The Ensemble
THE ENSEMBLEIMPACT VISIONIndividual artists, committed to and working together within a company-based ensemble: that’s what ENSEMBLEIMPACT is all about. We are all experienced professional theatre practitioners – some more practised than others – for whom live performance is a primary passion. We are actors, directors, designers, and technicians; we are teachers of acting, directing and technical crafts: all of whom have opted to work in an ensemble way, where our philosophies and professional standards of best practice are mutually agreed on and underpin our working strategy – doing what we do, but challenging ourselves in an atmosphere which encourages risk, growth, and the pursuit of excellence. New theatre to a new audience – that’s our goal. We have with our first programme, She’ll Be Write, already begun our reach into the broader community. Our second programme, A Baker’s Dozen, extended that reach to all of New Zealand. And our third outing, Womanz Work !, extended our reach to nearly fifty high schools and their communities in New Zealand. For 2012 our goal is seventy high schools and their communities reaching an all-time high of six thousand New Zealanders. As a company, ENSEMBLEIMPACT is committed to creating and performing new NZ work for all of New Zealand. But we have no fixed agenda. As professionals, as story tellers, we are also passionate about performing international classics and contemporary works, too. (Witness our inaugural Wellington production of Metamorphosis: a New Zealand production of an English adaptation of a major German writer). Excellence is the pre-requisite, consensus the mechanism, diversity, versatility and portability the keys. At ENSEMBLEIMPACT we wish to be part of a live conversation with our audience, to bring light into dark spaces, to transform and illuminate. And that, after all, is our job… For ENSEMBLEIMPACT |
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Members |
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| Julian Wilson | Donogh Rees | Erin Banks |
| Carol Smith | K.C. Kelly | Brian King |
| Angela Green | Gavin Rutherford | Natasha James |
| Simon Vincent | Jude Gibson | Adam Brookfield |
| Peter Hambleton | Matt Wilson | Matu Ngaropo |
| James Kupa | Olivia Robinson | Emma Robinson |
| Fraser McLoud | Yvette Reid | Elizabeth McMenamin |
| Allan Henry | Maaka Pohatu | Matariki Whatarau |
| Richard Osborne | Chantelle Brader | Shadon Meredith |
| Bianca Seifano | ||
| Julian Wilson Julian is a professional Wellington actor with a strong background in improvisational, physical and devised theatre. Since graduating from Toi Whakaari in 2001 he has travelled the country with Capital E and appeared as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at Downstage and as Cohen in The Underpants for which he won a Chapmann Tripp Theatre Award . He was WidowTwankey in Aladdin at Circa. This year he is playing Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate and Roderigo in Othello at Downstage theatre.Julian Wilson on Facebook |
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| Carol Smith Carol graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 1989. Since then she has worked extensively in theatre, film, television and radio. Her theatre credits include The Country for which she won ‘Actress of the Year’ at the 2006 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards, Hotel, Oleanna, Blue Remembered Hills, The Graduate and premiers of New Zealand plays Ophelia Thinks Harder, Horseplay, Pack of Girls and a company member of the critically acclaimed productions of King Lear and Hamlet/Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead directed by Peter Evans.Carol Smith on Facebook |
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| Angela Green Angela has been working professionally in theatre and film since graduating from Toi Whakaari in 2002. She has recently appeared as Sister James in Doubt at Circa and in theatreheuristic’s Arcane at BATS which was nominated for a Chapman Tripp award. She played Jane in Weta Workshop’s internationally successful Jane and the Dragon. Her television credits include playing Katherine Mansfield in Passion in Paradise.top ^ |
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| Simon Vincent Simon has performed in over 25 professional theatre productions all over NZ since graduating from Toi Whakaari in 2000. Last year he played Happy in Death of a Salesman at Circa and Hamlet touring with the Bacchanals. He has most recently performed as Adam in The Shape of Things at the Court Theatre. He won a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award in 2003 for his role in A Passionate Woman.Simon Vincent on Facebook |
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| Peter Hambleton One of Wellington’s most well-known actors, Peter has appeared in over 60 shows at Circa and Downstage. Peter is a Circa Council Member, and travelled with Jude to the Shakespeare Globe International Artistic Fellowship in 2002 after which he directed Pericles for Toi Whakaari and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Circa.Peter Hambleton on Facebook |
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| Donogh Rees Donogh has worked in a variety of productions since graduating from Theatre Corporate in 1978. She was core cast in Shortland Street playing Nurse Judy. Recently she played Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate and Sister Aloysius in Doubt at Centrepoint Theatre and is appearing in David Geary’s The Farm there this year. Donogh has also worked with Auckland Theatre Company.Donogh Rees on Facebook |
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| K.C. Kelly A professional actor for thirty years – a Kiwi for the past seventeen – KC has appeared on- and off-Broadway, in regional and community theatre and on radio, television and film. Most recent stage appearances include his Chapman Tripp winning Duncan/Macduff in Macbeth for Circa Theatre and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice for Centrepoint Theatre. Other stage credits include: Lear in King Lear, Meltdown, Taking Sides, The Censor and Speaking in Tongues for Circa; Agememnon, Tzigane and Glengarry Glen Ross for Downstage; and Think Of A Garden for Taki Rua. For thirteen years KC was the Senior Acting Tutor at Toi Whakaari, the National Drama School of New Zealand.K.C. Kelly on Facebook |
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| Gavin Rutherford Gavin is a Wellington based actor who graduated from UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts in 2001. Since then he has performed all around the country but most recently in Hotel with Carol Smith, and received Best Performance award for that role at Fringe Festival Awards 2007. He was in Insiders Guide to Love and Lost Children for television.Gavin Rutherford on Facebook |
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| Jude Gibson In a career spanning over 25 years Jude has appeared in all the major theatres in the country in an incredible variety of leading roles as well as appearing in film and television – notably Shortland St, Shark in the Park, Hanlon and The Chosen. Jude was selected for the prestigious Shakespeare Globe International Artistic Fellowship in 2002. She was acting tutor at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and has directed for Downstage and Centrepoint Theatres.Jude Gibson on Facebook |
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| Matt Wilson Matt Graduated from Toi Whakaari, NZ Drama School in 1999. Since then he has appeared in theatres all over New Zealand with highlights being his performance of Hamlet at the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin, playing Vincent Van Gogh in Circa Theatre’s Vincent in Brixton, and Antonio in The Auckland Theatre Company’s production of The Duchess of Malfi. After this season of Hamlet, Matt is off down to Christchurch to appear in The Court Theatre’s production of The Raft for the Christchurch Festival of the arts.top ^ |
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| Erin Banks Erin has a BA in Theatre from Victoria University, was in the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company in 2001, and has worked at BATS, Circa and The Fortune,Theatres as well as for Tawata Productions, touring with The Bacchanals, and the odd Stint at Radio NZ. She received the Chapman Tripp award for Most Promising Female Newcomer in 2005 for her performance as Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and garnered a second nomination in 2006, for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Golden Boys at Circa Two.Erin Banks on Facebook |
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| Brian King – Set Designer Brian left 22 years of medicine as a generation practitioner, in 2001 to investigate the more creative side of life. He completed the Advanced Diploma in Entertainment Technology at Toi Whakaari in 2003 and the Performance Design degree in 2006. He has most recently designed for Doubt at Centrepoint Theatre and Peer Gynt at Toi Whakaari.Brian King on Facebook |
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| Natasha James – Lighting Designer Natasha has worked throughout New Zealand as a lighting designer since graduating from Toi Whakaari’s Entertainment Technology course in 2001. She designed for King and Country in the International Festival 2006.top ^ |
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| Adam Brookfield Trained theatrically (Toi Whakaari, class of ’96) Adam has spent a large part of his professional career working in film and televsion. Stage credits include Middle Aged Spread for Centrepoint; How He Hated the Grand Canyon, for Bats; An Unseasonable Fall of Snow for Downstage and Design for Living and Wolf Lullabyfor Circa.Adam Brookfield on Facebook |
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| Olivia Robinson Nga Puhi, Ngati Hine me Ngati Kahungunu oku Iwi. Olivia graduated from Toi Whakaari:The New Zealand Drama School in 2000, since then she has worked extensively as a performer in theatre, dance, film, television and radio. Her theatre credits include Chapman Tripp award winning shows ‘Maui:One Man Against the Gods’, ‘On the Razzle,’ ‘Enemy of the People’ and Dave Armstrong’s new comedy ‘Le Sud.’Olivia Robinson on Facebook |
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| James Kupa Graduate of the Eastern Institute of Technology and Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. Theatre works include A Streetcar named Desire (Circa 2), Tap That (Dance your socks off festival 2007), Tap that 2: The Reckoning (Wellington Fringe Festival 2008)and The Skyrocketeers of Justice Versus the Zombie Apocalypse.. Most recently James performed in Strange Resting Placesin both the Rotorua Arts Festival and the Capital E Children’s festival for Taki Rua.James Kupa on Facebook |
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| Emma Robinson Since graduation from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 1987, Emma hasworked as an actor doing television, film, theatre and voiceover work. In 1997, Emma directed her first stories for Gibson Group’s backch@t and in 2000 began reporting and presenting for the award-winning rural report programme, No.8 Wired.. Emma returned to the stage in Jan 2008 at Circa Theatre playing photographer Julie Lowe in Branwen Millar’s new play Armslength.Emma Robinson on Facebook |
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| Matu Ngaropo Tuhoe, Te Rarawa, Ngati Kahungunu, Te Whanau a Ruataupare, DanishA Graduate of Toi Whakaari:NZ Drama School, Matu has been working as a Performer in both English and Maori for almost 10 years. His experience includes Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet at Downstage Theatre, Wero inWhakaahuatia Mai for Taki Rua Maori Language tour, A Mid Summer Nights Dream for CircaTheatre, Matt in Mums Choir at The Fortune, the title role in Othello for both VUW and Centrepoint Theatre.top ^ |
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| Emily Straker Amy Straker graduated from NASDA in 2005. She then appeared in several Court Theatre productions: Oliver!, Long Days Journey Into Night, Flagons and Foxtrots, Doubt, Guys and Dolls, Joyful and Triumphant and The Country Wife. After working in Auckland with Phineus Phrog Productions, Amy debuted in Wellington at Downstage Theatre with the role of Hope Cladwell in Urinetown – The Musical. She then went on to do Which Witch Is Which with Kidzstuff. Before auditioning for ENSEMBLEIMPACT, Amy joined the cast of the award winning, site- specifc show, Hotel.top ^ |
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| Fraser McLoud Fraser is a graduate of Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School. Since graduating he has been involved in numerous productions on both stage and screen in roles as diverse as a prison guard in TV movie “Until Proven Innocent” to a ghostly shipwrecked sailor in “Paradise Cafe”. On stage he has performed in the all fight choreography show “Footballisitic!” and as house slave Xanthias in the greek classic “The Wasps”. Most recently Fraser spent three months in Woodhill Forest as the on set performer for Yogi in Warner Brothers upcoming “Yogi Bear 3D”. You can also see the top half of his face in Avatar. For a minute or so. In the background.top ^ |
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| Yvette Reid Graduated from Toi Whakaari in 2006. Had a lead role ‘Maxine’ in NZ television series ‘Insiders Guide to Love’. Has also starred in many short films including: ‘Dead Letters’, ‘Bad Dates’ and ‘Somewhere only we know’. Yvette was the child actor’s acting coach for award winning (Cannes film Festival) short film ‘Run’. Yvette also works in the casting side of the film industry, as an Extras Co-ordinator and Casting Director/Assistant. She worked in the Extras Casting department for James Cameron’s feature film ‘Avatar’ and also had a small speaking role that was sadly edited from the final film. More recently Yvette appeared as ‘Sister Aryn’ on the Disney television series ‘Legend of Seeker’ in an episode also featuring Keisha Castle Hughes. Yvette has also been cast in an upcoming New Zealand feature film called ‘One for the road’ that will be shooting in late 2010. Yvette’s CV and showreel footage can be viewed at: http://www.starnow.com/yvettereid1 <http://www.starnow.co.nz/>Yvette Reid on Facebook |
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| Elizabeth McMenamin Liz just finished filming Hook, Line and Sinker with Carmel McGlone and Gerry Brophy for Torchlight Films. Other film credits include Welcome to Paradise for the Gibson Group and Sleeping Buddyfor Vanishing Pointe productions. Her training includes the ATC Summer Theatre School and Meisner Technique at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. Liz graduated from the Wellington Performing Arts in 2005, where she met and first worked with Andrea Bosshard of Torchlight Films.Elizabeth McMenamin on Facebook |
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| Allan Henry A 2006 graduate of Toi Whakaari, Allan has played Bernie in Sexual Perversity in Chicago, Warren in Circa 2′s This is Our Youth, Charles Delabreth in Henry V and starred in and choreographed the fight spectacular, Footballistic.Allan in the only New Zealander to have earned an Advanced Actor Combatant qualification from the British Academy of Dramatic Combat, as well as earning their prestigious Gold Distinction award. He as choreographed numerous Wellington theatre productions including the award winning Paua, at Downstage; Wait until Dark at Circa; and the films, Avatar, Warbrick and the NZ based, Life’s A Riotin which he was also Stunt Co-ordinator.Allan has a great love of teaching at all levels and has only recently returned from studying in London.Allan Henry on Facebook |
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| Maaka Pohatu Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting)Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School 2005.Maori Language Text Interpreter.‘The Merchant Of Venice’ – Centrepoint Theatre 2005‘Battalion’ – Te Rakau Trust NZ Schools Tour 2006‘Strange Resting Places’ – Takirua Productions 2007 – presentMaaka Pohatu on Facebook |
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| Matariki Whatarau Matariki is of Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Whanaunga descent. He is a Graduate of the Wellington Performing Arts Centre (2006) and Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School (2009). Having only finished studying recently, his professional acting career is just beginning. He has, however, done voice work for Radio New Zealand and Learning Media and his theatre credits include Te Karakia (Taki Rua Productions ‘09), A Love Tail (Best Newcomer, Wellington Fringe ’10) and Hansel and Gretel (Kidz Stuff ’10).Matariki Whatarau on Facebook |
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| Richard Osborne Richard grew up in Manchester, England. In 2005 he moved to Wellington, completing his studies at Scots College. During this time Richard competed in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival, winning the award for best actor playing Lady Macbeth. He also continued pursuing his musical theatre ambitions playing Captain Von Trapp in the 2006 Marsden Production of The Sound of Music. In 2007 he attended Wellington Performing Arts Centre before being accepted into Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School the following year. In 2010 he graduated, his highlights from this time include; co-creating a programme for Sky TV entitled Capital, with further theatre and musical experience playing Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest and Bertolt Brecht in The Collective. Highlights from his time at Toi include; playing William Cain in Her Naked Skin, and taking a leading role in Cabaret. During secondment Richard played the role of Eulalio (Lally) Ledesma in Vernon God Little performed at Downstage Theatre. Richard played the part of Dr. Davis Lomas in the graduation production of The Pohutukawa Tree. Recently Richard performed in the a devised show in the Fringe festival entitled Big Trouble in Small Newtown. Richard is now looking forward to being a part of the Ensemble Impact and having the opportunity to tour NZ! |
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| Chantelle Brader Chantelle graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 2006, and since then she has worked in the Middle East, Asia, South America and New Zealand as an actor, director, teacher, and script-writer. In 2007 she collaborated with Haifa English Theatre Company in Israel, as-well as directed numerous community theatre and film productions. In 2008 she worked as Drama Specialist at Shanghai Singapore International School in China, performed several shows with Shanghai-based East West Theatre Company, and co-wrote episodes of ‘The Ex-Pats’, a television series directed by Rodger Christiansen, former director of the hit TV show ‘Friends’. Most recently Chantelle was Artistic Director for ‘Media For Transformation’, a non-profit organisation in Ecuador, where she trained and directed youth as actors in films and soap-opera’s based on pertinant social issues. Since her recent arrival back in New Zealand in 2011, Chantelle has performed in Seven Jewish Children – A Play for Gaza directed by Jane Waddell as part of the New Zealand Actors Without Borders Collective. She is very happy to be a part of Ensemble Impact and sharing New Zealand’s stories on the stage. |
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| Shadon Meredith Shadon Graduated from Toi Whakaari; New Zealand Drama School in 2009 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts, Acting. Acting Highlights include playing Prospero in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and Azdak in Bertolt Brecht’s ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’. He has also worked nationally and internationally with youth based theatre projects that aim to empower and encourage the arts as a way to create social dialogue. In 2008 he traveled to Cambodia to help facilitate a drama workshop with the youth from Sustainable Cambodia, an N.G.O. committed to helping Cambodian villages become self-sustaining communities. He also traveled to Shanghai, China in 2009 to attend the UNESCO Asia Pacific Drama School Conference. He has studied under Christian Penny and Bev Hosking within the Play Back theatre form and Logan Pokai in an intensive Taiaha workshop. He also trained under Teina Moetara applying Maori Tikanga Frameworks to dramatic arts and educational environments. With these forms he is currently in the process of developing his own methods to work with youth that draw on the principals and frameworks of these forms. |
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| Bianca Seifano Bianca recently graduated from Toi Whakaari; New Zealand Drama School. Her highlights include playing Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and also as Queenie Mataira in the 2010 Graduation play of The Pohutukawa Tree. Since graduating Bianca has devised her own show of Big Trouble In Small Newtown, which was part of the 2011 Fringe Festival, and has just completed a season of performing a solo show of Number Two directed by Ngapaki Emery. Bianca has also been working as a casting assistant with Sticky Pictures in which her interest in New Zealand film and screen has begun to grow. Bianca wants to continue creating more self-devised work within a community based environment and to create with other artists in Christchurch, where she is originally from. |
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