Shine Tutors
Shine tutors are all successful practicing industry professionals and exceptional teachers. Nina has chosen each tutor for their experience, natural talent with children and passion for speech and drama. Shine tutors create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students.
This means that your child receives elite speech & drama training, a direct connection to the professional performing arts industry and inspirational role models.
Each Shine tutor is Police Checked and in school time Shine tutors have an Authority to Teach (LAT) from The Teachers Council of Aotearoa.
Nina
Trained at the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School, Nina has won awards in film and theatre around the world. Nina is a dynamic, experienced tutor whose students achieve excellent exam results and love the experience of developing their speech. Nina is a EPC Registered Performing Arts Teacher and current SpeechNZ Board Member
Emily
Emily trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London and has experience in theatre, film, commercials and voice work. Emily spent 12 years in London, working as a performer and teacher before moving to New Zealand. She is an experienced, passionate teacher who loves to use drama as a tool to develop children’s confidence.
alex
Alex has trained in Speech and Drama since the age of 7, excelling in exams in both New Zealand Speech Board and Trinity College London. Alex performs around New Zealand and frequently overseas. Alex’s love for teaching children speech and drama is infectious.
Ben
Ben Black has worked as an actor on television shows and commercials, and is a professional voice over artist. His screen roles include Caine in The Cul De Sac. He played Zave Goodfellow in Filthy Rich and Brutus in Season Two of Roman Empire: Reign of Blood, Master of Rome. He attended The Actors Program in 2017, a highly regarded acting course. Ben has three teaching diplomas acquired through Trinity College London.
gilly
Gilly started her career in television production she then studied drama at Auckland Performing Arts before embarking on her acting career. She has starred in many TV dramas and is often seen in commercials. Gilly’s energy and joy is infectious and she loves to share her passion for the arts with the next generation.
Stephen
Stephen is a graduate from The New Zealand Drama School gaining a Diploma in Professional Acting. His 30 years as a professional actor on Stage, Film & TV make him an incomparable teacher of Performing Arts. A true triple threat in Singing, dancing and Acting he comes with a wealth of knowledge and up to date skills. His ability to share the joy and passion of performance is commendable as well as his excellent communication abilities for children of all ages.
madeleine
BROOKE
Rachelle
Madeleine is an experienced screen actor who has starred most recently in Mystic, The Gulf and Black Christmas. She feels passionately about communication, speech and drama skills, and knows just how beneficial it can be to a young person's growth, development and overall joie de verve!
TESSA
Tessa trained at Melbourne’s highly regarded Victorian College of Arts and received a degree in Acting. Tessa is known to audiences for theatre shows, as well as TV and film both in Australia and Aotearoa. Tessa has been teaching extensively for over 20 years and loves seeing children in her class build confidence and articulation, and learn how to be heard both in regards to their ideas and speech.
Brooke graduated from Toi Whakaari: The New Zealand Drama School in 2006. Since then she has worked in theatre, television and film in the U.S, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Brooke has a passion for devising theatre and has created two award winning solo shows. In 2023 Brooke directed Mike Bartlett’s ‘Contractions’ at the Broadwater theatre in Los Angeles. Brooke is passionate about working with children to help their individuality and creativity shine.
jess
Jess has studied Law, French and trained in New York City at the Atlantic Theatre Company. Highlights of her acting career include performing off-Broadway, for Bell Shakespeare Australia and in New Zealand at our Pop Up Globe as Queen Elizabeth in Richard Third. Jess loves her students to excel in a structured, creative environment.
Rachelle trained as an actor in London and worked extensively in theatre and television here and overseas. She has been teaching Speech and Drama for many years and is also a voice over artist. She is a regular guest voice for shows such as Power Rangers and is the voice for numerous TV commercials. Last year she directed St Kentigern School's production of Oliver with a cast of over 100 boys.
cristina
Cristina is an actor with many credits to her name. Before becoming an actress she trained as a teacher for primary school. She loves helping children become more confident and helping them with their acting abilities.
kaly
LYNETTE
beatriz
Kalyani is a graduate of Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School. She has been working with theatre and television for companies such as Auckland Theatre Company, Indian Ink, CDP productions, and South Pacific Pictures. She has taught her own curriculum for adults and children at The Preforming Arts Centre in New Zealand. Kalyani is passionate about sharing her skills and her experience with her students.
Dancer, actor, writer, presenter, speaker and Shine Tutor, Lynette has been on NZ screens for over 2 decades. Her accomplishments include being the youngest dancer to be employed by the Royal NZ Ballet Company and being accepted into the world renown Acting University NIDA and presenting the international travel show “Destination Planet Earth”.
Beatriz has performed at The Globe Theatre, London, she has also appeared in BBC TV productions and as a voice artist. Beatriz has taught drama to all age groups. She loves helping children find their creativity and discover their authentic voice.
mark
sarah
dAvina
Mark trained in drama and theatre arts at the University of Birmingham and University of Canterbury, all the way through to his doctorate. Mark has created TV shows and performances for international touring. He has taught all age groups, from pre-school to adults, with a special focus on supporting people to express their creativity and build their confidence. Mark has worked in many different cultural contexts and celebrates everybody's uniqueness.
Davina studied speech and drama for 6 years and has now completed her Advanced Associate Diploma in both Speech and Drama and Public Speaking and Communications with Speech NZ. She is now in her second year studying Law and Commerce at Auckland University. Davina has 8 years of teaching experience with students of all ages and walks of life, and loves connecting and building relationships with students to help them grow.
Sarah graduated from Canterbury University with a BA in English Literature, during this time she also completed her LTCL in teaching Speech and Drama. Sarah then trained at Hagley Theatre Company and at Unitec, graduating with an Acting Major in 2004. Since leaving Drama school she has worked as an actor, deviser, director, producer and teacher. Her latest work was co-writing, producing and directing an interactive version of Hansel and Gretel that has been performed in four different Auckland locations in 2021 -2023. She loves helping children find their creative selves and gain confidence in using their voices.
irena
AMY
DASHA
Irena has completed all the Trinity College speech and drama grades and is an Associate of Performance. She is now completing her Licentiate in Teaching. A student of the late Alma Johnstone, the first female announcer on NZ television, and Julie Coleman, leader of the Speech and Drama team at St Cuthbert’s, Irena has years of training, especially with voice work and public speaking. Her passion for speech and drama stems from how it builds confidence, enabling one to express themselves and communicate clearly.
Amy trained as an actor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London and has a Classics degree from the University of Bristol. She is from London and the Waikato (Ngāti Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui) and has worked extensively as an actor and voice over artist in the UK before moving to Aotearoa last year. She also has a huge passion for spoken word poetry and has performed at the National Portrait Gallery, and written shows for the Lion and Unicorn and Bread and Roses theatres in London. An energetic and vibrant teacher, Amy is passionate about creative expression and wellbeing and brings her well-rounded experience to her teaching
Dasha is an internationally acclaimed theatre/film performer, TV Presenter, and director. Her films were participants and nominees of multiple international film festivals, such as Sundance (USA), Tokio (Japan), Edinburgh (UK, Scotland), Cardiff (UK, Wales), Molodist (Ukraine), Jeonju (Korea), Brisbane (Australia), SIFF (Switzerland), Angers (France), Torino (Italy) and many more. Dasha has been tutoring since 2017. She is passionate about sharing the joy of performing skills to primary students, teen actors, and professional performers. She holds a degree of MA (Honors), the University of Auckland, BA (Honors) Moscow State University of Cinema, and is finishing her Teaching postgraduate course in the University of Auckland.