Broadway and Other Kiwi Dreams

Reylene Rose Hilaga is an actor, improvisor and playwright. Listen in as we chat about her early years growing up in the Philippines, her experience moving to New Zealand, and blossoming career as an actor and improvisor. ••Reylene is currently performing as the titular Wolf in ‘Wolf Play’ at The Court Theatre: https://courttheatre.org.nz/home/wolf-play/ Reylene also performs monthly in Dungeons a...

Kathleen Burns is a Actor, Improvisor and Director. Her most recent ‘big thing she’s done’ is direct Fun Home at The Court Theatre. Listen in to hear about Kathleen’s beginnings in comedy doing theatre sports in high school. Learn how the best improv show in the country, Perfuct Storm, got started. And get a glimpse into the glamorous life of a Court Jester of 21 years. •• Check out Perfuct Storm...

Eli Matthewson is a Comedian, Improvisor and TV personality. He has loved performing since his day in the high school theatre sports team, which eventually led him to audition and perform for The Court Jesters. His comedy has taken him all around the country and various parts of the world! He is regularly seen on TV in shows like Celebrity Treasure Island, Dancing with the Starts and Guy Mont’s Sp...

Tusk Puppets are a theatre company that specialises in creating puppets and theatre work for puppeteers. Listen in to hear Rebekah Head and Edwin Beats chat about the origin of the company and the psychology behind puppetry as an art form. Check out The Lost Sock at The Court Theatre until the 27th of April. •• You can find Tusk Puppets on social media: @tuskpuppets •• Broadway and Other Kiwi Drea...

In today’s episode I am joined by Mr James Kupa. James is an actor, improviser and audio describer. Listen in as we chat about James’ life through acting and improvising from his young years in Hawke’s Bay to his foray into screen acting in Auckland and finally his theatre life in Christchurch. This is a brilliant conversation and is also my first in person interview at the beautiful recording stu...

Liv Parker is a Performer, Actor and Comedian. She has performed on stage, TV and film and is only just getting started. In this episode we talk about Liv finding her voice in a family of extroverts. We journey through her varied career in theatre, TV and film. And of course, we dive into Liv deep and profound love for Twilight and Harry Styles. •• You can find Liv on Instagram: @livsparker •• Bro...

Richard Marrett is a Music Director, Pianist and Arranger and has been at the top of the game in Christchurch and around New Zealand for a long time. Listen in to hear about Richard’s early days in Levin performing as a baritone in the school choir. We have a great chat about conductors nowadays being part of the band rather than the more traditional way of conducting. And we get some insight into...

Rutene Spooner is a Pūkōrero - Storyteller, Theatre Maker and Producer. Rutene's performing journey began in Gisborne, participating in Kapa Haka. From there he has pursued a succesful career in musical theatre, and recently has started bringing those two worlds together to carve his own path in the New Zealand theatre scene. Listen in to hear how one goes from small town Kapa Haka on the east coa...

Akina Edmonds is a singer, actress and currently Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton Sydney. Akina's career was kickstarted when she was cast in the Australian production of Buddy Holly in her final year at NASDA. She then continued her Australian performing journey for 10 years before Covid brought her home to NZ. Listen in the hear how Akina felt being one of the few performers on stage during a pande...

Kristian Lavercombe is an actor, singer and photographer. He is probably most well known for holding the world record for most performances in the Rocky Horror Show at around 1800 performances and counting. Listen in to hear how an introvert can become one of the biggest characters in theatre history. We get a glimpse into what it's like to play a freak of nature in Frankie Valli. And of course, K...

Trubie-Dylan Smith is a Jester, Storyteller and Merrymaker. As a shy child Trubie didn’t start performing until high school, when he started to open up and embrace his outgoing side. Since then he has established himself as one of the top improvisers in New Zealand, even being named one of the top performers at the World Festival of Community Theatre in Florida. Listen in to hear how a degree in l...

Holly Chappell is a Director, Artist and Tutor. Holly basically grew up in the rehearsal room, having joined her mum’s acting classes from a very early age. Growing up aspiring to become an actress, Holly has somewhat pivoted into the world of direction and tutoring. Alongside her husband, Tom Eason, she runs Two Productions, a theatre company in Christchurch creating new work and assisting artist...

Zak Enayat is an Actor, Entertainer and Wizard. Zak has gone from gig to gig over the last five years, with theatre, film and tv credits under his belt. But it wasn’t always like that. Listen in to hear about the struggles of coming out of drama school and not knowing where to go next and the journey to find that next thing. We learn about a few of Zak’s upcoming projects like Play (a work of thea...

This is the first ever recorded episode of Broadway and Other Kiwi Dreams. I used it as a test but it turned out so good that I decided to release it!  Mitch Anderson is a Singer, Musician and Actor. Mitch and I were in the same year level at NASDA. We studied together for 3 years and in that time, cultivated an amazing friendship that will last a lifetime. Mitch got his start in Musical Thea...

Kim Garrett is a creative, teacher and mentor. Kim has had a very busy career in the industry by in her words simply saying yes to everything and continually adding strings to her bow. She is most well known for her year long stint as the badass CEO of Shortland Street Hospital in Shortland Street. Kim joins the podcast to talk about the man that inspired her to get into performing arts. We touch...

Ellie Neal is an actor, singer and author. Since graduating from Toi Whakaari in Wellington, Ellie has gone on to play some of the most iconic roles in music theatre, including Glinda in Wicked, and Elle Woods in The Court Theatre’s Legally Blonde which was her first professional acting gig. Ellie joins the podcast to talk about growing up in the UK. She details the events that led to her landing...

Jane Leonard is a creative, a storyteller and a songstress. Jane has been performing from a very young age, even attending a performing arts pre-school which I did not even know existed. Since then she has gone to pursue a fruitful performing career, including starring as one of the most iconic roles in music theatre history: Elphaba. Jane joins the podcast to talk about her experience with Wicked...

Fergus Inder is a Performer, Producer and Whisky Enthusiast. Fergus and his family moved around a lot when he was young, finally settling in St Louis at the age of 11. Since his return to New Zealand, Fergus has become a staple within the Christchurch theatre scene. Fergus joins the podcast to share his travel experiences. We get a behind the scenes look into the role of a fundraising manager for...

Nicky Douglas is a Dancer, Singer and Composer. Nicky and I were in the same year level at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts. Although our skills were similar, our careers have taken very different paths. Nicky joins the podcast to talk about the struggles of moving to a new school in year 8. We get into our experiences in our three years at Nasda. And of course, Nicky details his...

Matt Everingham is a music director, conductor, pianist and composer. Matt has had a love for music ever since he heard his grandpa playing the piano when he was a toddler. Since then he has grown into one of the most prolific young artists in New Zealand. Listen in to hear Matt’s journey into the world of music. Learn about his experience in studying a double bachelor in music and laws at the Uni...

Caleb Brown is one of my oldest friends in the performing arts industry. I first met Caleb during the rehearsal process for NYTC’s My Son Pinocchio. We became fast friends and have remained close despite living in different cities. Caleb joins the podcast to talk about his time at NYTC. We discuss his studies in documentary filmmaking. And we get an insight into Caleb’s dreams to grow the NZ theat...

Rebekah Head's performing journey began at a young age. Since then she has gone on to perform in some of the biggest shows in New Zealand including two productions of Wicked, in Christchurch and Invercargill, even winning an OSTA for Best Leading Female in a Musical for the latter. Rebekah joins the podcast to talk about her time at NASDA. She details the events that snowballed into a successful p...

Andy Manning has loved music ever since he picked up a recorder at 4 years old (much to his parent’s delight I’m sure). Since then he has grown into an outstanding music director and performer. Andy joins the podcast to chat about his studies both at NASDA in Christchurch and RCS in Scotland. He details the events of one of his favourite productions: Twisted. The story of Jafar from Aladdin. We al...

Hillary Moulder has loved dancing since her days of getting up at the back of her big sister’s dance classes. Since then she has gone on to study and work in the performing arts, even having a brief stint at Euro Disney, Paris as Mary Poppins. So wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, enjoy a conversation with Hillary on Broadway… and Other Kiwi Dreams.  •• You can find Hillary and her friend Pa...

Today I am joined by Luke Di Somma. Since his childhood, Luke has always had a profound interest in music and theatre. Whether it’s playing the flute as a young lad or inspiring people at his theatre school more recently, his passion for the arts is unmistakeable. Luke joins the podcast to talk about his profound experience at Tisch School of the Arts in New York City. We find out the lightbulb mo...