‘Everyone should carefully observe which way their heart draws them and pursue that way with all (their) strength.’
Ethos:
To encourage confidence in an individual’s unique voice and worldview.
To foster empathy and build compassion for your fellow actors.
To enable understanding of your characters world view, struggles and aspirations. To ignite the desire to be honorable in your representation of another characters experience and vulnerable and true in reflecting universal human emotions.
To inspire joyful creativity and clear and passionate communication by equipping young or older people, aspiring or experienced actors, directors and presenters with acting and performative techniques.
To provide techniques that can be employed to help create meaningful connections in acting, develop story telling skills, build articulate and engaging communication and presentation skills in the workplace or school, audition or self tape room, on stage and screen.
To grow knowledge of play, screen, novel and poetry literature through text analysis, comprehension and performance.
Description:
Exciting, focused, passionate and highly practical acting techniques are shared to nourish and develop the new, budding or experienced actor or presenter to create compelling and dynamic performances or presentations on stage and screen and or to reach their examination goals.
WHAT
What I offer:
- Zoom (national and international) one on one acting coaching or…
- In person (Auckland, New Zealand) private acting coaching.
- One on one, paired or small group coaching/lessons (maximum 4 students) for Speech and Drama or Trinity from year 7 upwards. Saturdays only in 2025.
- Flexible times available during school holidays for one off coaching: enquire to book a session time.
- Flexible weekday evenings are available after 5pm for one off audition or competition coaching Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday’s. Enquire to book a time.
WHO
Kirsty is a graduate of Toi Whakaari the New Zealand Drama school. She has a masters degree in creative writing from the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria, holds a post grad Diploma in Teaching English and Drama (secondary), earned a BA Honors in screen production from the University of Auckland in 2016, Kirsty was SGCNZ artistic fellow at Shakespeare’s Globe theater London in 2007, and is graduate of the London Actors Center summer program European Act 2009 showcasing at RADA in London. She was a chosen participant for the Director and Editors Guild inaugural female film maker program and a NZFC Accelerator and a chosen participant at MIFF in 2016. Kirsty is a filmmaker, writer/director, teacher, actress, producer and acting coach. She loves doing all these things!
CONTACT: lakatwriter@gmail.com
WHEN
Term times classes start the second week of each school term for Trinity and NZSB speech and drama coaching which is as below. Private one off coaching runs throughout the year.
Thursdays from 4pm
- Half hour slots Trinity or NZSB
Saturdays from 1pm through until 5pm
- 30 mins, 45 minutes, or 1 hour slots for Trinity and Speech NZ lessons/coaching – enquire to book a slot.
Sundays 1pm – 5pm.
- One off private audition coaching only. Two hour maximum slots.
Audition coaching one offs – additional. From 5pm (NZ time) Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday.
WHERE
- I can come to your home – by arrangement.
- At home coaching in Albany, north shore Auckland.
- Online – Zoom.
- Group classes – 2025 and 2026, hall location TBC.
FEES
Important:
- Payments must be made prior to beginning a Zoom session and bank account will be provided after initial email/message.
- Payments must be made for Trinity and Speech New Zealand coaching prior to school term start dates. Classes start the second week of each school term.
- Please note there is an additional charge for the exam entrance fee for Trinity and Speech NZ if you wish to receive grading and certification which must be paid prior to exam to ensure your place/exam time.
- Private coaching can be paid prior to or on the day if coached in person.
- Zoom one on one audition coaching sessions $50.00 per 1/2 hour, or $65 per hour.
- In person one on one audition coaching sessions (Auckland, New Zealand) $55.00 per 1/2 hour, $70 per hour.
- Private one on one coaching Speech NZ or Trinity full term eight 30 min lessons, plus one free introductory lesson – $500 per term. Students can work towards a Trinity or Speech NZ examination.
- Private one on one full term Speech NZ or Trinity eight lessons one on one coaching 1 hour lessons plus one free introductory information meeting 595$ per term. The one hour lessons are available for senior students only – years 10 to 13.
- Paired Lessons Speech NZ or Trinity full term eight 30 min lessons $395 per term. Students can work towards a Trinity or Speech NZ examination.
- Paired lessons Speech NZ or Trinity full term $460 per term 8 lessons for 45 mins each lesson.
- Exam Lessons small group (maximum 4 students) eight 30 minute lessons $305 per term, year 8 and above. Students can work towards Trinity or Speech NZ examinations.
EXAM DETAILS
NZSB and Trinity exams are run by experienced examiners. They assess students around the country. Classwork during term time consists of work towards these exams.
At the end of each year students obtain a written exam report and a certificate, additionally Speech NZ candidates are awarded a badge.
NZSB Speech exam dates are here: https://www.speechnz.co.nz/examinations/ https://www.speechnz.co.nz/students/
NZSB Exam fees: https://www.speechnz.co.nz/site_files/37991/upload_files/2024-Speech_NZ_Fees.pdf?dl=1
NZSB speech and drama exams are held in May, August and November. Entry forms which you teacher will complete when your details are provided must be submitted six weeks prior to the exam date.
Trinity college exam dates are here: https://www.trinitycollege.com/resource?id=8628
Trinity exams are held in June, August and November/December.
Trinity exam fees information: https://www.trinitycollege.com/local-trinity/new-zealand/drama-speech-entry
Please note: It is important to coordinate and communicate NCEA exam dates if sitting a November exam with your coach/teacher so exams can be scheduled if possible to fit.