The Tutors
Bryan Aitken
A former Associate director and original company member of The Court Theatre, Christchurch, Bryan has worked as an actor or director for most of New Zealand’s major theatre companies.
He has been awarded a QEII Arts Council Major Travel Grant, a Trust bank Arts Excellence Award and the 1990 Commemoration Medal for his work with youth. While a director/dramaturg for the NZBC, he adapted many stage plays for radio and also wrote for children’s programmes.
He has held positions as Artistic Director of the Arts Employment Scheme, Artistic Director of the Road Show Trust and Course Director for the Diploma in Performing Arts, Nelson Polytechnic. He has been a guest lecturer and Tutor at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth (WAAPA), and the National Academy of singing and dramatic art in Christchurch (NASDA).
Bryan is also recognized as one of the country’s top Drama Adjudicators, and has a national youth award named after him. Bryan continues to freelance out of The Court Theatre as a Director, Tutor, and Tour Manager.
His work is as diverse as the magnificent Les Miserables to the one woman show, The mourning After. He was recently appointed an Associate of The Court, an honorary position recognizing his length of service. Until recently he was their Core Tutor for a young adults theatre-skills programme, Theatreworks.
Kathleen Burns
Kathleen has worked as a professional improviser since 2003, performing regularly at SCARED SCRIPTLESS as one of the Court Jesters. As well as performing nationally with ConArists in Auckland and at the New Zealand International Improv Festival in Wellington.
On top of working nationally as a professional actress since graduating from NASDA in 2010, she is a regular tutor of both drama and improvisation at The Court Theatre and works with people of all ages and experience levels creating fun, playful and instructive classes.
“Wherever I take a class with Kathleen I feel like I’ve been at an awesome party where I just got better at Improv.” Debbie Klausen, Advanced Spontaneity Student.
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