Drama Classes

Ben Crowder, a very experienced drama tutor and much-in-demand professional theatre director, is taking the older teens and two adult drama classes on Monday nights. A co-founder of the innovative Auckland-based theatre company ‘Theatre Stampede’, Ben is renowned for his high-energy teaching style, which ensures that classes are both constructive and enjoyable.

NB: Lisa Brickell will be taking the Senior Teens and Adult Classes in Term 1 and Ben Crowder will be taking these classes in terms 2, 3 and 4. Lisa has a BA degree, a post-graduate Diploma in Drama from Auckland University, a Diploma in Physical Theatre from L’Ecole Internationale de Theatre – Jacques Lecoq in Paris and the Kiklos Scuola Internazionale di Creazione Teatrale in Padua, Italy. She also trained in Commedia dell'Arte (Italian mask work) with Antonio Fava in Italy. She currently teaches drama at Auckland University and Unitec and has taught and performed extensively in New Zealand, Italy, Japan, France and England.  

Jackie van Beek takes the acting classes for 6-8, 9-11 and 12-14-year-olds. She is an actress, writer, director, script adviser and teacher. She began her career in Wellington – performing and directing shows in theatres, schools, carparks and backyard fringe venues. She completed a Diploma in Contemporary Dance in 1995 and a Bachelor of Arts in 1998. She has had a string of plays commissioned and produced, including Space Migrant for Ohio Northern University, where she spent two weeks as Writer in Residence. Jackie has devised and toured comedy shows throughout New Zealand and onto the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe and London's Soho Theatre. When living in Australia she started writing and directing short films. Her films have played in festivals around the world, picking up awards in both NZ and Australia. Jackie's work as a teacher, is mainly with young people and emerging artists. She has worked as a script advisor with a number of young playwrights as well as devising companies. She teaches drama, playwriting and filmmaking at junior, secondary and tertiary levels.