A few weeks ago when the cast was in the height of rehearsals, our very own Sam McIlroy took some wonderful portraits of our performers. You can meet them all here.

Mackenzie Gardner: Reintroducing Mackenzie Gardner! Our star from the first season of The Barden Party will be appearing in Much Ado About Nothing in the lead role of Beatrice as well as one of Don John’s friends, Conrade.

Mackenzie is an О̄tautahi Christchurch-based performing artist, currently studying at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA). The Whakatū Nelson-born performer has been a part of Nelson’s theatre scene from a very young age, performing with companies such as Nelson Musical Theatre, Nelson Youth Theatre and The Barden Party. Mackenzie found her passion for musical theatre when she enrolled for Soundstage, a local performing arts school, in 2009 and trained there until 2021 where she completed many musical theatre exams through Trinity College, London.

Her adoration for Shakespeare was discovered after successfully competing in the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival in which she walked away with two awards in 2019. She has also attended summer school intensives specialising in musical theatre such as the Christchurch International Musical Theatre Summer School (2017, 2018, 2020) and an intensive at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Mackenzie has travelled far and wide performing including a limited run of Grease at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in which she starred as Rizzo (2019), and toured New Zealand and the USA with The Barden Party’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream playing as Helena, Starveling, First Fairy and an understudy for Snug (2021-2022).
Mackenzie is incredibly excited to return to The Barden Party for another hit season, spreading love around the country via Shakespeare, shenanigans and laughter.

Adam Stewart: Adam William Stewart (he/they) is a performing artist born and raised in Whakatū Nelson, New Zealand.

Now based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, they are currently in the second year of study at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA). They are experienced in a plethora of performance genres including:

Shakespeare, Musical Theatre, European clown and self-devised projects. Adam found his ambition for performance after being sent to Nationals for the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival for two consecutive years as both an actor and director while at secondary school.

Adam didn't find their passion for musical theatre however until 2017 with Richard Carruthers' Nelson Youth Theatre Company; playing Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera. He then went on to play numerous roles over the years and went onto represent the company at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018 and 2019.

He also worked on multiple performance intensives with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in acting and musical theatre. Adam hopes to one day go on to direct, produce, devise and write his own work at a professional level and provide inclusive, empowering and thrilling stories to the community in Aotearoa New Zealand and all over the world.

Sam McIlroy: Welcome to Sam who will be taking on the lead role of Benedick, along with that of Martonio.

Sam is an experienced actor, musician and theatrical jack-of-all-trades, having played a variety of different roles over the years - both onstage and behind the curtain. He has practised in a wide range of theatrical styles throughout his career with a number of different companies, playing roles including Mark in RENT (Off Broadway Performing Arts, 2015), Banquo in Macbeth (Theatre Royal Nelson, 2017), Sky in Mamma Mia (Nelson Musical Theatre, 2017), playing with improv troupes, and multiple productions of Shakespearean plays.

Sam could not be more excited to be returning to join the cast for Much Ado About Nothing!

Julia Guthrey: We are so proud to have this incredible performer on the Barden Party crew playing Leonata and the fearsome head of the Neighbourhood Watch - Dogberry.

Julia Guthrey is a seasoned professional who brings a slew of experience to the cast. She graduated from NASDA in Christchurch, with a BA in Musical Theatre in 2006 and completed her Master’s in Physical and Experimental Theatre at RADA's MA Theatre Lab in London in 2015.

She has enjoyed performing in many shows and tours in NZ and the UK. Her performance highlights include Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors (Pop-up Globe in Auckland and Sydney), Saturday Night Fever, Grease (Ben McDonald Tours) Cats, Chicago (Showbiz), Ship of Fools (A Different Light), Rapunzel, Guys 'n' Dolls (The Court Theatre), The Great Storm of 1868 (Oamaru Living History) The Merry Wives Windsor (UK Outdoor Shakespeare Tours). Julia also works as a choreographer, singing coach and acting teacher.

So we are just a little bit lucky to have her. Audiences are in for a treat!

Oliver Howlett: The Barden Party is excited to introduce the wonderful, Oliver Howlett! Oliver is an accomplished actor and multi-instrumentalist who is one of the actors playing the quick-witted bachelor, Benedick and the gullible Martonio (you may not recognise this character from the play because it’s a character only seen in our version!).

Oliver was born in the Waikato and raised in Hawkes Bay where he found a love for music and performing. He completed his arts training at NASDA in Ōtautahi before spending time in Wellington performing in the 2021 NZ Fringe Festival. Oliver has returned to Ōtautahi to continue pursuing his career in the arts before one day moving his career overseas.

His recent credits include Glory Day (Semicolon Productions - NZ Premiere), Potluck (NZ Fringe), Holiday Inn (NASDA), Urinetown (NASDA), 42nd Street (NASDA), Lovin’ It (NASDA), Ars Acoustica (Free Theatre).

Oliver also traveled to London to perform and train at The Globe Theatre in 2018 as a part of the New Zealand Young Shakespeare Company.

His first endeavour in performing was actually a 15 minute scene from Much Ado About Nothing for SGCNZ in Year 11, so he’s incredibly exciting to revisit this play so many years later with such an incredible group of creatives around him. And you may also see him in a new wintery Barden Party offering that we’ll announce very soon, so stay tuned! And you can see him around the country this summer performing with his music duo @thelazyonesmusic

He will make you laugh, he will make you cry and he’ll melt you with his gorgeous voice so book to see him in your garden!

Wiremu Tuhiwai: Introducing the soul of The Barden Party - Wiremu Tuhiwai!

Woody is Hastings born and raised but now lives in Wellington which he calls his home away from home.

He has had a happy work-life at Trade Me for the past 9 years which he balances with his artistic endeavours, ranging from TV and film, his first love Improv and, of course, The Barden Party!

Woody joined the crew last season as Bottom and Egeus - joining our crazy tour across Aotearoa and the United States and making sure no one got lost along the way.

Now he returns for our summer Barden Party season as the other performer playing Don Pedro and Don John for Much Ado About Nothing. And we are so glad to have him back!

Molly Wilkin: Introducing our lovely Molly Wilkin playing Hero and the drunken troublemaker Borachio!

This talented actress with the voice of an angel was in season one of The Barden Party where joined the Barden crew on our incredible tour of the US as our vegan-in-chief across 6 states! She lit up our lives with her wonderful spirit and joie de vivre. We are so glad she is back for Much Ado About Nothing!

Molly has been involved in the theatre scene from a young age, as well as competing and making it all the way to the New Zealand One Act Play National Finals in 2017. In 2019 she performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

We think her voice is pure magic, along with her sweet ukulele skills and her naturalistic acting chops are well beyond her years. The talent oozes from this one. Molly has just moved to Christchurch at the start of 2022 and is so excited to work with some of the amazing actors that have been cast for season 2 of The Barden Party and she has recently signed with HVR Acting Management.

Scott Sumby: Scott is back for his second Barden Party season and this time he is one of the actors playing Don Pedro and Don John, the princes.

These guys are two polar opposite brothers with a tumultuous relationship. He’s playing both brothers in one production?! How will he do that? Book us to find out! Scott is an actor and improviser who has worked with several theatre groups and stand up comedy collectives in the South Island.

Known for his precise comedic timing and having performed in countless scripted theatre, comedy and improv productions over the past decade, Scott is most recognised for his roles of Nick Bottom and Egeus (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Barden Party 2021-22), Dromio of Syracuse (The Comedy of Errors, NSS 2021), Paris and Prince (Romeo and Juliet, NSS 2020), Woody (The Pink Hammer, NRT 2021) and his many roles in the long-running shows of The People’s Republic of Improv at Ghost Light Theatre.

Scott returns to The Barden Party after an intensive, invigorating 50 shows of A Midsummer Night’s Dream across Aotearoa and a month of performing and touring in the United States. We're so happy to have this funny fellow back with us once again. And he also gives great hugs.

Caleb James: Caleb is our Host Liaison and one of the actors playing the complicated and lovesick Claudio and the hilarious Verges.

Caleb (He/Him) is an Auckland based actor who moved to Christchurch after being cast in The Barden Party.

His background in acting has heavily involved performing Shakespeare. At Rangitoto College he performed in the senior Shakespeare productions All’s Well That Ends Well” as Lavatch in 2014, Antony and Cleopatra as Enobarbus in 2015, and in 2016, Caleb Played the titular role in Titus Andronicus where he received the iTicket Showdown Award for Best Male Actor in a leading role in a play.

The same year Caleb was chosen as one of 24 performers to go to London and perform “The Taming of the Shrew” on the Globe Theatre stage. Caleb is also heavily involved in musical theatre. Most notably performing in “Beauty and the Beast” as The Beast in 2016, “We Will Rock You” as Brit in 2019, “Urinetown” as Bobby Strong in 2021 and was cast as Boq in the 2022 production of Wicked at the Skycity Theatre before the show was canceled due to Covid. In 2019 Caleb was also selected to perform in “Fame” as Nick in New York as a member of Broadway Dreams.

Caleb could not be more excited about the opportunity to bring his two biggest passions together for this incredible show. Caleb’s passionate, hilarious and masterful performance is not to be missed!

Chelsea Kelly: Chelsea is an accomplished performer who has been involved in performing arts across New Zealand for many years. She has loved theatre from a young age and decided to enhance her passion by studying performing arts at The National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (NASDA). Chelsea is in her final year at NASDA where she has developed her skills in acting, singing and dancing. She is proud to take these skills into her professional career.

Chelsea feels very grateful to have been involved in tours across NZ and Australia while studying which she believes has helped shape her career. She has performed in theatres all across New Zealand and Australia through tours of Shrek The Musical and Cat in The Hat. Chelsea is also joining the Shrek tour to Dubai in early 2023.

Chelsea’s recent theatre credits include: Shrek The Musical ( NZ National Tour ) ; Cat in the Hat (NZ and Australia Tour) ; Riverside Drive ( National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts); The Wedding Singer (National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts) ; Tiny Thunders (National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts); State Highway 48 ( North Island Tour) and later this year Grease (Court Theatre).

Chelsea is extremely excited to be involved in Much Ado About Nothing with The Barden Party through the season of 2022/2023. She played Beatrice in her final year of high school and is looking forward to bringing the character to life again across New Zealand.

Lucia Evans: Lucia is a passionate, young actress who is very excited to start her career in the performing arts.

Though she is only 18, Lucia has many years of training and experience in the Nelson theatre Scene.

At Soundstage, a local school of professional music and performing arts education, Lucia developed her passion for music, dance and drama, and has recently celebrated her 13th and final year as a student there. Through Trinity College of London, Lucia has achieved grades 1-7 in Musical Theatre, all with merits and distinctions.

She has also competed in the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival numerous times, winning first place 15-minute scene in 2020, and directing her own 15-minute scene in 2021. She was also a performing arts captain at her high school in 2022.

Lucia has recently been involved with various Nelson Musical Theatre (NMT) productions, most recently being both the choreographer and a featured performer in A Very Gay Cabaret (2022) and a featured performer in Victors, Victims and Villains (2022).

Next year, Lucia is moving to Christchurch to pursue her passion at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (NASDA).

Outside of musical theatre and Shakespeare, Lucia loves to sing jazz, and recently travelled to Wellington with her school jazz band to compete in WeBo, in which they won gold.

Lucia is beyond thrilled to be a part of The Barden Party!