DISNEY'S "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST"

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Jonathan Alver is a multi-skilled director and producer of both stage and screen with international experience in the UK, Europe, US and New Zealand.  Trained as a singer at the Royal Northern College of Music, his major directing debut came at the age of 25 when he remounted the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Showboat at the London Palladium. 

Jonathan has since gone on to direct numerous theatre and opera productions around the world including Aida, La Boheme, Falstaff, Lucia di Lammermoor, Macbeth and Tosca, as well as more than 100 broadcast television hours of Shortland Street and Go Girls. 

Jonathan began his long association with New Zealand in 1996, taking up the role of Artistic Director and then General Director of New Zealand Opera.  Amongst his many achievements during that time he is particularly proud of establishing and delivering a ground-breaking opera outreach programme for New Zealand schools and an Emerging Artists’ Programme. 

In the last ten years Jonathan has toured theatrical productions and delivered major events, co-produced Jailhouse Rock - The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre in London’s West End, directed television and developed his own screen and theatre projects.

MUSICAL DIRECTOR

James Doy (B.Mus L.T.C.L.) was one of the founding members of the National Youth Theatre Company, and has been the Musical Director since its inception in 2005. In 2012 James was appointed Chief Executive by the NYT Board.

Outside of NYT James has a resume including Christmas and Opera in the Park, Rob Guest, Max Bygraves and Shirley Bassey. In the world of musical theatre, James has played for many international touring productions including Les Miserables, Little Shop of Horrors, Porgy and Bess, Cats, Matilda and Wicked.

In 2014 James received the prestigious 'NZ Musician of the Year' award from the Variety Artists Club. James was the Musical Director of the NZ Opening Ceremony for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, composing, arranging, and working with artists from Sole Mio to Hayley Westernra as well as putting together a huge showcase for the music from each of the 14 participating nations. He composed the theme for Peta Matthias’s Taste series, which have been screened all over the world, and composed the full length musical Peter Pan for NYT in 2017.

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

After performing in 22 shows as a Cast Member with the National Youth Theatre, Cole had a fantastic basis to join us as Assistant Music Director for "The Wizard of Oz". Along with his involvement with NYTC, Cole has been working professionally in New Zealand Theatre, most recently as Mungojerrie in the 2019 NZ Tour of CATS, and as part of the ensemble for "100 Lovers" at the Sky City Theatre.  Whilst pursing his theatrical career, Cole has started working as a performance based Vocal Coach and hopes to continue learning and performing to achieve his dream of Broadway Star and Vocal Coach. Cole’s proudest moment was when he made his Broadway Debut at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on the set of Waitress in August 2019.

CHOREOGRAPHER

ASSISTANT MD

Ben Kubiak maintains a busy musical work life spanning multiple disciplines. A multi-instrumentalist, as a pianist he is currently a Dame Malvina Major Foundation Studio Artist with New Zealand Opera, alongside work at the University of Auckland and New Zealand Singing School. As a singer, he has performed roles on stages from the Court Theatre in Christchurch to the Civic Theatre in Auckland. He can currently be found playing, music directing, singing, composing and teaching all over Auckland, while also trying to finish off a PhD in musicology at Auckland University.

ARTISTIC ASSISTANT

Brie started with NYT when she was 6 years old and spent many years with the company. NYT is where Brie’s passion for the performing arts grew. After her final show in 2015, she went to the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts in Christchurch where she graduated with a Bachelor of Performing Arts. Brie loves working with young people and helping them find their confidence through performing, and she is soon studying to get a Diploma in Secondary Teaching.

DANCE INTERN

Nieve began dancing at the age of 3 and has since gained experience in ballet, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. She has always loved the idea of passing on her knowledge and enjoyment of dance; she spent years assisting her ballet teacher with the younger students' classes before she started teaching classes by herself in 2019. Additionally she had the opportunity to lead dance troupes at Rangitoto College, where she received the Devotion to Dance award in 2018. In 2020 Nieve will begin studying a Bachelor of Dance at the University of Auckland, and is also going to take on the role of Dance Intern at the National Youth Theatre. She is very excited to get to know all of the cast and watch them grow over the rehearsal period.

PRODUCTION MANAGER

COSTUME DESIGNER

Deb Thearle, originally from England, graduated in Costume Interpretation from the Wimbledon College of Arts in 1995. She has worked on TV, film, and theatre costumes for Angels Costumes in London. She spent four years in Melbourne designing and making costumes for J.C. Westend Costume Hire before heading back to the UK. She was a pattern-cutter and maker at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester. Previous costume design work includes Last Legs, and Winding Up for Auckland Theatre Company. She has designed Shrek, Annie and Wizard of Oz for National Youth Theatre. Deb was also the Costume Manager for The Audience Auckland Theatre Company, and runs her own dressmaking business.