We are proud to have a number of Rātā Studios graduate making waves in the arts world. Read on to find out what they have been up to since they graduated.
Erana James
“Rātā’s classes with Miranda Harcourt were my doorway into the film and television industry. The tools and experience I gained at Rātā were truly invaluable!”
Erana James is a Māori actress who is now based in Melbourne. She attended Rātā Studios from 2018 to 2021. She is most well known for playing “Toni Shalifoe” in The Wilds, produced for Amazon Prime Video.
She landed her first big role in 2017 when she starred as “Laura Chant” in The Changeover, which was co-directed by Stuart McKenzie and Miranda Harcourt.
Recently, Erana starred in the 2024 film We Were Dangerous, where she played “Nellie,” which received excellent critical reception and awards at film festivals worldwide.
Bruno Hart
Bruno Hart is a New Zealand actor who attended Rātā Studios graduated from 2021 to 2023, and then graduated from The Actors’ Program in 2024.
His recent work includes playing “Skinny Bandit” in How To Rob A Bank, and he also appeared in the short film Lazy Boy.
Bruno writes, “Rātā Studios encourages you to chase that lingering curiosity. I had the privilege of getting to explore who I am and who I could be and let that lead me, putting one foot over the other and keeping my head on my shoulders.
The studios became a safe haven and a vehicle for igniting discovery outside in the real world. I’m still humbled by the ways of seeing and the breadth of vocabulary that Rātā encourages young artists to nurture. To engage with creative work professionally today, I believe young actors are best served extending the breadth of their tool kits, artistic interests and empathy in the ways Rātā is truly world class in nurturing.
I treasure the respect that the programs have helped to instil in me not only as a practitioner but also as a young man.”
Kate Laidler
“It all started with your mahi at Rātā; you guys raised me and my work.”
Kate Laidler attended Rātā Studios from 2019 to 2022, and is a New Zealand actor and model.
She graduated from The Actors’ Program in 2024, and is currently starring as “Frankie” in The Sender, a teen comedy series that is released online and funded by NZ On Air.
Kate is also known for her roles in the short films Origami and In Her Steps, as well as theatre productions of Rushes, The Welkin, and Follow the Money.
Celia MacDonald
Celia MacDonald is a professional working actress based in Wellington, specially trained in Stage, Screen, & Musical Theatre.
Celia graduated with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Music Theatre from the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) in 2020. As a Rātā Graduate herself, Celia has returned in full circle as a Drama Teacher. Celia joined Rātā as a student in Miranda Harcourt’s Stage and Screen Teen course at the age of 14, and whilst at Rātā, found herself successful in Film and Theatre.
At age 15, Celia was cast in short film Goodness Grows Here (Natalie Medlock) with an esteemed NZ cast including Robyn Malcolm. Then appeared alongside multiple Rātā Studios alumni such as Erana James, Thomasin McKenzie, and Miranda Harcourt, in two seasons of TV3’s Web Series Lucy Lewis Can’t Lose (Paul Yates) as the character “Ruby.” More recently, Celia appeared in four episodes of Shortland Street as “Jocelyn Kellerman.”
Jackson Burling
Jackson Burling is an actor and musician based in Wellington, New Zealand. In 2022, Jackson graduated with both a Diploma in Stage & Screen Acting and a Bachelor of Creativity (Performing Arts/Drama) from the Whitireia acting course. He attended the Rātā Studios Professional-Level Teen Acting in 2020, and the Professional-Level Acting for Adults course in 2023.
In 2022, he made his first TV appearance as “Matthew” in NEONS’s Not Even (Season 1). He also plays the role “Andrew” in the TVNZ series Hui Hoppers (Seasons 1 and 2).
On stage, Jackson made his professional theatre debut in Circa Theatre’s Pantomime Treasure Island, and has also appeared in their Pantomine of Sleeping Beauty and played a lead in Circa Theatre’s Give Way – The Musical.
Jackson also has a solo clown show called CAUTION WET FLOOR, which received a nomination at NZ Fringe for Most Promising Emerging Artist.
Of his time at Rātā Studios, Jackson writes, “Rātā Studio’s Screen Acting course with Emma Draper & Miranda Harcourt creatively pushed me to connect personally to the text, use the space and objects around me to emotionally pull me into a scene, and instilled the power of research. The skills I learnt from this course is something I draw back to regularly when approaching new scripts and characters for screen. “
Xander Manktelow
“Rātā built so much of my confidence, as not just a young actor, but young man. They created a welcoming and safe place for me, and many other like minded people, to freely be themselves, connect, learn, and play, without judgment.”
Xander Manktelow is a New Zealand actor who attended the Rātā Studios Professional-Level Teen Acting in 2019. He is most well known for playing “Harry Warner” in Shortland Street (2023-2024).
Before his time on Shortland Street, Xander starred as “Hamish” on the TV series Mystic.