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
mike
Mike recently returned to Aotearoa having spent the last ten years in Australia working as a drama and piano teacher, alongside being an actor and theatre producer. He is the co-founder of Cross Pollinate Productions, an independent theatre company in Sydney, and is a graduate of Actors Centre Australia. He loves the opportunity to guide the children's curious minds, revealing the joy, power, and energy that theatre offers, fostering creativity, and connection with others.
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.
Fiona
Fiona is an experienced, enthusiastic educator and a performer who loves teaching speech and drama. She trained at a drama school in France and has an LTCL (performance) and ATCL (speech and drama teaching) from Trinity College, paired with a Master’s of International Business and Commerce Degree from the University of Auckland. She has worked professionally in the performing arts since her 20’s in TV, film and many theatre productions acting, producing and more recently directing theatre.
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.
jacob
Jacob trained as an actor at Toi Whakaari and has 10 years experience working in the industry. Most recently he has worked on Shortland St and The Brokenwood Mysteries. Jacob also trained as a drama teacher at The University of Auckland in 2025 after having been in the UK for the previous few years. He is excited to be back with Shine!
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.
Anna
Anna Jullienne is a New Zealand actress known for her performances in film, television and theatre. She has worked extensively in local and international dramas and is the two time winner of Best Supporting Actress at the NZ Film & TV Awards. Anna enjoys sharing her passion for performance with children both on set and in the classroom.
robyne
Robyne returned to New Zealand after more than two decades of international life and work, travelling across over 70 countries and working with people from all walks of life. She is trained in the Michael Chekhov acting method and has appeared in feature films, a miniseries, and television commercials. Robyne also trained in children’s yoga in New York, deepening her understanding of how to engage and support young people. She is passionate about building confidence, creativity, and self-expression, and brings warmth, care, and genuine enthusiasm to every class.
stephanie
Steph has been an actor/singer and occasional dancer for her entire life. She’s had a wonderful stage career, playing roles such as the evil Velma Von Tussle in ‘Hairspray The Musical’ and the lead role of Desiree in ‘A Little Night Music’. As a versatile character performer, you’ve seen her in many television commercials (or heard her voice in radio ads) and recently she was thrilled to take on a guest role as murder victim Maude in new TV drama ‘ Blue Murder Motel’. Steph has just finished shooting the part of hairdresser mum, Deb, in the comedy drama series ‘Good Bones’ for Sky TV. With a love of kids and all 4 legged creatures, Steph really enjoys sharing her passion for the performing arts, particularly comedy pieces.
SAM
Sam is a professional actor having played in Shortland Street, Brokenwood Mysteries, East Of Eden and seasons 1 and 2 of Under the Vines as Julian Oakley alongside Rebecca Gibney. His extensive training with renowned professionals and working as actor clearly demonstrates his dedication to the craft of acting. Sam loves connecting with and being fully present for his students. He has a special skill coaching acting and voice. Sam wants his students to have fun, learn and grow in a creative structured environment
zoe
Zoe is a fresh graduate from Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. She was awarded NZQA Top Scholar for Drama in 2020. The same year, she directed a production of Shakespeare's The Tempest, and has since worked as a drama tutor for the Wellington College Shakespeare Festival. Zoe has made a number of short films and recently released a vlog series on YouTube. Drama classes have been a constant source of joy since childhood and she's thrilled to step in as a tutor.
leonardo
Coming soon
