Our Team
NATALIE WRIGHT - Director
Speech & Drama, Acting & Screen Acting
Natalie has a significant background in acting, singing and public speaking. Notable film, television and theatre experience includes roles in Shortland Street (Core cast member), Xena, The God Boy (Auckland Theatre Company) and Anne of Green Gables (Auckland Children's Theatre).
Natalie also has a close association with local theatre groups, having been awarded a Zony Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Linda in the Stage Right Production of Blood Brothers and, most recently, for her portrayal of Madame Morrible in the Tauranga Musical Theatre production of Wicked.
Along with her performing credits, Natalie has also been on the creative team as Director of The Little Mermaid Jr and Ladies Night.
Natalie launched her business Wright Performance in autumn 2018 and has never looked back.
Natalie holds her ATCL from Trinity College London for Speech & Drama
ELISE ROHDE - Director
Elise was performing as soon as she could walk. Making her debut in Madame Butterfly at age four, she has been an integral part of the Tauranga Performing Arts scene since.
During her 35 plus years in the industry, she has participated in more than 150 shows, often as a member of the creative team or as a mentor to youth.
Notable onstage roles include Gary Coleman in Avenue Q, which earned her a Zony nomination for Leading Actress, and The Baker's Wife in Into The Woods.
Elise has worked in almost every department of musical theatre both as a volunteer and in corporate entertainment, focusing mainly on sound engineering and music roles (which she believes go hand in hand for any great performance). In 2019, she was awarded the Zony for Best Sound Design for her involvement in the Tauranga Musical Theatre production of Heathers.
Elise has also musical directed more than 40 productions, most recently earning Zony nominations for Mamma Mia, Mary Poppins, Rock of Ages, Heathers, Jekyll & Hyde & Wicked, for which she was awarded the Zony for Best Vocal Direction of a Musical.
Elise was proudly awarded a life membership to Tauranga Musical Theatre for her services to committee, youth and as President for many years.
Musical Theatre & Singing
DARREL NITSCHKE - Senior Tutor
Speech & Drama, Acting & Musical Theatre
Darrel is a passionate director and intimacy director of musical theatre. She has spent the past few years completing a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Masters degree in theatre, and working within creative teams across Tauranga, Rotorua, and Auckland.
Creating safe spaces for artists has always been a core focus of Darrel’s journey; in 2023, she completed her year-long Masters project and dissertation which analysed how safe spaces are built in the rehearsal and performance of theatre in Aotearoa. Recently, she has been working as an assistant company manager for Broadway Entertainment Group’s touring production of The Phantom of the Opera, so far visiting Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Bulgaria.
In recent years Darrel has gifted her talents to community theatre productions as Director for prodcutions including ‘That Bloody Woman’, ‘Come From Away’ and ‘West Side Story’.
HANNAH LEE - Senior Tutor
Musical Theatre
Hannah Lee is a trained early childhood teacher by day and a dedicated, active member of the performing arts community in Tauranga by night.
Hannah serves as Vice President of Tauranga Musical Theatre and from her many years as a leader and director of the Tauranga Musical Theatre Youth Group, she brings a wealth of experience and understanding.
Hannah is also a performer in her own right, having been seen recently on stage in Disco Inferno, That Bloody Woman, Les Miserables and Come From Away.
Hannah leads all Musical Theatre group classes at WRAPA and is a passionate advocate for inclusivity and giving each student the opportunity to grow and shine.
GRACE GIBSON - Senior Tutor
Speech & Drama & Acting
Grace has trained under Natalie Wright for a number of years, culminating in 2023 being awarded Third place at the National Young Performer Awards (PACANZ) and achieving her ATCL Diploma in Speech & Drama in 2024.
Grace is well known to Tauranga audiences, having recently been seen on stage in ‘Cats’, ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Hands on a Hard Body’ in the last year alone, and brings a passion for performance to her lessons.
Grace is a passionate and caring tutor who knows how the get the best out of her students.
TIFFANY JOHNSTON - Senior Tutor
Singing & Musical Theatre
Tiffany has over a decade of experience and training in musical theatre, with most recent credits including Glinda in Wicked (Tauranga Musical Theatre), The Revlon Girl in The Revlon Girl (16th Avenue Theatre), Maria in Love’s Labour’s Lost (Summer Shakespeare Tauranga) Allison in First Dates (Stage Right Trust) and Maureen in RENT (Tauranga Musical Theatre).
Tiffany is a student at IVA: Institute of Vocal Development, working towards becoming an internationally qualified singing teacher.
She is a working makeup artist skilled in TV, theatre and film makeup and a trained ballet dancer. She is also a qualified primary and special education teacher and spent six years running theatre sports at weekend camps under the Parent to Parent charity.
AMY VAN LEEUWEN - Senior Tutor
Speech & Drama
Amy, after being a student at WRAPA for 5 years, gaining her ATCL in Speech & Drama and representing the studio nationally in both Speech & Drama & Musical Theatre heading up to Auckland and compiled her Diploma at ‘The Actors Programme’.
Lucky for us, after all that, Amy came back and is now ready to give back and share her passion to the next generation.
Amy has been seen onstage in the region frequently including Cats, Matilda, Rent and Wicked, along with frequently choreographing for WRAPA, most recently on Hadestown.
Amy is a highly regarded tutors with a passion for Speech & Drama and giving students the push they need to succeed.
LAUREN MILLER - Senior Tutor
Singing & Musical Theatre
Lauren spent her youth on stage in Tauranga and went on to study a Bachelor of Music.
After a year of getting back into the industry and becoming part of the fabric of WRAPA, we are delighted to have Lauren join us.
Lauren brings a wealth of experience, a passion for music and voice and above all, as a mother herself, the energy and understanding to help students achieve their goals and find confidence in performing.
JACOB WEST - Junior Tutor
Musical Theatre & Dance
Jacob is no stranger to the stage in Tauranga, having been performing since he could walk.
Notable roles include The Baker in Into The Woods Jr (WRAPA), Jack Kelly in Newsies Jr (TMT), Dewey Finn in School of Rock (Bethlehem College) and Michael Banks in Mary Poppins (TMT).
Jacob has been studying Speech & Drama, Classical Voice, Musical Theatre and Ballet for 7 years and is known to be an energetic, committed and passionate young performer and mentor for his peers.
In 2023 & 2025 Jacob was a National Nominee for both Speech & Drama and Musical Theatre.
Jacob also volunteers his spare time to volunteering and contributing to the arts in the region as a Sound Designer and as a mentor to the youth.
Jacob is passionate about voice and music. He has recently been training as a Musical Director and vocal tutor completing initial training in the ‘Estill Vocal Method’ and Vocally Directing ‘13 The Musical’.
We are thrilled to have Jacob teaching and being a champion for young men wishing to enter the world of performing arts.
AADIT TANDON - Junior Tutor
Speech & Drama and Musical Theatre
Aadit is a superstar by all definitions!
There are too many accolades to mention, but ion the last two years along Aadit has taken out the title for National Young Performer of the Year for Speech & Drama, was awarded Third for Musical Theatre, represented NZ at the Globe Theatre as part of the Young Shakespeare Company, and has been nominated for multiple regional awards.
Along with that, Aadit is an accomplished Director (Fame Jr, Tick Tick Boom) and performer most recently seen onstage in Hadestown, Mamma Mia and Jersey Boys.
Aadit is the absolute all rounder but above all has a passion for helping young men navigate the performing arts and succeed.
RUBY RENDLE - Assistant Tutor
Ruby has been an important part of the WRAPA family from the start as a student of both Natalie & Elise.
Over the years Ruby has performed on stage in many productions along with choreographing productions including Mary Poppins & Girls Like That.
RHYS HOPCROFT - Assistant Tutor
AMELIA MULLER - JUNIOR Tutor
Amelia Muller is a long time student of WRAPA, about to sit her Diploma in Speech & Drama.
Over the years Amelia has been found onstage in productions such as Footloose, Cinderella, 13 and Heathers and has assisted behind the scenes wherever she can as well.
Amelia is training to be an Early Childhood teacher and has a passion for our youngest performers and helping them find a voice