Toi Whakaari

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Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School is New Zealand’s foremost training establishment for the dramatic arts. Toi Whakaari offers students the chance to study for a:

Master of Theatre Arts in Directing (taught jointly with Victoria University of Wellington)
Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting)
Bachelor of Performing Arts (Management)
Bachelor of Performance Design
NZ and Advanced Diplomas in Entertainment Technology
Diploma in Costume Construction for Theatre, Film and Allied Industries

On average the School now caters for upwards of 140 students annually, who study for up to four years each.

Toi Whakaari was established in 1970 by the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council.

[edit] Graduates

To date more than 450 graduates have gone on to successful careers in theatre, television, film, radio and events, both in New Zealand and all over the world. Of these around 75% of the acting graduates, 90% of the entertainment technology and 95% of the directing graduates are still employed in the industry.

Some of NZ's most famous actors graduated from Toi Whakaari, including Cliff Curtis, Martin Csokas, Kerry Fox, Robyn Malcolm, Mark Ruka, Jacob Rajan, Rawiri Paratene, Matthew Sunderland, Tandi Wright, Miriama McDowell, Tim Foley, Marama Emery and Tim Balme.

Toi Whakaari has graduated some of New Zealand's most successful producers and performing arts managers including one of the executive producers of South Pacific Pictures (Simon Bennett), the artistic directors of the Melbourne Theatre Company (Simon Phillips) and Downstage (Catherine Downes); the event managers of The Edge (Glen Crighton) and Stage Challenge (Laura Staples).

For five years Toi Whakaari has graduated successful and innovative young directors: from award winning animated film makers (Veialu Aila-Unsworth - Blue Willow) to award winning devised theatre directors (Jade Eriksen - Penumbra, Arcane, Migrant Nation), from radio producers (Justin Gregory - Radio NZ) to main stream theatre (Rachel More - Circa, Downstage, Fortune) and opera (Jacqui Coats - The Magic Flute) directors.

In terms of the backstage and offscreen technical aspects of performing arts Toi Whakaari has graduated some of New Zealand's most successful theatre and film technicians, including Nigel Scott - a triple Oscar winner for sound editing (Lord of the Rings, King Kong), the lighting and sound operator on a cruise liner in the Caribbean, the lighting designer for icebergs in the Antarctic and Nicole Cosgrove - who was a model maker for King Kong and works as a freelance theatre designer.