Drama Time is an exciting and rewarding drama program especially created for primary school aged children.
The goal of the Drama Time program is to develop self-cofidence, communication skills and of course creativity.
This is achieved through a stimulating and rewarding drama program designed to encourage active participation, self-expression and build character.
Pip is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts Theatre (WAAPA) and the Victorian College of the Arts (Film and Television). Pip has over 20 years’ experience in the Australian theatre, film and television industries.
As an actor Pip is well known for his roles in the hit film ‘Strictly Ballroom’ (Wayne Burns) and the award winning TV series ‘Frontline’ (Stu). Pip’s other acting credits include ‘Blue Heelers’, ‘Good Guys Bad Guys’, ‘Halifax’ and ‘Secret Life of Us’. Pip also featured in Peter Jackson’s international hit, ‘King Kong’. On stage Pip has worked with the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Playbox Theatre.
Pip began his directing career in theatre, where his credits include Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Avenue Q (Victorian Music Theatre Guild awards nomination – Best Production, Best Director), Merrily We Roll Along, Crossing Delancy, Big Al, Yentl, La Serva Pedrona Falsettos (Victorian Music Theatre Guild awards nomination – Best Production, Best Director) Arafat in Therapy, From Phantom to Figaro, Biloxi Blues (‘Most Outstanding and Memorable Production of the Year’ nomination, Victoria Drama League), Mother and Son – National Tour (Resident Director), Fiddler on the Roof (Resident Director), The Book of Mormon (Resident Director).
Pip has also worked in Television as a director/producer roles in a variety of television programs as well as directing the feature film ‘Josh Jarman’, which was released nationally through Hoyts Cinemas and selected for seven international film festivals.
At schools, Pip has worked as a guest director at Mount Scopus College and the King David School.
In 2008 Pip developed the Drama Time program which has now run in over 40 primary schools and kindergartens in Melbourne. 2010 saw the introduction of the Drama Time for Kinder Kids! program and the Drama Time Vacation Care Workshops. In 2012 the Drama Time Glee Club was introduced.
Pip lives in Melbourne with his wife Bindy and their four ‘little productions’ – Jasper (13), Rani (11), Coby (10) and Benji (6).
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Jodie comes from a back ground in the performing arts having performed in many amateur theatre companies through out her university days. She then went on to teach Drama at Mentone Grammar for a number of years. Jodie then pursued her interest in student wellbeing and was appointed the role of Student Welfare Coordinator at Melbourne High School. Jodie worked at Melbourne High until the birth of her 3rd child at which stage she started up a small business called FoxyBay which ran successfully for many years. Jodie still runs her business on the side but has decided to amalgamate her three areas of expertise (schools, student wellbeing and the business world) into her position as Office Manager at Drama Time.
Prior to joining Drama Time, Debbie worked at Telstra for over 10 years and has a background in training and development, project management and customer service. Debbie has also undertaken volunteer work as a radio announcer for Vision Australia and teaching English as a second language.
Debbie enjoys traveling, engaging with new cultures and trying different foods. She has travelled to India, where she found a passion for yoga. Recently she has taken up baking and cake decorating. Debbie is very excited to be part of the Drama Time Team and looks forward to assisting you.
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Yakira is an enthusiastic and outgoing drama teacher!
Yakira is a registered Occupational Therapist, movement therapist and yoga instructor for children. She has worked with children for over 10 years specialising in the creative arts therapy. She has a love for dance, drama and music and is passionate about empowering children to become more confident through the arts. Yakira has performed in various amateur musicals including; Seussical the musical and Spelling bee and has choreographed various school musicals.
Isabella is a lover of all things drama. Undergoing a Bachelor of Education with a special interest in Theatre, Isabella seeks to combine her love of teaching with her passion for the performing arts. She is a seasoned performer herself, having held both lead and supporting roles in productions of Cinderella, A Christmas Carol, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and The Wiz.
Isabella approaches all classes with enthusiasm and positivity, and loves the way in which drama can spark joy and creativity within children.
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Passionate about drama from an early age, Naki has progressed from performing herself throughout her school and university years to being a frequent audience member (and often official photographer) at both professional and amateur productions in and around Melbourne. These days her performances tend to be more music-based rather than theatrical. Naki is part of a community choir, Voices Pop Choir, which regularly performs at local fetes, charity events and even at Run Melbourne – imagine having an audience of 25,000 people!! Naki also teaches dance-based fitness (Zumba and Masala Bhangra, an Indian dance-based workout) to both adults and kids.
Naki is thrilled to have joined the team at Drama Time and is looking forward to working with students to develop skills that will not only help in performance situations, but also help them shine through life.
Britni has a Bachelor of Theatre from the University of South Alabama. She has also gathered a wealth of knowledge studying Musical Theatre and Dance independently with some of the best teachers in the USA. She is thrilled to be back performing in Melbourne again. Most recently you could have seen her performing Tess in Crazy for You and Val in A Chorus Line, and before that in Perth as Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday.
Originally from Mobile, Alabama, she worked in Orlando, Florida, professionally for over 6 years where she performed with Walt Disney World (Ariel, Belle, Nemo, Alice in Wonderland), Universal Studios (Marilyn Monroe, Betty Boop), Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, and Sea World.
In 2010 Britni moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she performed Gladys in The Pajama Game for which she received a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Soon afterwards, she packed her bags again to start an exciting adventure in New York City. While in the Big Apple she performed Val in A Chorus Line and appeared in several cabaret shows across the city.
Some of her most beloved credits throughout her career to date include Born Yesterday (Billie Dawn) Crimes of the Heart (Babe), Chicago (Roxie), The Sound of Music (Maria), The Voyage of the Little Mermaid (Ariel) and Annie (Lilly).
Lyndsay is a professionally trained Workshop Facilitator that has recently made the move to Australia. Working in both educational and community settings, she is passionate about collaborating with young people and enjoys devising theatre that enables children to creatively explore the world in which they live.
Inspired by contemporary art making practices her workshops provide an inclusive and fun space for participants to engage in drama and the theatre making process. Children are encouraged to observe, respond and take ownership of their ideas within the sharing experience.
Lyndsay originally trained in London and worked in Musical Theatre, studying at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She then went on to study Applied Theatre: working with Young People, at the critically acclaimed Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in partnership with the Almeida Theatre. Lyndsay is excited to collaborate with Drama Time and looks forward to teaching this term.
Kirra is a Musical Theatre and Dance specialist who trained at Centre Stage Performing Arts School. As well as a drama teacher Kirra is also a dance teacher and worked as a dance coordinator in the USA. She is currently undertaking her Secondary Teaching Degree at Deakin University majoring in Dance and Drama. Kirra is delighted to be teaching with Drama Time to develop young people’s expressive and creative skills. She continues to perform in musicals, and continues to develop her own vocal and performance repertoire.
Georgie has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Extended Drama, as well as with a Graduate Certificate in Creative Industries from the Queensland University of Technology. She is this year extending her studies into postgraduate theatre work with the Victorian College of the Arts, where she will be honing her writing, research and practical theatre skills.
Georgie has been teaching both group and private Speech and Drama for ten years and has worked with children of all ages and stages during this time. Her training in the Performing Arts, in particular at New York’s Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the NIDA Young Actors’ Studio, has given her a wonderful skill set with which to direct and teach young minds in the areas of voice, movement, mind and presentation. Georgie’s work and study with the Australian Music Examinations Board earned her a Certificate of Drama and Performance, along with the ability to teach and mentor young people through performance examinations such as AMEB and Trinity College of London.
Georgie is passionate about all things drama, theatre and performance, and can’t wait to work with the bright young minds at Drama Time to continue honing their own abilities and passions!
Drama Time is always looking for dynamic, passionate drama teachers to join our fabulous team.
If you love teaching, love drama and love working with children, please send your CV and cover letter to contact@dramatime.com.au