Meet The 2023 Exec

Kia ora koutou!
My name is Cuan and I am extremely privileged to be Stray’s president for 2023. I’ve been fortunate to have been part of this executive committee for three years now, previously holding the Logistics Manager role. I am a University of Auckland graduate with a major in English and Drama; and am now in my second year of secondary teaching.

 

2023 is a big year for Stray! There are many fresh ideas, new projects and of course, top quality shows being developed, so come along and experience it all with us! I cannot wait to work alongside you all to grow our Stray whanau through our shared passion of theatre.

Kia ora, I’m Ophelia and I’m in my third year of a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Classical Studies & Ancient History at the University of Auckland. I have been involved with Stray on the performance side for the past two years, including the 2022 Original Bill Is This All That You Had In Mind? 

 

I have loved performing for as long as I can remember, attending drama classes throughout school and training in a variety of dance genres including ballet, jazz, tap, and contemporary. My enthusiasm for live theatre naturally expanded to include musicals and I have performed in shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Annie, Oliver!, Cats, and Catch Me If You Can with youth and community theatres around Auckland. 

 

I recently discovered a love for learning about every aspect that goes into making a show happen as the Stage Manager and Production Manager for DRAMA 202’s The Big Blue Planet Earth Show in 2022.

 

I hope these skills will help me grow Stray Theatre’s outreach and community feel and I can’t wait to further expand my knowledge into the theatre and Auckland Arts scene by being part of the Stray Theatre Executive committee in 2023.

Kia ora! I am Josh, the Treasurer for Stray Theatre Company 2023, and I'm delighted to once again be part of the Executive Committee of this wonderful club! I entered the world of theatre in high school, briefly as an actor, before retreating to the shadows of the backstage, where I now comfortably reside as a stage manager and set designer.

 

I always loved being involved in theatre, and very quickly found myself at home in Stray when I first entered university. Stray has given me an incredible array of opportunities to learn new skills and make so many amazing friendships, and so I wanted to continue to provide those opportunities for other students to be part of this community. Thankfully, my affinity for numbers and spreadsheets seems to have come in handy, and so I am serving my second year on the committee.

 

Outside of Stray, I am studying Environmental Science at UoA, as well as being a part time badminton coach and enthusiastic photographer. My goal for Stray this year is to achieve a sense of stability after a few troublesome years, and strengthen the foundations of this club, so that current and future students can share their love for theatre in a welcoming community.

Kia ora koutou, ko Adam Paterson toku ingoa, I am the Stray Logistics Manager. I’ve been a member of Stray for many years - as early as 2012 and as late as this year. I’ve spent most the last five years working in admin across local government and then joined the University in 2021. I graduated with a BA in Drama and English in 2013.

 

What brought me back to Stray after all of these years? Well, I organise a lot of events through work and I thought I would make a great Stage Manager. And somehow I’m now a part of the exec doing Logistics. Crazy.

 

My goal for this year is to support Stray in rebuilding its membership base, and to support my fellow executive to ensure that everyone is looking after themselves. I look forward to meeting everyone!

Kia Ora, My name is Jack Collins and I am the Programmes Manager for 2023. I have been involved with Stray Theatre Company for 2 years where I have had the opportunity to act In Stray's 2021 Original Bill: A Shot in the Dark, Swallow the Fly in 2022, hosting Stray’s 2022 Awards night and finally produce Stray’s 2022 Original Bill Is This All That You Had In Mind?.

 

Through Stray, I have enjoyed meeting the vast community, challenging myself in new roles and having fun while doing it.

 

Outside of Stray, I have a full time job where I manage a Swim School in East Auckland and have worked there for the last 6 years.

 

I am excited to create programmes and opportunities for Stray this year and looking forward to catching up with past members, meeting new members and creating new opportunities for Stray.

Kia Ora, I’m delighted to be the 2023 Marketing Manager for Stray. I am studying a BCom/BA conjoint at the University of Auckland, majoring in Marketing, Drama, and Media, Film, and Television.

 

At high school I was passionate about Business Studies and Drama, hoping one day to be an actress! However, now that I have been at university for 3 years I am looking to pursue a career in the Marketing industry. I currently work as a casual employee in retail and babysit when I can.

 

In 2022 I was the marketing manager for the DRAMA 202B production of The Big Blue Planet Earth Show. I had the pleasure of working closely with playwright Gary Henderson and Dr Rina Kim, alongside my team, to bring their visions to life and sell out our shows.

 

Over the summer I completed two internships that have strengthened a variety of my skills and opened me up to how different areas in the marketing industry operate.

 

My team and I are passionate about creating visually satisfying/aesthetic content that gives a professional feel. My marketing goal for this year at Stray is to get more people involved in the club by creating a greater reach through social media.

Kia ora! My name is Jonathan and  I am privileged to be the Secretary for the Stray Theatre Company 2023 Exec. I am in my final year of study at the University of Auckland studying a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Information Systems and Business Analytics. 

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In high school I was interested in everything on and off the stage. in 2020 I was co-leader for Dragon/Lion Dance as well as one of the Backstage leaders for Chinese Extrav'. I was crew for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in 2019 and was involved in stage management for The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, and Chicago in 2020.

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I've been a part of Stray Theatre Company for three years - in 2021 I got to be an Assistant Stage Manager in Stray's Historical Bill Metamorphosis, and in 2022 I co-stage managed Stray's co-production of Swallow the Fly.

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I've always been drawn to the behind the scenes of things - getting to know how things work and now I'm excited to be working with such an amazing team!