About

Sharyn Hill

Sharyn Hill has enjoyed teaching the Performing Arts since 1980. Sharyn completed her Associate Performers, Associate Teachers and Licentiate Performers with the Australian Guild of Music and Speech; then completed her Diploma of Education followed by the Bachelor of Education majoring in English Literature and Drama. In 2014 Sharyn completed her Masters of Education, researching the importance of the arts in transforming learning for middle year students. Sharyn has directed THE PIED PIPER and THE GREAT SOUTH LAND, JOSEPH and GREASE at Xavier High; directed ABIGAIL’S COVEN with The Advanced Acting class, PROPERTY OF THE CLAN by Nick Enright, DARK SECRETS and SKIN DEEP by Victorian Education Centre, Adapted version of DARK STORIES by Debra Oswald and an array of original self-devised projects. As director of the Performing Arts School, Sharyn facilitates a variety of programmes (with her team of teachers) from: theatre/acting classes, musical theatre classes, vocal ensemble classes, professional development for teachers, individual preparation for exams with the Trinity Guild, Corporate training in communications, community festival involvement, annual theatre productions at Albury Entertainment Centre and the CUBE - Wodonga. From 2013 -2015 Sharyn was in a creative arts partnership with the Murray Conservatorium and developed a drama- music program for schools involving year 5 and 6. Along with her team of teaching artists the school searches for a variety of platforms for performance such as Art Space – Wodonga and MAMA – Albury Art Gallery. Currently she is on the educational steering committees for Australian Theatre for Young People ATYP and Sydney Theatre Company STC, as a regional voice for our young people. She has also been teaching HSC drama since 2013. She continually strives to evolve the school and the programs so students can tap into their true potential, develop their skills and be inspired to create, connect and innovate throughout their personal lives.

Nikki Strauss

has been performing locally for the since 2001, and has been working as a vocal coach since 2005.
Classically trained, then developing a love for Acapella and Vocal ensembles before moving to jazz, blues, pop and musical theatre. Niki loves teaching the diversity a voice can achieve and loves to explore various styles, challenging her students and pushing them past their comfort zones.
You may have seen her in past years behind the scenes at Xavier High schools’ production of Grease as vocal director, on stage at both Wodonga and Albury Christmas carols, singing at a few local bars, or on stage in the past year for Chicago, Cats and Kinky Boots 2019, where she played Nicola and was vocal director. In 2020 she was to return to the stage in the role of Killer Queen in We Will Rock You and be the vocal director but COVID had other ideas, we hope to see Niki on the stage in 2021 as Killer Queen. Niki is vocal coach for BYTE sized production of Singing in the Rain and for Trinity College production of Mary Poppins.
Niki has an immense love of all things voice, and most of all loves to share her skills to develop young voices into confident performers. Niki is looking forward working with Junior Glee club and the Senior Vocal Ensemble. She is delighted to be part of the artistic teaching team for Sharyn Hill school of Performing Arts and Creative Expression S.P.A.C.E

Tara Suidgeest

is a qualified Drama and English teacher, born and raised in Albury. She had been teaching in Griffith over the past 4 years and was involved in many musicals including 'Wicked', 'Legally Blonde', 'The Addams Family' and 'We Will Rock You' in both directorial and stage-managing roles. Her experience includes 11 years of eisteddfods, performances and playbuilding with Sharyn Hill School of Performing Arts and Creative Expression S.P.A.C.E and she is excited to be returning home, to her family and to the school. Tara loves her dogs and is passionate about the arts.

Fenn Dawson

After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Acting at the University of Ballarat in 2015, Fenn has gone on to train further in TV & Film while working in the industry on projects such as The Doctor Blake Murder Mysteries and The Elephant in the Room an NDIS Musical. Whilst studying at University Fenn worked with some of Australia's leading teachers including Paul Hampton, Julianne Eveleigh, Kim Durban and Ross Hall. During Fenn's time studying he performed in a wide range of theatre productions including Oh What a Lovely War, Antony and Cleopatra and the premiere of Ebbing Tide.
Fenn loves sharing his passion for acting and theatre with others and has greatly enjoyed running workshops with VCE Drama students at multiple schools in Melbourne and Regional Victoria since completing his degree. Fenn has been able to share his knowledge and skills with them through their school production programs by facilitating acting skill sessions on developing accents, voice and physicality. Fenn looks forward to continuing to build on the skills he has learnt and helping to enable the next generation of performers to gain confidence and to develop their own artistry. He is grateful to be back in the North East where he had his first taste of the theatre in the Albury- Wodonga area including roles in Spamalot in 2011 and The Vicar of Dibley in 2012. Fenn is excited to be working with the young aspiring theatre makers at the Sharyn Hill School of Performing Arts and Creative Expression S.P.A.C.E

Chantelle Hutchins

resident choreographer - has been dancing since the age of 3 with experience in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, song & dance, acrobatics, cheerleading and highland dancing, as well as being a dance teacher for almost twenty years. She has done ten years of WAG gymnastics with 16 years of coaching experience. She was the founder/creator of Hume Dance School which was the largest regional dance school in country NSW/Victoria with almost 500 students. Chantelle has received many local and National Awards for her own dancing as well as dances she has choreographed. Chantelle had her debut theatre performance as “Demeter” in Cats (2018) and was a part of the Mamma Mia ensemble/dancers (2019). This year she is the Choreographer for We Will Rock You – coming in 2021.
Chantelle is excited to be part of the artistic teaching team for Sharyn Hill school of Performing Arts and Creative Expression S.P.A.C.E

Helen Ryan

is a primary school educator with over 30 years’ experience whose passion is working in the Arts. She enjoys working with the students encouraging them to develop their confidence, creative talents and collaboration skills. Helen believes every day is a day for learning, laughing, creating and growing! She has been with Sharyn Hill School of Performing Arts and Creative Expression S.P.A.C.E for the past 9 years sharing her experience and theatre making skills with the primary school students. Helen has a Bachelor of Education and a Postgraduate Diploma of Educational Studies
"Creativity is the key to success in the future, and primary education is where teachers can bring creativity in children at that level." A Kalam

Victoria Ellis

Victoria Ellis has been passionate about drama all her life; she would consider herself a drama tragic. Begging her mother to be allowed to do acting classes when she was a child, Victoria started private lessons with Sharyn Hill School of Performing Arts and Creative expression (S.P.A.C.E.) at six years of age.
During her time at the school Victoria studied and presented for exams with the Australian Guild of Speech and Drama, receiving excellent results. She also competed successfully at many local Eisteddfods, winning the Aggregate Championship for particular age groups, and then finally moved in the direction of teaching drama with young people. Victoria has recently completed her Bachelor of Journalism at the University of Wollongong and is now pursuing a Masters of Teaching. Victoria will be working with the primary and secondary students of the school.
Victoria can’t wait to get back in the classroom and is excited to see what the next generation of students bring to the stage!