Team
Dr Pedro Ilgenfritz – Artistic director and senior tutor
Dr. Pedro Ilgenfritz is a theatre scholar, educator, and practitioner with extensive experience in creative, educational, and research settings. Originally from Brazil, he moved to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2000. His expertise lies in acting training, theatre creation and directing, preparing young performers for professional careers.
He was a senior lecturer at Unitec’s Performing and Screen Arts Department in Auckland for 18 years before becoming the artistic director of Hagley Theatre Company in 2024. He holds a Bachelor’s in Theatre from UDESC - Brazil (1996), a Master’s in Theatre Direction from Toi Whakaari & Victoria University of Wellington (2005), and a PhD from the University of Auckland (2023), focusing on Jacques Lecoq’s theatre pedagogy in Aotearoa.
Pedro started his career in 1992 as an actor with Grupo de Pesquisa Teatral Atormenta. He is an established theatre maker and director in New Zealand, with notable productions including The Last Presentation (2003), The Spot (2005), The Flying Jug (2008), Harmonious Oddity (2008), Alfonsina (2009), One By One (2011), Comic Interludes (2013), 2063 (2015), Leilani (2016), and Tea For Two (2023).
Dr Pedro Ilgenfritz – Artistic director and senior tutor
Dr. Pedro Ilgenfritz is a theatre scholar, educator, and practitioner with extensive experience in creative, educational, and research settings. Originally from Brazil, he moved to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2000. His expertise lies in acting training, theatre creation and directing, preparing young performers for professional careers.
He was a senior lecturer at Unitec’s Performing and Screen Arts Department in Auckland for 18 years before becoming the artistic director of Hagley Theatre Company in 2024. He holds a Bachelor’s in Theatre from UDESC - Brazil (1996), a Master’s in Theatre Direction from Toi Whakaari & Victoria University of Wellington (2005), and a PhD from the University of Auckland (2023), focusing on Jacques Lecoq’s theatre pedagogy in Aotearoa.
Pedro started his career in 1992 as an actor with Grupo de Pesquisa Teatral Atormenta. He is an established theatre maker and director in New Zealand, with notable productions including The Last Presentation (2003), The Spot (2005), The Flying Jug (2008), Harmonious Oddity (2008), Alfonsina (2009), One By One (2011), Comic Interludes (2013), 2063 (2015), Leilani (2016), and Tea For Two (2023).
Danny Lee Syme - Dramatic Acrobatics tutor
Danny is a cross-genre circus and physical theatre director, producer, manager, choreographer, teacher and performing artist, with 20+ years of experience in Aotearoa/New Zealand and internationally. He was a founding member of the Christchurch Circus Trust, The Loons Circus Theatre Company and Circotica. He has trained in martial arts since youth & achieved an Oceania Gold Medal in Kung Fu/Wushu in 2014. He holds a National Certificate in Māori Studies, Diploma in Circus Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies, & has attained his Master of Professional Practice in Performing Arts. Danny is a hard-working individual who is an expert at his craft and has a passion for holistic innovation, play and promoting health and safety best practices. He regularly collaborates with various organisations sharing his skills and knowledge from community to high performance levels. Danny currently runs his own business; Altiora, Performing Arts Venue situated at the Arts Centre Christchurch - Te Matatiki Toi Ora.
Chantelle Rakich - Te Ao Haka
Chantelle studied vocals at the Jazz School at CPIT, now known as Ara / Te Pūkenga, graduating with a Bachelor of Musical Arts. She taught itinerant vocals and piano while moonlighting with her jazz trios Shinzembi and Le Trio Fantastique, before studying to teach primary school. In 2019, Chantelle joined Hagley College teaching kaupapa Māori and Te Ao Haka, primarily focusing on pastoral care of the school's ākonga Māori and tāngata Tiriti. She is passionate about teaching kapa haka an encouraging and welcoming place for ākonga, while also being dedicated to Te Kotahitanga o Waitaha, an adult rōpū.
Danny Lee Syme - Dramatic Acrobatics tutor
Danny is a cross-genre circus and physical theatre director, producer, manager, choreographer, teacher and performing artist, with 20+ years of experience in Aotearoa/New Zealand and internationally. He was a founding member of the Christchurch Circus Trust, The Loons Circus Theatre Company and Circotica. He has trained in martial arts since youth & achieved an Oceania Gold Medal in Kung Fu/Wushu in 2014. He holds a National Certificate in Māori Studies, Diploma in Circus Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies, & has attained his Master of Professional Practice in Performing Arts. Danny is a hard-working individual who is an expert at his craft and has a passion for holistic innovation, play and promoting health and safety best practices. He regularly collaborates with various organisations sharing his skills and knowledge from community to high performance levels. Danny currently runs his own business; Altiora, Performing Arts Venue situated at the Arts Centre Christchurch - Te Matatiki Toi Ora.
Chantelle Rakich - Te Ao Haka
Chantelle studied vocals at the Jazz School at CPIT, now known as Ara / Te Pūkenga, graduating with a Bachelor of Musical Arts. She taught itinerant vocals and piano while moonlighting with her jazz trios Shinzembi and Le Trio Fantastique, before studying to teach primary school. In 2019, Chantelle joined Hagley College teaching kaupapa Māori and Te Ao Haka, primarily focusing on pastoral care of the school's ākonga Māori and tāngata Tiriti. She is passionate about teaching kapa haka an encouraging and welcoming place for ākonga, while also being dedicated to Te Kotahitanga o Waitaha, an adult rōpū.
Nataliya Oryshchuk - Production and Marketing coordinator
Originally from Ukraine, Nataliya is a graduate of the Kyiv National University of Theatre Arts. She is a Christchurch‑based theatre-maker, playwright, writer, and founder of NO Productions Theatre Company. As an independent producer and theatre creator, she has produced more than 30 original theatre works in Christchurch and beyond, with a particular interest in small‑scale, site‑specific, and immersive theatre. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Nataliya completed a BA (Honours) in English and a PhD in Russian at the University of Canterbury, a Master of Creative Writing at Massey University, and a Master of Arts in History at the University of Auckland. She is an award‑winning playwright and writer. Her stage plays have been produced nationally and internationally, and her creative non‑fiction has appeared in Aotearoa and international journals and anthologies.
