The PAYPA Board

PAYPA Director

Kerryn is a Wellington-based freelance director, producer and teacher of drama. She has a PhD in devising theatre for and with young audiences. Since 2015 she has taught regularly in Te Whare Ngangahau- Theatre & Performance Studies at Te Herenga Waka (Victoria University). She is the coordinator for the MFA (Creative Practice) in Theatre at Victoria University and producer of the annual Six Degrees Festival.

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Independent Practitioner / PAYPA Chair

Lynne is one of Aotearoa’s most experienced programmers and producers in the Theatre for Young Audiences sector. She has collaborated with theatre companies, museums, schools, and communities both nationally and internationally. Recently, Lynne served as the programme manager for the World Choir Games 2024 and as the interim artistic director at Capital E’s National Theatre for Children. Previously, Lynne was the associate director at Auckland Theatre Company, where for over a decade, she supported young artists and audiences through groundbreaking festivals, commissions, school tours, and enrichment programs. She is currently spearheading Theatre in Schools Aotearoa, a new touring and development project aimed at bringing brilliant theatre and dance to children aged 12 and under. Lynne began her career in participatory arts in the UK, working with companies such as Welfare State International, Walk the Plank, Emergency Exit Arts, and B-Arts. She later founded Pandemonium Theatre in Auckland and directed its award-winning youth arts projects. As an energetic teaching artist and alumnus of NYC’s Lincoln Center Education, Lynne has created learning experiences for people aged 1 - 100. She is a founder member of PAYPA, a trustee of the Tauranga-based independent arts company Tuatara Collective, and a mentor for RNZB Education.

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Java Dance Theatre

Sacha Copland is the artistic director of Java Dance Theatre. She founded Java after graduating from the NZ School of Dance in 2003. Sacha dances and choreographs prolifically, touring to Singapore, Australia, China, South Korea and the UK. Sacha was awarded the 2019-21 Creative NZ Choreographic Fellowship and recently made the critically acclaimed Artisan Series. She has performed and produced 23 seasons of Back of the Bus, a dance show on a moving bus, all over the world.

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Talia-Rae (she/they) is a Sāmoan theatre practitioner based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Since graduating from the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts (PIPA) in 2015, she has worked in theatre as an actor, deviser and director across Aotearoa. In recent years, Talia-Rae has worked as a Performer/Facilitator and is currently a Co-Director for THETA's Sexwise programme, a national secondary school tour that enables Young People to engage in conversation about sexuality and healthy relationships through applied and devised theatre. Talia-Rae has toured primary schools nationally with Duffy Theatre's scripted shows, and also in the Canterbury region with The Court Theatre, with shows that were devised by herself and castmates using Sāmoan fāgogo and other Pasifika myths & legends. Talia-Rae is passionate about taking theatre to the people, and using theatre to transform any space into a living platform to tell our stories. In her other life, Talia-Rae is a first time mum to a Leo Sun and caregiver for her 90 year old grandfather. 

Treasurer

Heather has been the Chief Financial Officer for The NZ Catholic Education Office since 2016. She has over twenty years of experience in financial reporting and assurance, including as a senior audit manager for Deloitte NZ, and as financial controller for a large Canadian public company. Heather is a keen arts supporter and holds several voluntary roles within the community.

Ko Ruahine ōku maunga pae

Ko Makaretu te awa

Ko Tākitimu te waka

Ko Ngāti Kahungunu ki Tāmaki-nui-a-rua te iwi

Ko Regan Taylor tōku ingoa.

Regan Taylor is a Graduate of The UCOL THEATRE SCHOOL. He has been working professionally as a Director, Actor, Theatre maker and Tutor for the past 23 years with various companies within Āotearoa.

More recently, he has been directing the Te Reo Māori Touring seasons for Takirua Theatre.

Calico Young People’s Theatre

Jenny Wake is the founder and artistic director of Calico Young People’s Theatre, specialising in professional theatre for young audiences and in theatre with young performers. She is a writer, director, producer and educator, with an MA in Children’s Theatre and a career encompassing theatre, television and museum education. She directed and produced best-loved children’s TV series Play School and has created and toured professional theatre productions to schools throughout New Zealand. Currently Napier-based, she works with primary schools around the North Island, providing resources and support for whole-school productions. Jenny was instrumental in PAYPA’s founding and served as PAYPA Facilitator from 2016 to 2020. She is the go-to person for PAYPA website updates.

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Cubbin Theatre Company

Hannah is the General Manager and Producer for Cubbin Theatre Company. Trained at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art in Christchurch, she began her career as a professional actor and has worked with The Court Theatre, Christchurch. Hannah developed the role of Shadow Thief for LATT Children’s Theatre, based in Seoul, South Korea. Whilst based in London, Hannah sang with the Fourth Choir performing in Europe and the UK. As a performer for Cubbin, Hannah has created Up and Away, Play Play, Me and My Nana and Cubbin’s album Cubbin Music – Songs for children under 5. Hannah lives in Christchurch and is a mother to Winnie (4 years) and Lilian (2 years) and is passionate about telling stories for the very young. Hannah is a board member of PAYPA – Performing Arts and Young People Aotearoa, the New Zealand arm of ASSITEJ.

Youth Subcommittee Leader

Jamie Yee is currently studying towards a conjoint BA(Hons) in Theatre and LLB at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Jamie sees theatre as a vessel for accessible and universal storytelling. He is currently the director of Encounter - a show at BATS as a part of the Six Degrees Festival. Encounter explores the experience and identity of early and modern Chinese New Zealanders in Aotearoa by way of a narrative walking tour through Wellington’s historical Chinatown. Combining his two interests in law and theatre, Jamie is passionate about arts governance and is excited for the opportunity to make change in the Arts while on the PAYPA Board.