Drama Train - Tutors, acting technique, acting career, acting coaches, acting for kids, acting techniques, acting training, drama lessons, acting instruction, Theater, tv acting, becoming an actor, auditions, acting schools, drama classes, acting courses, teaching dram

DramaTrain Coaches

DramaTrain coaches are practising stage and screen professionals with many years experience as actors, screenwriters, directors and producers and a commitment to and love of teaching. At DramaTrain we believe -

"Those who can do... And in their spare time - they teach it to others!"

Because we value YOUR safety and well-being, all our tutors have had a full Police Records check, Reference check and First Aid training.

Adam Fresco

Acting and Directing Coach

Founder and Director of DramaTrain (to read all about it - click here) Adam worked in professional British Theatre as an actor, director, writer, producer and drama teacher before being appointed Director of the ITV Television Workshop where he worked ten years training young people aged 5 to 26 in the skills required to audition, act and produce for film and television. Members of the Television Workshop were cast in a wide variety of film, TV and theatre productions – including the Harry Potter movies, Hot Fuzz, Penelope, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and TV series Little Britain, Rocket Man and Casualty amongst many others. Whilst at ITV, Adam wrote and directed several children’s TV shows, documentaries and short films and continued to write, direct, act and produce for theatre and stand-up comedy. For more on Adam at ITV Television - click here.

In 2007 Adam relocated to New Zealand and was appointed Course Director for Auckland based South Seas Film and Television School, where he worked for nearly three years as Director of the Film and Television production course, writing, directing and producing short films (including the Kodak NZ Award Winning short war film A Cold Beer). Adam continues to teach acting and directing and to write, produce and perform for theatre, film, television and stand-up comedy.

Dennis Brooks

Screenwriting Coach

Dennis holds a BA in English Literature from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. During his four years of study he performed in more than 30 stage plays. After Tufts he spent a year in New York acting and writing plays, before moving to Los Angeles, California to attend UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and TV, where he graduated with an MFA in Playwriting. At UCLA he played one of the lead roles in director Luis Meza’s feature film, Staccato Purr. In 2004 Dennis made his play Goodnight Joseph Parker into a feature film starring Paul Sorvino, Debi Mazar and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Dennis has also written screenplays for The Organ Donor and US television comedy shows: House of Buggin and The Sissy Show. Dennis has also been a freelance screenwriting instructor, a film competition judge and a panelist at the Global Entertainment and Media Summit. Having moved to New Zealand from the USA in 2007, Dennis is currently Head of Drama Directing and Screenwriting at Auckland’s South Seas Film and Television School.

Melissa Breckon

Dance and Choreography Coach

Melissa holds a Bachelor's Degree in Dance and is an experienced dancer, dance teacher and choreographer. She has studied and taught a wide range of dance, from Ballet and Jazz to Hip-Hop and Tap and she has taught dance for a variety of Auckland schools, community projects and dance academys.

In addition to her dance performance and teaching experience, Melissa is a successful model and cheerleader. Melissa has featured as one of Auckland's Skycity Cheerleaders and as a member of the renowned Hoochy Kootchy Girls Burlesque troupe. Her acting experience has included appearances in TV series Spartacus and Outrageous Fortune and in major Television commercials for the likes of Vodafone and Toyota.

Taimi Allan

Acting Coach

Taimi is a Titirangi local, and a seasoned performer, experienced in professional Theatre, Film, Television and Voice-Over work. As well as appearing in and being a regular guest judge of Theatre Sports™, she was to-ounder of Take The Couch Theatre Company in Australia.

A trained Jazz Vocalist, Taimi studied Drama Performance at Flinders University in South Australia; taught acting at South Australian Casting and enjoyed many Theatre, Film and TV roles; including commercials, voice-overs and character roles on the popular series McLeods Daughters as well as the AFTA award-winning feature film Life Story.