My Name is Melanie Coddington. I am a drama teacher, actress, singer and creative in every sense of the word. Two to three times a year I also take on the role as stage manager and or production manager for shows that we stage.
Much of my work developed from Amateur theater and I eventually worked my way to Professional Theater and Television and film. It’s been a whirlwind and I’ve loved every minute of it.
My training in acting stems from a two year course with The Hagley Theater Company in Christchurch New Zealand to studying Drama with the University of Canterbury. I also have a degree in Education and a Teaching Diploma.
I have worked for many years in dinner theater as an actress as well as developed my own comedy trio called The Luna Chicks. We performed in many bars and spaces for a variety of audiences.
I have worked as a screen actress in television roles and in commercials in my home country New Zealand. And at this time I also worked as a drama and music teacher for children.
Fast-forward I have worked as an actress/singer on stage in professional productions such as Godspell, Mac n Mabel, The Wizard of Oz and many, many productions geared for children such as Cinderella, Peter Pan, Pinnochio etc.
I have been a Creative Arts and Performance Lecturer where we developed the Bachelor Course In Performance with The Institute of Technology and South Seas Film and TV School In Auckland.
My husband David Coddington is a well known and respected Theater director and has directed many productions for over 40 years. His expertise, skills and guidance are also included throughout this theater blog.
I thank you for checking us out and hope you come back many times for guidance and inspiration in regard to the performing arts and the theater in general.
The Real Theatre Company
The Real Theater Company is our own theatre company which operates from Napier New Zealand. We aim to produce three shows per year. We feature plays, musical theater and shows for children. As of 2019 we have staged ‘The Death and the Maiden‘ and for children ‘Bad Jelly the Witch’ by Spike Milligan. These were our maiden shows in Napier, but we have staged the same shows in Auckland before.
