The Master of Creative Performance Practice is a bold new qualification that provides learning via a practice-based research model that encourages students to explore and deepen their own and others’ creative performance practices via a decolonised world view. This programme is designed for active professionals working within the performing arts throughout Aotearoa, Te Moana Nui a Kiwa and the world, who wish to examine and strengthen their own creative practices through a critical lens.
The structure of the programme encourages students to apply advanced research, critical and cultural skills and knowledge to a creative project to advance their area of focus. Delivery will be dynamic and interactive, and achieved through a blend of online classes, wānanga, group and one-to-one tutorial support, direct mentoring/supervision from academic staff and industry professionals and research through creative practice. The design of this programme allows flexibility for individuals who are managing work/life commitments to not have to be in Wellington on-campus full time.
This Level 9, 180 credit programme, is a Master’s Degree (primarily by thesis) and may be awarded to participants who have successfully completed the core papers over three consecutive semesters full-time, or over a maximum of six semesters part-time.
The core papers are:
• Research Methodologies for Creative Performance [30 credits]
This course provides students with the academic skills necessary to engage with post-graduate study, familiarise themselves with the whakapapa of academic research, and investigate how research can be harnessed to explore contemporary ideas pertaining to the value and practice of creativity.
This paper is taught by Dr Michelle Johansson. Michelle is a Tongan mother, theatre-maker and educator. She serves as Kaiwhakahaere at Māia Centre for Social Justice and Education, the Creative Director of the Black Friars and Kāuru Kura | Director of Education at Ako Mātātupu: Teach First NZ. Michelle has had a long career in education, as a secondary school teacher; a lecturer and tutor at the Universities of Auckland and Melbourne, and as Head of Performing Arts at Manukau Institute of Technology. She currently serves on a number of boards of trustees, and is Chair of the Basement Theatre Trust.
• Decolonizing Creative Contexts [30 credits]
This course provides students with the opportunity to explore their own and others creative performance practices through a decolonised world view. Students will consider the cultural contexts of the hegemonic Western knowledge system, applying a critical lens to the selection of research methods for their creative kaupapa.
This paper is taught by Juanita Hepi, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Wai, Ngāpuhi, is a multidisciplinary storyteller exploring the intersections of race, class and gender through Indigenous storytelling. She holds a Masters of Māori and Indigenous Leadership, a Graduate Diploma of teaching and Learning and a Bachelor of Arts from Toi Whakaari, the NZ Drama School. Juanita has performed across Aotearoa and at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Produced and directed for the CSO, CMNZ and directed shows for The Court Theatre, Mahi Mahi Productions and Taki Rua. Juanita currently runs Te Whare Tapere, a Maori and Indigenous house of storytelling in Ōtautahi. She lectures at Toi Whakaari, the NZ Drama school and guest presents on a number of kaupapa from soil health, sovereignty, writing, and curatorial practice. Juanita has 3 tamariki, and they are all encouraged to be haututu too.
• Thesis: Creative Project [120 credits]
This course provides students with the opportunity to apply advanced research, critical and cultural skills, and knowledge to a creative project (thesis) to advance their area of focus. Students will attend a series of wānanga where they will participate in a collaborative environment through sharing, testing and critically reflecting, towards the development of a unique creative project. Students will be encouraged and supported to utilise novel or existing kaupapa which sit outside colonised practices and that can contribute to the cultural network of practices in Aotearoa, Te Moana Nui a Kiwa and worldwide.
This paper is taught by Bronwyn Bradley. A Pākehā New Zealander of Irish decent, Bronwyn had to develop her voice as the youngest of a large family and a future in performance seemed inevitable. Since training at Toi Whakaari in the early 90s, Bronwyn has had a wide ranging career as an actor working on stage, screen and as a voice artist. She has worked on most of the professional stages in Aotearoa in productions ranging from locally written and devised works, to large scale productions of classic plays. Bronwyn has also played a wide variety of roles on screen, from appearing as a regular cast member in many local dramas to roles in a range of international TV series and feature films. She has an extensive, practice-led knowledge of the screen and live performance sectors and broad industry networks.
Since 2012, Bronwyn has also worked as an educator, holding senior teaching and leadership roles at several of Aotearoa’s leading performing arts providers. With a special interest in contemporary pedagogies that speak to our location in Aotearoa, Bronwyn has successfully led the development and implementation of a number of new performing arts training programmes including, The Bachelor of Performing Arts (Pacific) at The Pacific Institute of Performing Arts: PIPA (2016), and the Masters of Creative Performance Practice at Toi Whakaari (2022).
Bronwyn is currently Discipline Lead: Post Graduate Studies, Programme Development Coordinator, and Senior Tutor in Screen Acting at Toi Whakaari.
Toi Whakaari encourages applications from people interested in (but not limited to) the following areas:
● Kaupapa Māori creative practice
● Cultural practice
● Acting Craft
● Performance Design / scenography
● Directing
● Production practices
● Writing for performance
● Arts Management
● Multimedia performance
● Collaborative practices
● Interdisciplinary creative practice
● New media
● Community Arts
● Creative Leadership
● Creative Education
Students will be admitted to this course of study via application and interview. All applicants will be considered by an approvals committee which consists of the course coordinator and up to four appropriate academic staff to be appointed annually by the Poukōkiri Mātauranga (Academic Director) or other designated senior academic leader. Applicants will be considered on the basis of eligibility for the programme, sufficient evidence of creative practice, appropriate area of focus, and the capacity of the kura to provide adequate supervision for their desired study. Toi Whakaari will seek to maintain transparency, providing feedback to all applicants throughout the process.
Entry requirements:
Applicants must meet the following conditions to be considered for entry:
Please Note:
If you are uncertain whether you meet the above requirements, we still encourage you to express your interest.
To Apply:
To apply for the programme, please submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) following the guidelines below:
Your Expression of Interest should include:
Interview:
This is an opportunity to further discuss the potential focus of your creative thesis project. Here are some areas to consider as discussion points for your interview:
Closing Dates for Applications:
For the August 2025 intake, the closing dates are:
International students: 26 May, 2025
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. We anticipate high demand for this programme - please get in touch soon if you are interested so we can start the conversation.
