Hester regularly facilitates acting and performance classes for adults and young persons.
Get in touch if you would like more information or to inquire around private tutoring, upcoming sessions, or availability.
‘‘King Lear’s Fool is reimagined in sequins and sunglasses, a floozy for the ages in a performance from Hester Ullyart that should not be missed by any fan of Shakespeare.’’
NZ Herald, 2023
ANDI CROWN PHOTOGRAPHY, 2024
Hester Ullyart is an award winning performance artist and maker.
Born in Hull, UK, she trained in Acting at the Royal Academy of Art and is currently based in Aotearoa NZ. Hester is a published poet and founder/host of Common Ground Spoken Word Sessions, a monthly event in Lyttelton / Ōhinehou.
Hester is currently working on an album of original songs, THE ALL CLEAR. Following a year of successful live perfomances, a filmed and recorded live album is currently in development with grateful thanks to CNZ for their support in bringing this to life.
Previous original works include award winning digital theatre poetry film I AM ALL THE ROOMS OF THE HOUSE (RADA/HOME MCR), spoken word music performance piece NOTES ON A MIGRATION (TINY FEST), and multi-media solo plays PARAGON DREAMS, and THE BALLAD OF PARAGON STATION (RADA FEST/HULL TRUCK/TOURING).
Hester works for hire in voice and drama. Enquiries may contact Karen Kay Management kk@actors.co.nz
RECENT AND CURRENT PROJECTS 2025
HESTER IDA AND THE MUSIC - SUCCESSFUL CNZ GRANT!
In May 2025 a successful application was made to CNZ regarding upcoming album ‘The All Clear’. Filming and recording is underway and the group look forward to getting it out into the world soon. Ngā mihi CNZ!
DIRECTING - COURT YOUTH THEATRE, DEVISING PROJECT ‘IT HAPPENED ON A TUESDAY’
A brand new apocalypse comedy for our times. Created by the Court Youth Theatre Co. and Hester Ullyart.
TWELFTH NIGHT, COURT THEATRE CHRISTCHURCH
Actor and Music Composer. Feste in Twelfth Night. 2025.
COMMON GROUND KĀ TŪKA TOIKUPU SPOKEN WORD SESSIONS
#22 Feat. Annabel Wilson, Ray Shipley, Nathaniel Herz Jardine
#21 Feat. Jordan Hamel, Ben Brown, Solomona Davis
#20 Feat. Nod Ghosh, Mike Moroney, Tarn Wright
VOICE OF ‘UNA, THE SONG BIRD’ - PATH OF EXILE 2 - Grinding Gear Games
HESTER IDA AND THE MUSIC PRESENT: THE ALL / CLEAR - TINY FEST, TŪRANGA Library, Ōtautahi Christchurch
photo by KITA FILMS
A DOLLS HOUSE October 9- November 12, 2024 directed by Melanie Luckman
ACTING - KRISTINE LINDE in A DOLL’S HOUSE at The Court Theatre, Christchurch
THE DEADBEAT OPERA September 2024
Hester recently appeared as MACHEATH in FREE THEATRE Christchurch’s THE DEADBEAT OPERA, a contemporary piece of music theatre based on Bertolt Brecht’s The Beggars Opera and John Gay’s The Threpenny Opera
HESTER IDA AND THE MUSIC - various dates May-November 2024 and ongoing including @03Sessions, Roadhouse Concerts and Tiny Fest 2024. Hester’s music has been debuting in Ōtautahi Christchurch this year. For up to date events follow her on instagram at @hester_ida_music and on her facebook page /hesterullyart
KING LEAR, AUCKLAND THEATRE COMPANY
https://www.atc.co.nz/auckland-theatre-company/2023/king-lear/
“Hester Ullyart as the Fool, is electric. She riffs of Hurst’s sucker of a Lear, playing the Fool as a soulful, yearning floozy – but with bite to match her bark. “ STUFF NZ
“Hester Ullyart maintains a perfect gatekeeper of otherworldly wisdom and floozie turned cabaret singer, as his admonishing sage. Also, her singing is just great..”
Theatreview NZ, 2023
