Beth Kayes
Artistic Co-ordinator / Performer
Beth Kayes Artistic Director trained at Auckland‘s Theatre Corporate Drama School in 1986 and went on to train in London at the Circus Space, with Phillipe Gaulier and at Desmond Jones School of Mime.
From 1991-1995 Beth performed with Australian company Legs on the Wall and toured with them nationally and internationally performing in the award-winning show All of Me and in acclaimed aerial work Homeland which was televised nationally by the ABC for the millennium broadcast. With the Australian Dance Theatre she performed House Dance on the Opera House sail also for the ABC’s millennium broadcast.
In 1995 she formed Co. Theatre Physical and has been involved in numerous projects as an actor, director, teacher and producer-many touring to Australian and International festivals. Theatre in New Zealand in the last ten years includes: Margaret-Mary Hollin‘s production of Macbeth, Silo Theatre; Co. Theatre Physical’s shows A House Across Oceans and OH BABY which toured New Zealand festivals.
Beth has created and performed in all of Co Theatre Physical’s school shows in New Zealand and Australia and has taught physical theatre in diverse settings. In 2013 she directed Culture Clash with a large, culturally diverse community group for Tapac Theatre.
Beth has been a full time Drama teacher at Western Springs College for the last 3 years and directed Remote by Stef Smith for a school tour to Bristol Old Vic as part of the U.K’s National Theatre Connections festival.
Beth directed ‘Once There Was a Woman’ for a work in progress showing at Q Theatre and has re-worked it as a solo for her Master’s studies. This solo has just been performed at Auckland Fringe at Q Theatre Loft to rave reviews.
Antonia Stehlin
Actor / Creator
Antonia graduated from the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts and made her debut in The Passage written by Fiona Graham in 2010. She was an integral part of the creation and performance of Tapac Theatre’s 2012 Culture Clash and has toured with Duffy Books in Homes in 2010, 2011 and 2016. She worked with LIMA Dance Theatre from 2009 -2012 and was a core devisor and performer in Red Leap Theatre’s The Sea (2013-2014). She has created and performed Refiner’s Fire (2013-2014), and her critically acclaimed show AFAKASI with Katie Burson at the Basement in 2015.
Antonia has been a core cast member for school shows in Co. Theatre Physical 2013-2016. She is also an experienced, skilled workshop leader.
Katie Burson
Actor / Creator
Katie graduated from Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts (Acting) in 2009 and has since worked as an actor, director and tutor, presenting work for screen and theatre locally and internationally. With a training background in classical dance, clowning and mask, Katie has an eclectic approach to theatre making.
Katie spent three years as co-producer and actor with LAB Theatre company, devising and producing original works alongside organisations such as Auckland Live, Unitec Research Committee and the Magdalena Project. Touring Alfonsina to Brazil for the Vertice Women in Theatre festival in 2010 was a personal highlight. Working with youth and children has both enriched her craft and broadened her theatre practice into areas of children’s theatre and street performance.
Katie has been working with Co Theatre Physical for the past three years, touring acrobatic theatre shows in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools.A recent theatre highlight saw Katie winning the Judges’ Choiceaward and Directing award for Slow Dating (Short and Sweet Festival 2016). Further theatre highlights include: Once There was a Woman (Development season, Co Theatre Physical – Q Theatre, 2016), White Face Crew – POP riders (Guest clown, 2016), Afakasi (Basement Theatre, 2015), Threatened Panda Fights Back (Directing, Short and Sweet Festival 2015), Whales (Binge Culture Collective 2015), Greedy Cat (Tim Bray Productions 2015), Mad Pearse (Short Film, Dir. Chris Campbell 2014) Tricks of the Trade (Sydney schools tour, Co-Theatre Physical 2013), The Feast: The Clown Who Ran Away From The Circus (Red Leap Incubator Programme/Basement 2013) One by One (LABTheatre/STAMP 2013), Comic Interludes (LAB Theatre/Auckland Live 2012) and Alfonsina (LAB Theatre, Brazil/NZ 2010). Katie has just performed in Rushes at Auckland Fringe.