Four young people from Torbay Theatre have been honoured in the last few months, and look where they are now!!
Courtney Alloway-Gray, who has performed in several Torbay Theatre musicals as well as delighting at Club Night, was nominated for an award, and invited to compete, at this year’s PACANZ National Youth Performer Awards (Musical Theatre) at Palmerston North’s Globe Theatre. Performers had to be “triple threats” – that is, sing, dance and act, and while Courtney wasn’t placed, she did impress. And next? In February she is one of 30 selected to represent NZ and Australia in New York and Sacramento at the International Junior Theatre Festival – she will take part in workshops on Broadway and with Disney, as well as performing in a musical.
Millabeene Turnbull began her stage career in Jacqué Mandeno’s drama classes, at the age of seven playing Tiny Tim in Torbay Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol.” She shone in that speaking role, and has been shining ever since: now living in Dunedin, she won this year’s Louise Simpson Trophy for Excellence in Year 12 Drama at Logan Park High School. She often comments on Jacqué’s teaching and credits it with setting her on the road to success and enjoyment in drama.
Michael Read-Percival grew up in Torbay and developed his passion for theatre through his involvement with Jacque Mandeno’s VoiceWorks classes and performing at Torbay Theatre. This year, at 17, he moved to Australia after being offered two scholarships to study dance and Musical theatre at Melbourne’s Dance World/APO Arts Academy. Michael has subsequently been offered an Emerging Talent scholarship with Altitude Dance in recognition of his Ballet potential. “I’m always counting my lucky stars to be studying what I love and I’ll always fondly cherish the memories of growing up and performing at Torbay theatre.”
Sophie Rowe has just won Auckland Live Showdown’s award for ‘Best Performer in a Lead Role in a Play 2023’ (Auckland Secondary Schools, Group 1) for her rôle as the Queen of Hearts in Long Bay College Junior drama’s production of Alice in Wonderland.
She first got into acting when her parents signed her up for Jacqué’s drama classes.
She has been in several of our children’s shows, this year starring in “The Great Piratical Treasure Hunt.”
“Jacqué has actually taught me basically everything I know,” she says, “and I am very thankful for her.”