Meet the Team

Karin Clifford Director

Karin is the founder and Director of Kids Up Front Drama Academy and her passion is helping children gain confidence through having lots of fun! She loves watching children grow and develop and leading the creative and dynamic team of drama, vocal and dance teachers who teach for Kids Up Front.

Tom Rimmer Drama Teacher, Script Writer and Supervisor

Tom grew up in Tauranga, and after completing secondary school, he moved to Wellington to pursue acting. While living in Wellington, Tom studied the Meisner acting technique at the Wellington Actor's Studio. Tom made his professional debut in 2003 playing bumbling waiter Manuel in a production of the British comedy classic 'Fawlty Towers'.

Sarah Christie Singing Teacher

Sarah is a passionate pianist, vocalist, and music educator with a Bachelor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from MAINZ (Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand). From a young age, Sarah has trained in music, dance, and acting, and brings over 14 years of diverse performance experience to her teaching. Sarah brings a fun, encouraging energy to every session, and enjoys helping young performers grow in confidence while having a great time on stage.

Nicole Heaysman Drama & Dance Teacher

Nicole is an Auckland-based actress and performer with a vibrant background in dance and musical theatre who joined the Kids Up Front team in 2024 as a drama teacher. With a special love for improvisation and theatre, she brings energy and enthusiasm to teaching kids how to express themselves through characterisation and helping them build confidence on stage.

Kate Sampson Drama Teacher

Kate has been performing on the stage for more than 10 years! She started working with Kids Up Front in 2020 as a Drama Teacher at our Holiday Workshops.