occurred overnight.
Toi Whakaari wishes you all a Meri Kirihimete and thank all our supporters this year! We will be closed over the Christmas period, so here are our shutdown dates if you wish to reach us.
Te Kura Toi Whakaari o Aotearoa: NZ Drama School wishes to update our community with a statement responding to a media report released in December 2021. The report investigated historical claims of sexually harmful behaviour that occurred within the school and student community of Toi Whakaari.
Toi Whakaari business as usual under Orange Light system. Read the full update for changes in restrictions for on-site learning and visitors, and a reminder of our on-site COVID-19 protocols.
Toi Whakaari has partnered with Kaibosh Food Rescue to offer free, fresh and healthy food to our students.
Toi Whakaari congratulates Tumuaki/Director Tanea Heke on her recent New Years Honours. A celebration of outstanding New Zealanders, Tanea was recognised as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to arts and Māori.
Toi Whakaari business as usual under Red Light system. Read the full update for a reminder of our on-site COVID-19 protocols.
Toi Whakaari will re-open for business on Monday 10th January 2022.
Toi Whakaari will open under COVID Delta Alert level 2 conditions from 9 September 2021.
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā waka, e ngā hau e whā. Nau mai, haere mai, ki tō mātou nei kura. Applications for 2022 students to attend Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Aotearoa’s prestigious performing arts tertiary training organisation, are now open.
Jacob is a playwright, actor and founding partner of Indian Ink. He is currently rehearsing for his latest tour - Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream and took time to answer our grad Q&A.
Some of my highlights have been designing and making costumes for a hit kids musical extravaganza called the Glitter Garden that premiered at Circa Theatre in 2020. I made armour for Mulan at Weta Workshop. I’ve worked on other movies such as the Merger and Mortal Engines...
We have been advised by Government that Wellington will be moving to Level 2 for seven days from 6am, Sunday 28 February. Toi Whakaari remains open at Level 2.
We have been advised by Government that Wellington will be moving to Level 2 until Wednesday, 17 February. Toi Whakaari remains open at Level 2.
While we will miss his keen eye for design, passion for live theatre and soothing demeanour, Brian King will leave Toi Whakaari staff after 10 years to enjoy his well-earned retirement this February.
Darien Takle was in the first intake of drama students at Toi Whakaari in 1970, completed an upgrade degree in 2006 and is now proudly celebrating 50 years in the business as an actress, singer, writer, director, and drama teacher.
Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School announces Dr. Sean Coyle as the Head of Department of Design and Performing Arts Management.
The 2020 Te Waka Toi Awards last night announced Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Tumuaki/Director, Tanea Heke (Ngā Puhi) as the recipient of the 2020 Ngā Tohu Hautūtanga Auaha Toi Making a Difference award.
Toi Whakaari students take many different creative pathways after they graduate and we wanted a space to celebrate these rich, varied and sometimes unexpected arts careers. Our second article is by Daniel Wilson.
Keri devoted much of her life to the development of Māori / Pakeha relationships. No one did it better.
Laughton Pattrick was a force in Aotearoa’s Cosmos of Creativity, and he leaves an indelible mark on Toi Whakaari.
Toi Whakaari students take many different creative pathways after they graduate and we wanted a space to celebrate these rich, varied and sometimes unexpected arts careers. Our first article is written by Molly Rose.
Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui Ahi!
Calling all Māori & Pasifika prospective performing arts students – nau mai haere mai ki Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
Level 2 means Toi Whakaari remains open and we continue with our increased level of safety and hygiene measures. As per the Government Alert Level 2 we now reintroduce social distancing and limited numbers at gatherings, hand hygiene, staying home when sick and tracking movements.
Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School congratulates 2019 graduate students on the acceptance of short film, WORKSHOP into competition at the 2020 Venice Film Festival.
Five female comedy creators, including our very own Ana Scotney have been announced as this year’s New Zealand Film Commission 2020 Gender Scholarship recipients.
Early on the morning of June 5, 2020 Kristin Linklater, my teacher, friend, mentor and tormentor, died.
Our incredible Director, Tanea Heke was featured in The Big Idea this week. She shares her wisdom of the performing arts industry and how she has managed to forge an amazing, and varied career in what is a tough industry.
Staff and students have been working at home since Aotearoa went into lockdown during the COVID 19 pandemic. Now we’re at Level 2, the time has come to return to Te Whaea....
You’ll be pleased to know that our tutors have remained in contact with students throughout the break.
In light of the Government’s announcement today, Toi Whakaari is extending the Easter break to 4 weeks and bringing it forward to start from tomorrow (24 March).
Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School is closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and how it might impact on our students and staff.
E ngā korokoro tūī, e ngā kākā tarahae, tēnā koutou katoa.He pānui tēnēi. The following HR policies for Toi Whakaari have been posted on our website...
Toi Whakaari once again proudly sponsored the “Best Production Design” Category award for International Youth Silent Film Festival New Zealand National Awards that were held on Friday 8th November in Tauranga.
There are many books, interviews, oral histories and scholarly articles about Raymond Boyce. Mile on mile of details and facts end to end.
The Toi Whakaari Board has just announced that acclaimed actor and arts manager Tanea Heke (Ngā Puhi) will be Director of Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School.
Alex Martyn came to Toi Whakaari because it allowed him to combine two things he was interested in, building things with his hands and the performing arts. Showcasing the journeys of Toi Whakaari graduates and students, this week we highlight Set & Props graduate Alex Martyn.
Toi Film screen programme recognised with two short film finalists for ‘New Zealand’s Best’ in the NZ International Film Festival 2023
We are still accepting applications for our Design, Set & Props, and Arts Management courses in 2023.
Nau mai haere mai - join us on Friday August 26 for out Toi Whakaari Open Day.
Introducing our newest member of staff - Helen Todd! Internationally acclaimed New Zealand lighting designer Helen Todd has joined the Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Design staff this year to guide and support the Bachelor of Design students through their various projects this year.
Some of Aotearoa’s top industry experts will be bringing their skills to a series of summer workshops at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School.
Show Me Shorts is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading international short film festival.
Toi Whakaari proudly presents Fucking A by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Toi alumni Keagan Carr Fransch
Celebrating Aotearoa storymakers and showcasing the graduating students of 2023, Toi Whakaari is proud to present its Double Bill Season of and what remains by Mīria George, directed by Carrie Green, and The Birthday Girl by Albert Belz, directed by Regan Taylor.
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Internationally acclaimed kiwi drama teacher Ken Rea will give a one-day masterclass for professional actors at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School on Saturday 11th February.
The 2022 Solos season features 15 brand new works featuring 15 artistic mavericks standing in their power.
Student artists are presenting works in development and in any form they choose, with commitment and courage, at Toi Whakaari’s FWD Fest from 22-24 June 2021.
Come get your 2021 Armageddon cosplay, costume or comic inspired fantasy fashion ready with our Con Crunch – a two day construction masterclass with legendary Weta Workshop sculptor and costumier Sanit Klamchanuan (Thor: Ragnorok, Mulan, Power Rangers, Ghost in the Shell, Thunderbirds Are Go).
Toi Film is Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School’s annual world-premiere screening of short films created by graduating students in collaboration with some of Aotearoa’s top industry professionals.
Fourteen of Aotearoa’s newest makers and designers manifest a series of works across their diverse practice for your viewing pleasure.
The first year actors at Toi Whakaari create their own original solo works, with total freedom over form, content and style. This explosion of live performance sees 21 exciting new artists take the stage on their own terms bringing their voices to audiences without apology.
Playing the system means playing the game, in this world where the fresh and beautiful are hot commodities.
Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School Set & Props students have helped create a new musical artwork that will be installed and played by live musicians at the Wellington Botanical Gardens, 29 September to 11 October.
Join us for a sensational celebration of costumes,characters and creativity.
Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School reopens BATS Theatre in August with a sensational Double Bill season that will leave you wondering what went on during lockdown.
The next generation of curious disruptors; Toi Whakaari’s 2020 cohort will be exploring ‘the new live’ in the time of the 6ft radius.
As part of the diverse work created at Toi Whakaari, students in the Set & Props programme are extremely busy creating everything from large scale theatre sets to intricate film props.
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