NYDS Board

NYDS Management Trust Board

Alan Powdrell, Chairman of the Management Board

Alan has been an invaluable member of the NYDS Team since its inception. He has 20 years acting, directing, set design and construction, with Hastings Group Theatre before its merger into Theatre Hawkes Bay. He Directs annual productions for Hastings Boys High School and Lindisfarne College.

Barry Prescott, Screen and Media Liaison

Barry Prescott is a writing, directing, filmmaking, T-shirt screenprinting, polar bear wrestling, furniture designing white guy from Titahi Bay. He has just finished his latest short film The Man Who Couldn't Dance about a double amputee with no legs who dreams of being a ballroom dancer. He can fit 15 giant jaffas in his mouth at once.
A former student of the NYDS Barry has become a dedicated member of the NYDS Board and contributes annually to the NYDS experience as the coordinator of Screen and media classes.

Martyn Roberts

Martyn is a lighting designer, writer, director and is currently a practice fellow in the Theatre Studies programme at Otago University. His career has seen him design for theatre, dance, buildings, outdoor environments and cupboards. Recent works include Raewyn Hill and Dancers’ new work 'Finders Keepers', WOW! productions 'Glorious' and his own afterburner company production of 'Hubble' which he wrote and directed as well as designing the set and light.

Martyn teaches in schools, universities and advises schools and other groups on stage technology requirements.

He brings a wealth of knowledge as an artist, teacher and planner to the NYDS board. He also enjoys the fine wines of the Hawkes Bay region.

Ken Keys, Founder

Ken is the Director of HaByt (Hawkes Bay Youth Theatre), founder of the NYDS, guest tutor at the Teaching Shakespeare Through Performance Institute at the Shakespeare Globe Centre in London and at the International Theatre Festival in Maryland, USA. He is also the NYDS sponsorship coordinator and is married to the wonderful Annetta, the” hostess with the mostess”

Jonty Hendry

Jonathon joined the Toi Whakaari:NZ Drama School staff in July 2007, where he is now an Associate Director and Head of Acting. He is himself a graduate of the school and established himself as an award winning actor before directing with ATC, Silo, Downstage, Circa, Centrepoint, and BATS. He was recently Head of Acting at UNITEC and has also taught at Massey and Victoria Universities, Wellington Conservatorium of Music, NZ College of Performing Arts and WPAC.

Jonathon is an artistic fellow of Shakespeare’s Globe London. He has played many Shakespeare roles including Richard The Third, Macbeth, Iago, Jaques and Malvolio. Jonathon has taught Shakespeare workshops to students, teachers and professional actors around New Zealand.

In 2007 he directed Dave Armstrong’s The Tutor for ATC, followed by a national tour where he played Sellars. He also directed Othello for Downstage and The Cut at Silo. He collaborated with Dean Parker on the highly successful The Hollow Men, which premiered at BATS and then toured to Centrepoint, Circa and the Maidment Theatre Auckland.

Jonathon has worked as an actor, script advisor and director in a many script development processes. In addition to NYDS he serves on the Board of Downstage Theatre.

Rachael Blampied