The Vocal Development Series
presented by Little Joke Productions
The Vocal Development Series is an initiative designed to create well-rounded vocal training opportunities for Musical Theatre performers in New Zealand. Each event is themed around the tutors presenting at the events and their particular specialities.
THE VOCAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES | AUGUST 2026 AUCKLAND & CHRISTCHURCH
Join us for a two-day vocal and performance training event featuring workshops led by Rebecca McFadzien, Charlotte West, and Jeremy Hinman.
As casting increasingly moves online, being confident with recording yourself is essential. Putting together a good self-tape and feeling confident in the voiceover booth are practical, transferable, and empowering skills a singer can add to their toolkit. This workshop will get you started on the road to self-taping and recording yourself like a pro.
Learn to set up a professional space at home, get good quality sound on a budget, and stop re-filming takes because you're just winging it. Explore how your singing technique translates to mic work, stop feeling overwhelmed when you hear yourself back, get comfy reading all kinds of copy, and, across the board, learn how to work collaboratively with creative and production teams.
Guided by our tutors with current and relevant local industry experience, you’ll leave with practical checklists, gear recommendations at every price point, and the confidence to begin putting together great recorded work.
PRICING
The cost of this event is $350.00, including GST.
Payment plans are available. Please use the code PAYPLANTVDS at checkout to reserve your spot for a 25% percent deposit. We will email you to arrange a payment plan that works for you after we have received your order.
If the full price is a barrier for you, please email us to discuss your situation. We love what we are creating and want all people who are passionate about musical theatre to be able to be there.
ABOUT THE EVENT
In this event, there will be group workshops led individually by each tutor, covering various topics including self tapes, voiceover, how to work well with a creative team, warming up, audition technique and more - all delivered from the perspective and experience of these skilled local industry professionals.
Q&A time will be held at the end of each day.
MASTERCLASS SPOTS
There will be Masterclass spots available with a limited number of participants, which involves 1–1 tutoring in front of and observed by the group. These spots will be randomly selected to make access to this opportunity as fair as possible.
Selection will be 6 weeks before the event, and there will be an extra cost of $150 on top of the base event ticket. Selected participants will be notified and invoiced by email. If you would like to be in the draw for a spot, please check the appropriate box at checkout.
AGE POLICY
All our events are unsupervised, adult-oriented environments for ages 14+
CANCELLATION POLICY
In the unlikely event that any of our presenters are unable to attend, all efforts will be made to secure a suitable substitute presenter, and the event will proceed as planned. If an appropriate and comparable replacement presenter cannot be found, a full refund will be given to all ticket holders.
AUCKLAND | Sat 1st & Sun 2nd AUGUST 9:30 am - 5:30 Location: Vault at Q Theatre, 305 Queen Street, Auckland Central
CHRISTCHURCH | Sat 8th & Sun 9th AUGUST 9:30 am - 5:30 Location: The Chamber at The Piano 156 Armagh Street, Christchurch Central City
REBECCA MCFADZIEN Rebecca was born just off-Broadway in New York City and has been performing ever since. She holds a degree in Performing and Screen Arts (Acting) and has worked professionally in the screen industry for over 17 years across Los Angeles and Auckland.
Her screen credits include a recurring role on Shortland Street, as well as lead roles in feature films, television series, short films, and commercials. She’s also a musical theatre kid at heart, and recently has been delving back into it having played Julia (Alternate) in Centrestage Theatre’s production of The Wedding Singer musical last year. Rebecca runs a self-tape and acting coaching business, supporting actors to build confidence on camera and deliver authentic performances.
In these TVDS workshops, Rebecca will guide us in translating the storytelling of musical theatre to screen—while keeping its unique energy and magic intact!
CHARLOTTE WEST is a well-known voice-over artist, vocal coach, performer and producer. She's been a station voice for TVNZ channels since 2014, as well as working with numerous clients across TV, radio, and online platforms. As a performer, Charlotte works as a commercial singer on jingles, corporate bookings, in musical theatre productions, and as a touring vocalist with Operatunity. With a passion for empowering vocalists and a wealth of experience in vocal coaching, Charlotte West is a sought-after expert in her field. A graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (NASDA), Charlotte further honed her performance skills with Estill Voice Training and the Meisner Technique. She provides comprehensive guidance to her students in her specialist topics of musical theatre, contemporary voice, and voiceover, with a truly equal focus on storytelling and vocal function/health.
JEREMY HINMAN is an Ōtautahi-based performer, director, choreographer and producer. He recently directed and choreographed the inaugural production for TheatreWise, Bring It On, and frequently teaches his open adult theatre jazz classes around the country. Other recent direction credits include Shrek The Musical touring Australia, the Court Theatre Youth Company’s production of Six Characters In Search Of An Author and Chess The Musical at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre. He was one of the founding members of Blackboard Theatre Collective, for whom he directed and produced many projects, and is the creator of cabaret drag trio Les Femmes. He is a 2011 graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) and a proud member of Actors’ Equity. Jeremy has a passion for sharing his knowledge and experience with young people, having directed and choreographed five productions for Diocesan School for Girls in Tāmaki Makaurau, directed Finding Nemo Jnr for StageAntics Summer Pilot Program and directed/choreographed pilots for Junior Theatre Festival NZ for several years.