Our Players

Our Head Players

Lori Leigh
Artistic Director

Dr. Lori Leigh is an award-winning Wellington-based theatre artist. She has been performing, directing, and teaching improv for nearly 20 years. Lori has performed in comedy and improv festivals across the United States and New Zealand, and trained at the acclaimed iO (ImprovOlympic) in Chicago. She is currently a senior lecturer for Victoria University of Wellington’s Theatre Programme where she has created original tertiary courses on improv and comedy. Under Lori’s leadership, PlayShop has created six original longform shows, an original children’s show, and a weekly improv comedy show: PlayShop LIVE! Lori’s Shakespearean show: This Fair Verona played to sold-out crowds at BATS Theatre, Shakespeare in the Garden at Southern Cross, and Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand from 2013-2018. Lori’s 10 Things I Hate About Us won “best improv” at the NZ Fringe Festival Awards in 2015. Reviews of the show said, “It is one of the most astonishing things I have ever seen anyone do, ever” and “10 Things I Hate About Us is easily one of the best hours of long-form improvised performance I have ever seen” (Theatreview 25 Feb 2015).

Beth Taylor
Producer

Beth has Master of Fine Arts in theatre from Victoria University. Beth’s specialty is in producing and production management; as well as being the Producer of PlayShop she has worked on numerous projects, including the 6 Degrees Festival, Committed, Running Late, The Aliens and the TAHI Festival. In her spare time, you can find Beth playing a round of disc golf or enjoying a quiz night with a shandy in hand.

Jacob Cleghorn
Assistant Producer

After completing his internship in producing with PlayShop for his Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Degree in 2019, Jacob has joined PlayShop as the Assistant Producer. With and interest in creative historical storytelling and audience engagement Jacob is excited about what PlayShop can offer.

Jonny Paul
Co-Director PlayShop LIVE

Sam Irwin
Co-Director PlayShop LIVE

After first joining the company five years ago Jonny has been the co-director of PlayShop’s flagship show, PlayShop LIVE for three. With almost fifteen years of improvising experience Jonny is constantly looking for new ways to engage with audiences. As a director Jonny believes his job is to create a show where everybody, audience and performers alike have a wild and unforgettable night. As a result PlayShop LIVE is a boiling pot of energy and excitement, where no two nights are the same.

Co-directing LIVE involves the design and continual tweaking of the format, coaching and feedback of players, and the selection of teams for shows. Sam's focus is on honest, inclusive comedy that builds relationships and celebrates our audiences. Mostly Sam loves hearing our audiences laugh!