Rising Starz Meet the Team

EMILY GOLDIE
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
B.A., Dip Tchg specialising in Performing Arts
Emily’s love of Drama started over 30 years ago when she first started learning the art of Speech and Drama at the tender age of 5. This passion led to her to Victoria University where she completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree. Following this, she went to Wellington College of Education to do a Diploma in Teaching specialising in Performing Arts. She has been teaching Speech and Drama for the past 15 years.
In her first job at Marlborough Girls’ College her eyes were opened to the potential of Drama. It was here she began to see students’ confidence and self worth develop and it was here her dream of Rising Starz began. Her works include; What a Knight, Splash, Alice in Wonderland, Alice through the Looking Glass, The Taming of the Shrew for the BBC Shakespeare festival, Kiss me Kate, Charlie and the Chocolate Factor, Holy Moses, Yanamano, Rip Van Winkle, Wizard of Oz, Macbeth.
Her most notable directorial role was, Gary Henderson’s Skin Tight that won her the title of Best Performance in 1998 in the NZ Theatre Federation One Act Play Festival. She has also choreographed numerous Stage Challenge performances (had the youngest performers ever on stage!) and been involved with workshops for the Sheila Winn Shakespeare-in-Schools Festival.
After eight years of teaching in a variety of schools in the UK, Emily returned to NZ with her husband Andy and two children. It is here in Whangarei they decided to set up Rising Starz Drama School. In the past 3 years it has gone from strength to strength. She overseas all the planning, productions and ensures the integrity of the company is always number one.

SARAH BOON
Sarah Boon
B.A., Performing Arts
Sarah started her life on the stage at the tender age of 5 and it has been non stop ever since. One of Sarah’s goals was to attend Drama School in London and when she ticked this off her bucket list decided to come back to NZ and finish her training. Since graduating with her B.A Sarah has travelled round the globe working for theatre companies, TV and radio and even a stint in Hollywood.
Sarah has trained in Trinity College of London, NZ Speech Board and toured the country attending Speech & Drama competitions. Her works include: Macbeth, Women of Troy, God Boy, Middle Age Spread, Take a Chance on Me, Dancing at Lughnasa and West Side Story.

MARY MOUAT
VOICE DEVELOPMENT COACH
BA (Hons) Business Studies, UK Graduate Teaching Programme with Qualified Teacher Status
Mary has returned to NZ from England after 10 years away in her home town of Nottingham.
She has had a passion for the theatre and performing since the age of 4 and has been on and off the stage ever since singing and dancing. She attended the Marion Hendy School of Dance in Nottinghamshire for 15 years and studied Tap, Ballet and Modern Movement Dance. At the age of 16 she won a Two Year Musical Scholarship for Singing and attended the South Nottinghamshire Music School. During this time she performed in Musicals such as Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver and the stage play Undermilk Wood. At 18 she was actively involved in Musical Operetta and took the lead roles in Gilbert & Sullivan's HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and was understudy to the lead in Yeoman of the Guard.
More recently Mary assisted Emily Goldie in the voice and singing coaching for Alice in Wonderland at Forum North and is a member of the Whangarei Theatre Company performing in Robin the Hood (2008) as Ivy, Leader of the Greenies, and Domina in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (2009). Mary is a UK trained Primary School Teacher and has experience of running a large primary school choir of 44 children aged 7-11 years performing music ranging from traditional choir music to songs from musicals and the charts. Mary has a passion for music and performing and believes that all children should be introduced to music from an early age. She is extremely excited to be involved with Rising Starz.

WENDY BERRIDGE
Wendy has always had a passion for children. This began many years ago when she studied Early Childhood Education specialising in special needs. It was here Wendy started her career in Early Childhood Centres. She has always been involved in drama with a brother, cousin and uncle all making careers out of the Arts.
Over the past 19 years she has been busy nurturing her husband, 2 talented boys and beloved cows. She was introduced to the world of Drama back in 2006 when she enrolled her son, Tommy, into lessons. Here she was thrown into the role of Assistant Stage Manager for Alice in Wonderland.
In 2007 her enthusiasm was sparked and with her Early Childhood background, she took a real interest in the 4-6 year old students. It is here Wendy shares her passion and love of the creative world. She has Stage Managed Splash and What a Knight. So with her two loves combined, children and Drama, she feels very privileged to be involved with this expansion of a Drama School here in Whangarei.