Emily Clarkson – Director
The Last Five Years is directed by Emily Clarkson, a dedicated performer, who has a rich background in musical theatre and acting, having studied these disciplines extensively. Currently represented by an agency in Auckland, Emily’s journey in the arts began with community theatre, which she juggled alongside full-time work. Over the past two years, she transitioned to working full-time as a model and actor. Recently, she returned from a two-week overseas trip where she filmed a new Qantas TV commercial. A year ago, an injury forced Emily to step away from dancing, prompting her to explore directing.
During her education in musical theatre, she studied The Last Five Years, a piece that had a profound impact on her. With her newfound perspective behind the camera and her experience on stage, Emily is eager to direct The Last Five Years. She aims to leverage the tools and techniques she has acquired to create a performance that is both beautiful and emotionally complex, reflecting her deep understanding of the material and her passion for storytelling.
Dragon Atanasov – Musical Director
We are very fortunate to have Dragan Atanasov as Musical Director for this show. Dragan has sung with NZ Opera’s Chorus, Bach Musica, Viva Voce, the Macedonian society, and many others. He grew up in a musical family, his parents and grandparents singing Macedonian folk songs at home, as well as accordion and bouzouki. His early teachers included Grant Dickson, famous international NZ bass, and Anne Cheng, who has understudied Dame Malvina Major.
Dragan is excited about the complexity and variety of The Last Five Years’ music.
It is the story of a relationship from beginning to end, told from both perspectives, Jamie starting at the beginning, Cathy at the end, moving backwards, only meeting in a duet in the middle, at their wedding.
Jason Robert Brown, composer and lyricist, uses musical styles ranging through pop, classical, Klezmer, blues, to name a few, to express emotions from joy to despair, to attempt to tease out the causes of the breakdown of the relationship, between two complex, flawed people.
This show has a real wow factor, and an excellent cast. Maria Morris and Drew Young have even already played a couple on stage, and have a marvellous rapport. Dragan himself adds his own wow factor: recently, after a solo concert, he was gifted $500 towards this show – this gives an idea of how impressive Dragan is as singer, performer, and Musical Director!!
Why Torbay Theatre? Dragan and other Opera Chorus members joined Pirates of Penzance in 2014, generously lending their professional voices for free and helping create Torbay Theatre’s reputation for musical excellence. And why does he keep coming back year after year? He says it is the “wonderful, passionate people with the fire and desire to put on good theatre.”