On September 18th at the Vic Devonport Cinema in Auckland, Acting coach and WIFTNZ member Elena Stejko will be directing the staged reading of Ukrainian play Blood Calls and performing the leading role of a Ukrainian refugee who has found safety in New Zealand and works for the New Zealand Blood Service. Opposite her in the leading male role will be Peter Feeney, portraying a Ukrainian soldier serving on the front line.
Joining them will be Georgia Benton, Karlton Laing, Ruth Hyde, Tahi Mapp-Borren, Edward Clendon and Adele Pascoe—talented members of Actors Studio community, who have careers in theatre and on screen.
The play was written by the Ukrainian writer and filmmaker Mariia Starozhytska, who was forced to leave her home because of the war and now lives in New Zealand. It is a deeply human story about love, family, sacrifice and the invisible threads that continue to connect people across thousands of kilometres.
The evening will also include the new Ukrainian short film Soldier with an English-language voice-over performed by actors, live performances of Ukrainian songs, and a selection of traditional Ukrainian treats.
Every dollar from ticket sales will go towards the rehabilitation of Ukrainians wounded by the war, both soldiers and civilians. Everyone involved in creating this evening is volunteering their time and talent.
The troupe hopes the evening will help New Zealand audiences gain a deeper understanding of the realities of life in Ukraine today through theatre, film and music, while also making a small but meaningful contribution to those whose lives have been forever changed by the war.
EVENT DETAILS
DATE: September 18th 2026
TIME: 7.30pm
WHERE: The Devonport Vic Cinema, 48 Victoria Road, Auckland
Head HERE for tickets to this special event, and you'll find more information on their Facebook page HERE.
ACTORS STUDIO ELENA STEJKO
This term 4 is about the journey from SCRIPT TO SCREEN.
Every role begins with words on a page. The actor's task is to transform those words into a living, breathing human being. To move beyond memorisation and performance, and create work that feels truthful, specific, and alive on screen.
In every audition and every role, there is a process of discovery. Who is this character? What do they want? How do they move through the world? This term attendees will explore practical tools that help actors answer those questions with clarity and confidence.
Using the Michael Chekhov technique, actors will work with imagination, atmosphere, psychological gesture, and character development to create strong foundations for both auditions and screen performance.
Through discipline, technique, and creative exploration, actors will learn how to move from script to screen with greater confidence, authenticity, and precision.
At the end of the term, there will be an exclusive recording session with an industry leading casting director, after which each actor will receive a copy of their filmed scene.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Term 4 runs for 7 weeks starting on the week commencing 10th August. Classes run on Monday to Friday (one class per week according to your level)
MONDAY: 6.30pm-9.30pm – beginners and non actors from 10th August
TUESDAY: 6.30pm-9.30pm – intermediate 11th August
TUESDAY: Daytime 12.30pm-2.30pm – any level 11th August
WEDNESDAY: 6.30pm-9.30pm – advanced 12th August
THURSDAY: 4pm-5.30pm – 12-16 year olds 13th August
THURSDAY: 6.30pm-9.30pm – short film class 13th August
FRIDAY: 4.pm-6pm – online 14th August
FRIDAY: 6pm-8pm – self test and improvisation class 14th August
For all enquiries, please contact: actorsstudio@gmx.com