Meet the 2024 Exec
President
Ophelia Sykes
Kia ora koutou,
I’m Ophelia and I am very excited to be part of the Stray Exec for a second year! I am beginning my postgraduate study this year at Auckland University with a BA Honours in Classical Studies and Ancient History. My undergraduate degree was in Drama and Classics, where I stage managed and performed in Drama shows (at the same time on one occasion!), and I am certainly not done with Drama just yet.
I have been involved with Stray as a cast and crew member for the past few years, including performing in the 2022 Original Bill Is This All That You Had In Mind? and stage managing Stir Fried XV in 2023. Last year I was one of the Producers for the Contemporary Bill Low Pay? Don’t Pay!
I have loved performing for as long as I can remember, attending drama classes throughout school and training in a variety of dance genres. My enthusiasm for live theatre expanded to include musicals and I have performed in shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Annie, Catch Me If You Can, A Chorus Line, and Euripides’ Women of Troy with youth and community theatres around Auckland.
I am very much looking forward to 2024 with Stray, and can’t wait to see what we achieve. The 2024 exec has an excess of passion for theatre and community, and I hope we can give our members a year to remember.
Vice President
Sophia Hepper
Kia ora koutou,
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I'm Sophia and I will be taking on the role of Vice President this year with Stray. 2024 will be my third year as a member of the club, and my first year on the Executive Committee. I've now been involved with a number of Stray shows including as an actor in 2022's Much Ado About Nothing and Stir Fried XIV, and as stage manager for 2023's Mongoose: The Musical.
I'm currently in my third and final year at UoA, and outside of my Spanish/Linguistics degree I work in front of house at the Pumphouse Theatre in Takapuna, and love acting, dancing, singing, and playing D&D.
While in the past I've spent most of my time in the theatre onstage, I've recently stumbled upon a newfound love for all the work that goes into the behind the scenes of making a great show and this is something I'm really aiming to develop in lots of ways as a member of the Exec team.
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I'm really excited to get into working with students and the community to bring new shows to life and continue creating a space for the Arts to thrive!
Treasurer
Jonathan Lum
Kia ora!
My name is Jonathan and I am thrilled to be the Treasurer for the Stray Theatre Company 2024 Exec. I have just finished my final year of study at the University of Auckland where I completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Information Systems and Business Analytics.
I've been a part of Stray Theatre Company for four years - in 2021 I got to be an Assistant Stage Manager in Stray's Historical Bill Metamorphosis, and was set to be a part of Stray’s Main Bill The Mooncake and the Kumara. In 2022, I co-stage managed Stray's co-production of Swallow the Fly. And finally in 2023, I had the privilege to co-produce our Original Bill Mongoose: The Musical.
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I've always been drawn to the behind the scenes of things - getting to know how things work and with this being my second year on the exec I'm excited to pass on my learnings from 2023 and to be working with such an amazing team!
Secretary
Josh Liddell-Trotter
Kia ora!
My name’s Josh and I’m Stray’s Secretary for 2024. This year is my third with Stray, following a performance role in 2022’s Much Ado About Nothing and my writing/directorial debut with last year’s Original Bill: Mongoose: The Musical.
I’ve been performing basically ever since I could talk, making me one of the most obnoxious theatre kids around! I’ve had the pleasure to perform on many of Auckland’s stages with several theatre companies; with shows such as MPA’s Heathers, Debase’s Catch Me If You Can, AMT’s A Chorus Line, Seed's 48 Hour: Seussical, and most recently NSMT’s Next to Normal.
Off the stage, I’m in my third year of a Ba/Bsc Conjoint majoring in Drama, Media, and Psychology at the University of Auckland. In 2023, I was a part of the Drama 202 Production of The Family of Love, performing as Maria in addition to crew roles as an Assistant Director, Writer, Guitarist, Assistant Composer, and Choreographer.
Long story short: I am an avid lover of theatre and am supremely excited to get more into the behind the scenes side of the art with the rest of the Stray Executive committee in 2024!
Marketing Manager
Kyla Blennerhassett
Kia ora,
My name’s Kyla and I’m thrilled to be Stray’s Marketing Manager for 2024! I am currently about to begin my first year of my Bachelor of Communications degree at AUT and am super passionate about theatre.
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I began my journey with Stray last year, production managing The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, designing and operating the lights for Low Pay? Don’t Pay!, assistant directing Mongoose: The Musical and designing the set for Stir Fried XV.
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Outside of Stray last year, I was also involved in various other shows including Seed’s 48 Hour: Suessical, NSMT’s Wicked, AMT’s A Chorus Line, k4d’s The Attic, Seed’s Mr Burns: A Post Electric Play, dallowproductions’ Twisted and The ArdenEnsemble’s Twelfth Night - whilst completing my final year of high school at St Mary’s College as Music Prefect and working part time at Rebel Sport… you could say I like to keep busy!
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I am super excited to take on this role as Marketing Manager for 2024, allowing me to be super involved with all four Stray shows this year while getting some hands-on experience in the marketing industry! Can’t wait to meet you all x
Programmes Manager
Casey Roberts
Kia ora koutou!
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My name is Casey, and I will be Stray’s Programmes Manager for 2024! I am currently in my third year of a BCom/BA at Uoa, majoring in Drama, Spanish and Marketing.
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When I’m not studying, I love acting and getting involved with film and theatre performances, as well as crocheting and writing!
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2024 will be my first year involved with Stray on the Exec team, and I’m super excited to create programmes and opportunities for Stray as well as looking forward to catching up with past members, meeting new members and creating new opportunities for Stray!
Community Engagement Manager
Rosa Garcia
Kia Ora! Hello! Hola!
My name is Rosa Garcia, and I am taking up the new role of Community Engagement Manager in 2024. I am in my third year of Sociology, and my second year of Drama under a BA. This is my first year with Stray as an exec, and I spent the end of 2023 as a cast member of Stray’s Original Bill Mongoose: The Musical.
I have spent my life in front of a crowd, both in dance, concerts, screen and stage acting, but the former has stolen my heart, and so being able to explore theatre from the inside of productions, has been so eye opening and a world of wonder.
I would like to bring to this role a sense of creativity, as this is a new role in development, I would like to spend my time exploring the different avenues to which I can engage more with our stray members and our wider community!
When I'm not with stray or on stage, you can find me hanging out with my cat, reading books, watching anime, painting, singing or playing piano, or with my mouth full of pizza, so if you see me out in the wild, feel free to say hi!