tutors

Nicole Verhoeven
Local girl Nicole Verhoeven became Artistic Director of Mountains Youth Theatre when she bought the company from its previous owner in January 2007.

Attending both primary and high school in the lower Blue Mountains, Nicole then went on to train as an actor at Theatre Nepean at the University of Western Sydney. After graduating with a BA in Performance in 2003, Nicole has since performed with professional companies such as CUT Theatre and Alchemy Theatre as well as the locally based Acting Factory. She loves performing in the Shakespeare by the River every summer.

As well as ‘treading the boards’, Nicole also studies with the Sydney Stage Combat School. She is well versed in all major weapon systems, both Eastern and Western/European, as well as ‘wire fighting’ a style made popular by movies like the Matrix. Having completed her Advanced Certificate, she is now training as an instructor, with the aim of one day becoming a Fight Director/Choreographer for both stage and screen.

She is no stranger to myt as well! She has worked as a tutor for 2 years, as well as director for the successful production of Peter Pan in 2005.

“I took on myt not only because I love teaching a directing kids and young adults, but also to make sure the arts does not disappear in Western Sydney. There are so many incredibly talented actors out there with no where to craft and hone their skills. My goal for myt is to create a strong ensemble of young actors, as well as run classes that will push and challenge the students and bring back good quality local theatre!”

Peter Barry
Peter Barry is a graduate of the University of Western Sydney’s prestigious actor training program, Theatre Nepean, and has been working professionally as an actor since 2004.

His theatre credits include Waikiki Palace and Kitten Bone Bridge (Sydney Theatre Company/Wharf2Push), Bone (Darlinghurst Theatre Company), Falling Petals and Who’s Afraid of The Working Class? (New Theatre).
He appears in the short films This Girl in The Desert (Australian Film & Television School) and Antenna (Illegally Parked Vehicles Productions) as well as the feature film Ghost Rider (Vengeance Productions). He has worked on television in the SBS drama East/West 101 and the ABC comedy Double The Fist.

He has also worked for ABC Radio National as voice artist and taught with Australian Theatre for Young People and Bright Stars Talent Management.
Peter is very excited at becoming a member of the Mountains Youth Theatre teaching staff and looks forward to bringing his skills and experience to the task of directing Summer of The Aliens in 2008.

Sally Evans
Sally has been active in community theatre since she was 5 years old. She performed with Shellharbour’s ‘Roo Theatre Company’ for over ten years in various productions including The Children’s Crusade, The Wiz, Annie, An Ideal Husband and many others. During her time there she took on many production roles such as directing, stage managing and the design and construction of both sets and costumes. She was a drama tutor for the company from 2002-2003.

In 2003 Sally had her first professional acting part in the Short film Floodhouse. Shortly after this she began her training with Theatre Nepean. During these 3 years at university, she appeared in the devised pieces Possession and Planet News Update, and also in the 2006 graduation pieces The Trojan Women: A Love Story, The Caucasian Chalk Circle and The Song Of The Yellow Bittern.

Since completing her studies Sally has appeared in the Australian feature film The Black Balloon as an autistic student. She also devised and performed in the independent theatre work Snowglobe as part of the Meta*mor/phases collection of works. Sally is a proud member of actor’s equity, the industry union. She is very excited to join the ‘Mountains Youth Theatre’ as it continues to build its strength within the community.