Chris Lockley - President

Chris' love for theatre started as a child, being taken to see shows like "My Fair Lady" and "The Mikado" at Riverlea Theatre in the late 1990's. After university, he felt the call of the limelight and auditioned for Playbox's "A Comedy of Errors" in 2016. He has gone on to perform in roles such as Captain Hook and Victor Frankenstein - and can even occasionally be caught singing in a Christmas Show.

Chris is enthusiastic to help carry on the Playbox legacy.

Graham Pollard - Vice -President

My fondest childhood memories are of being in a little UK theatre where my Dad was either in or directing everything. I made my stage debut beside him when I was 6 in A Christmas Carol (well over a century after Dickens wrote it!) and at age 10 I was a mean, nasty King Herod who got booed off by the teachers and infants at school! Great fun!

In New Zealand I have been part of theatre companies in Taupo, Dargaville, Hamilton and Te Awamutu. I have been honoured to be trusted with the premiers of One Hill of a Fight and No Dinner For Sinners (first NZ performance). I first appeared at the Riverlea in 2016 as another baddie in BullshotCrummond followed by A Comedy of Errors. In some shows I have developed the art of acting in small corners of the stage. Other Playbox credits include Peter Pan, Frankenstein, The BFG, Sherlock Holmes - The Baker Street Irregulars(Moriarty, yet another baddie!), and Geezers. As well as being onstage, I am interested in directing more and writing more, and picking up odd – sometimes very odd – screen roles. Professionally I am represented by The Human Agency in Auckland [quick plug there – where’s my commission?].

Lee Owens - Treasurer

Lee has been part of the Riverlea community since the early 1990s, contributing in a wide range of roles over the years for Hamilton Playbox, HMT and the Riverlea Board. She has been an active member of the Playbox Committee for over 15 years, and in that time has taken on almost every role a production can offer, onstage and behind the scenes.

Lee values the strong sense of community within Playbox and is proud to contribute to a group of passionate people dedicated to creating great entertainment.

Hugh Field - Secretary

My involvement in theatre goes back to appearing in various school productions but has been fostered in more recent years as my eldest daughter has wanted be involved.  I’ve played a Dame in pantomime in the UK and more recently an eccentric professor in “Get Smart” at Riverlea.  I’ve also helped on sets for the MusikMakers junior shows “Annie” and “Madagascar” and was the Chief Mech on “Alice in Wonderland” and Playbox’s “Move over Mrs Markham”.  I’ve had a go at Stage Management and will be trying my hand at producing at 2022.  Whilst the backstage tasks are far less stress than learning lines, nothing beats the thrill of hearing a live audience laugh at a line you just delivered.

Mark Perry - Committee

In 1991 Mark was dragged along to Riverlea by a work colleague were he started out as a stagehand for "Stepping Out". Since then he has been involved with many aspects of theatre (lighting design and operation, sound design and operation, props, stage manager, bar manager, set construction, etc) in productions too numerous to count. It is not unusual for him to be somehow involved in most (if not all) productions at Riverlea Theatre.

He was president of Hamilton Playbox from 2008 to 2010. Mark designed and maintains the Hamilton Playbox website and has a keen interest in the history of the society.

For the crime of being too involved in theatre he was awarded a Life Membership to Hamilton Playbox in 1999 and in 2012 was nominated (by Musikmakers) and awarded a Merit Award from Musical Theatre New Zealand (MTNZ). In 2014 Mark was awarded a Life Membership to Musikmakers and in 2017 received a Hamilton City Merit Award for services to theatre.

Jayden Watkins - Committee

My journey in Theatre started back in 2016 at Kensington St Theatre in Putaruru.  Since then I have had a love for all forms of art whether it was Performing Arts or Fine Arts.  Since my involvement with theatre I believe that performing arts is one of the best ways to help today's youth grow in basic life skills, like confidence and ettiquette, amongst many other life skills.  Being the youngest member on the Hamilton Playbox Committee I hope to bring new ideas and perspectives with me.

Ron Dalton - Committee

35 years ago I finally plucked up the courage to audition for my first show ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ It was love at first sight with theatre. Since then I have gone on to perform in numerous productions in Masterton, Thames and Hamilton both on stage and behind the scenes as well as participating in numerous Theatrefest productions with a notable achievement of being in an ensemble cast that won the 2017 overall best production. Recent on stage performances have been Calendar Girls, The Full Monty, Noises Off, Directing and performing in ‘The Diaries of Adam and Eve’ and Directing ‘Bullshot Crummond’.

Arthur Van Resseghem - Committee

My involvement with Riverlea began when my daughter expressed a desire to participate in acting classes. After exploring various options in Hamilton, I discovered Stagecraft, which appeared to be an ideal fit for her. I would regularly pick her up from Stagecraft and inquire about her experience. She would share her activities with me, and I would remark that acting seemed straightforward, as it merely involved pretending, despite my own lack of acting experience.

When my daughter informed me about an audition opportunity for a show, I realized it was an opportune moment to support my assertion. Consequently, I auditioned, secured a role, and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience ever since. Since 2023, I have participated in four Playbox productions. I firmly believe that creativity and the arts constitute a vital aspect of humanity that is frequently under appreciated.

Lara Skinner - Committee

I’ve always had a love for acting, and after studying theatre at university I recently performed in my first Hamilton Playbox production, Allo Allo 2. I’ve just joined the committee and am excited to be involved and looking forward to future productions.

Sateva Marx - Committee

Coming soon.....