OUR KAUPAPA
Blackboard Theatre Collective is a Christchurch-based theatre company pushing the creative boundaries of theatre in New Zealand.
Our world is always changing, and we aim to change with it. Through discovery, development, and reinvention we present modern work for a modern audience – lighting a void in the New Zealand theatrical landscape.
Blackboard presents chamber musicals, concerts, and plays that sit at the forefront of the international scene. With our projects, we seek to challenge our audiences to rethink the way they view, process, and enjoy theatre.
Live theatre is shared, let's experience it together.
JEREMY HINMAN
General Manager - jeremy@blackboardtheatre.co.nz
He / Him
Jeremy is a 2011 graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art. After finishing study, he relocated to Melbourne and during the five years he spent there worked consistently in the arts sector covering a plethora of positions. As a performer, Jeremy has worked frequently with Opera Australia and held supporting roles in productions of La Cage Aux Folles and Hair.
Jeremy was the creative producer for Australia’s leading industry event, Broadway Unplugged, and provided dramaturgy for many cabaret artists in the fringe/comedy sector.
For JTM Productions, he has directed and choreographed six successful Australian concert tours.
Jeremy spent two years working in production for TEN's The Project, working in artist coordination, administration, logistics and content management roles.
Since returning to New Zealand, he has appeared in Legally Blonde and Chicago with The Court Theatre, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert with Showbiz Christchurch and works extensively for DKCM as a part of The Midtown Boys.
BEN FREETH
Tech Director - ben@blackboardtheatre.co.nz
He / Him
Ben has immersed himself in theatre since graduating from the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) with a Bachelor of Performing Arts.
His previous credits as an actor include Romeo and Juliet; Mary Poppins; Cops and Robbers; Legally Blonde the Musical; The Ugly Duckling; Chicago; Titus Andronicus; Jesus Christ Superstar; The Wind in the Willows; Les Liaisons Dangereuses; Jersey Boys (The Court Theatre); Once on Chunuk Bair (Imagine Charitable Trust); RAP-unzel; Botfarm 2014 (New Zealand Playhouse); Mamma Mia; Wicked and Les Misérables (Showbiz Christchurch).
Ben’s stage management credits include Catch Me If You Can; Severely Queer (Blackboard Theatre Collective); Sweet Charity; Ragtime (NASDA); Songs for a New World (So Keen Productions); The Father (The Court Theatre) and he served as assistant stage manager on Hudson & Halls Live!
His directing credits include Time Machine; Crash Bash: Reaction; Crash Bash: What's the Rush?; Crash Bash: What if? (The Court Theatre); The Isolation Mixtape and co-directed Waiting in the Wings (Blackboard Theatre Collective).
He is a proud member of Equity New Zealand.
KIRA JOSEPHSON
Secretary - kira@blackboardtheatre.co.nz
She / Her
Kira is originally from the USA, where she attended the Orange County High School of the Arts and went on to receive her B.F.A. in Theatre Arts from Stephens College. Since graduating, she worked and toured regionally around the United States before moving to New Zealand in 2015. She has had the pleasure of performing with Tony nominee Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast) and choreographing a cabaret show for Tony Award winner Alice Ripley (Next to Normal).
With Blackboard Theatre Collective, she created and directed Waiting in the Wings, and Bechdel Test: An Evening of Women in Theatre. Past choreographing credits include Little Shop of Horrors at The Court Theatre (in which she was also the Audrey Standby/Swing), and Urinetown, The Wedding Singer, and The Drowsy Chaperone at NASDA. She is primarily a tap dancer, having choreographed the tap in Jesus Christ Superstar (The Court Theatre), and teaches tap at Impact Dance & Stage School.
Her previous performing credits include Legally Blonde, Little Shop of Horrors (The Court Theatre); Catch Me If You Can (Blackboard Theatre Collective); Les Misérables, Wicked (Showbiz CHC); Singin’ in the Rain, High School Musical (Little Theatre on the Square); and Weird Romance (USA West Coast premiere, European premiere in France and Scotland).
Kira is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA and Equity New Zealand. She is represented by Kathryn Rawlings & Associates. She is currently appearing as “Jane” on Power Rangers Dino Fury [Season 28/29] and as “Bec” on Kid Sister on TVNZ.
NOMI COHEN
Social Media - nomi@blackboardtheatre.co.nz
She / Her
Since graduating the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts in 2012 and The Actor’s Program in 2013, Nomi has worked on numerous projects both on and off the stage. In 2016, Nomi co-wrote and starred in Hungover, a musical comedy, with director Hamish McGregor which had a successful season at the Basement Theatre in Auckland. She then went on to direct BRAVADO! for Auckland Theatre Company as part of the 2016 Next Big Thing festival. Recently Nomi has directed the highly successful Bublé, You Bastard and Big Little Theatre Company Inc’s The Importance of Being Earnest.
As a cabaret artist, she has created numerous projects including her 2016 Short+Sweet Cabaret PUSS which took home three awards then returned in 2018 to sold-out houses as a part of the International Comedy Festival. Nomi initiated and produced the BTC cabaret development program In Session which saw the creation of eight different full length cabaret shows, some of which have gone on to further programming.
Nomi is the creator of the highly successful What The Quiz Is This?! A musical pub quiz that played to sold out houses in the 2021 Backyard Buskers Festival
Nomi has also worked in Television production as a talent coordinator for Jono and Ben and as a production assistant for Family Feud and What Now!
As an actor, some of her highlights so far include working with director Michael Hurst for Auckland Theatre Company’s season of Lysistrata and starring as Roxie Hart in The Court Theatre's productions of Chicago. She has also appeared in Legally Blonde, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Jersey Boys at The Court Theatre and played Brenda in Blackboard Theatre Collective’s production of Catch Me If You Can.
She is a proud member of Equity New Zealand.