Stage and Screen for Teens

Term 4 2023 bookings open now.

Timetable and Enrolment

Emma Draper

Emma Draper (Ngā Wairiki, Ngāti Apa) graduated from New Zealand drama school: Toi Whakaari in 2009.  Since then Emma has worked on a range of professional film, television, radio, theatre projects in drama, comedy and musical genres. In 2020 she played the lead role in feature film Reunion starring opposite Julia Ormond (Legends of the Fall, Madmen, Ladies in Black) she has played supporting roles in various New Zealand feature films such as This Town starring Robyn Malcom, award winning telefeature Jean (Robert Sakies), cult comedy What we do in the Shadows (Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement), Daffodils (David Stubbs), and Wellington Paranormal Season 2 (Jemaine Clement and Dean Hewison). Three seasons of TVNZ series Girl vs Boy which included a musical episode.

Emma’s theatre credits include The Witch in Into the Woods (for the Great American Laughing Stock Company in Colorado US),  Jesus Christ Superstar (Wellington Musical Theatre Company),  Rants in the Dark (2019 Circa theatre production), as well as various cabarets and other productions in Wellington and Auckland.  As a singer Emma is trained in classical and contemporary styles and is also an experienced voice over artist with experience ranging from commercial to radio drama voice over work. Emma has a particular interest in voice work as a way for actors to access emotion and character.

Emma has worked as an acting coach at Toi Whakaari- New Zealand Drama School, Rātā Studios and has worked for The Casting Company and been mentored by Emmy Award winning Casting Director Tina Cleary.

Tess Jamieson-Karaha

Tess Jamieson-Karaha grew up in Eastbourne and received her Bachelor of Acting at Toi Whakaari:NZ Drama School in 2010.

Tess Jamieson-Karaha

Her recent work includes recording her Solo theatre piece ‘Please Help Yourself’ for Radio New Zealand, playing the young Judy Schollum in Consent- the Louise Nicholas story, War News,  How to Meet Girls from a Distance, Catherine in the feature film Births, Deaths and Marriages, to be released later this year, and writing directing and starring in her short film Coffee Group.

Tess frequently reads for  the Ready to Read and School Journal audio books as well.

She is currently writing and teaching the Screen Acting course for acting students at Whitireia.  She has taught kids drama classes and school holiday programmes for Rachel Maine at Arts a Go Go.