CATS

PROGRAMMES MANAGER

Seamus has been a part of NYT since 2008, when he joined the company for the production of Grease. Through his involvement as a cast member he has personally seen and experienced the impact of the invaluable skills and opportunities NYT provides.

He was Assistant Director for the company from 2012 to 2018, with personal highlights being his directorial debut with 2013’s Aladdin, and his final production of Shrek The Musical. In addition to his experience with NYT Seamus has worked with a number of other Auckland theatre groups, seeing him develop his performance, directorial and production skills in a range of disciplines.

Seamus’ primary passion is education, and providing young people with the skills, attitudes and mindset needed to be successful in any field they choose. Seamus is a qualified Primary Teacher, specialising in Pasifika Pedagogy, and brings his knowledge and understanding of the practice of teaching and learning. He believes in the value of education through the arts, and loves the opportunity that NYT provides for young people to grow and develop their confidence and real world skills in a fun and supportive environment.

CHOREOGRAPHER DIRECTOR

PROGRAMME CHOREOGRAPHER

Nieve began dancing at the age of 3 and has since gained experience in a variety of styles. 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 working as a solo teacher 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.

Nieve is currently in her final year of a Bachelors of Dance Studies at the University of Auckland. Alongside this degree Nieve has performed in contemporary piece ‘This Room Is An Island’ (choreographed and created by Yin-Chi Lee), and ‘Night Of The Queer 2023’ (Luck & Schooney). She started working with the National Youth Theatre in 2021 as a Dance Intern and has since taken on the role of Assistant Choreographer for their productions of OLIVER! and Wendy, The Peter Pan Musical as well as Choreographer for Frozen JR. She is now the Programme Choreographer for their 2023 production of CATS.

MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Ben can usually be found behind a piano, working as a répétiteur and orchestral pianist on productions for New Zealand Opera and G&T/Amici Productions, and as a pianist and vocal coach at the University of Auckland and the New Zealand Opera School. His work as a musical director, besides his shows with NYT, includes productions with Auckland Music Theatre and the Junior Theatre Festival of New Zealand. He also performs as a singer, having performed roles on stages from Christchurch to Auckland. In his copious free time he also lectures at the University of Auckland, where he recently completed his PhD in musicology

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR