Important Information
Auckland Adult Theatre Programme
2024-25
We’ve started a new mid-week adult class in the Freemans Bay Community Hall in central Auckland.
This adult programme is lead by the amazing John Davies, who has a long history of teaching drama in New Zealand.
The idea behind this new adult programme is to allow participants to explore their own creativity in a safe, accessible and supported space, and to devise theatre for performances which are based on their own stories. The participants will be guided through a creative process using improvisation, movement exploration and dance, accessible music creation and songwriting culminating in live performances in front of public audiences.
2024 will be treated as a year of development and training, with classes focusing on theatre devising exercises, writing, sharing stories and discovering the unique quality and nature of the group. Then, in 2025, the class will develop the material into a production format in preparation to present their original new work toward the end of the year.
Glass Ceiling Arts Collective is founded upon the principle of inclusion and, whilst this programme is geared for people with Disabilities, we welcome everyone. If you are a university student with an interest in drama or a student training to be a Special Ed teacher, and you are interested in the programme, then please apply.
Class time: Tuesdays each week from 10am -12pm
Fee: $100 per term
If you have any questions, please do not hestitate to contact us
Teaching Staff
John G Davies, Tutor
John studied the art of acting at Toi Whakaari- The New Zealand Drama School. Following his training he went on to perform for 10 years with Red Mole Enterprises in New Zealand, Mexico, the U.S.A and England. In 1984 he made the first of four study trips to the Kongoh Noh Theatre in Kyoto and has subsequently presented four original Noh Plays as director of the New Zealand Noh Theatre Company. He worked as Assistant Director for NBR New Zealand Opera before becoming a Theatre Studies lecturer at the University of Waikato. From 2002 he worked in partnership with local composers writing libretto and directing original opera productions. In 2010 he was appointed Curriculum Leader of the undergraduate degree in Acting for Stage and Screen at Unitec. Since 2020 he has returned to free-lance work as a director of opera, tutor, writer and performer.
You can read more about John on his website.
Jayshri Ratnam, Support Tutor
Jayshri (she/her) is a graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (NASDA). She is a producer for Asian Waves Productions, a company that strives to create a platform for Asian creatives in Ōtautahi. Jayshri is also a teacher and kids birthday party host for Pitter Patter, through this she has the opportunity to bring joy to kids through dance, play and imagination. Her love for the arts and making it accessible for everyone has grown as she’s seen the impact performing arts makes on a person's sense of belonging. Jayshri is currently completing a Master in Creative Practice and her research is on the impact of Fijian Indian representation on Fijian Indian New Zealanders.
Some of her recent theatre credits include, Asian Kiwiana: Replay (Asian Waves), Merry and Bright- A Musical Spectacular (Blackboard Theatre Collective), The Emperor’s New Clothes (New Zealand Playhouse); Directing Asian Kiwiana: A Seat at the Table (Asian Waves Productions); Frankenstein (The Court Theatre).
