AWARDS
Winners 2011
Elliot Christensen-Yule Actor
AIMES Arts Award Winner 2011 Elliot Christensen-Yule is an actor who has already made his entrance onto the New Zealand acting scene. His most recent work was in the Auckland Theatre Company’s production of Red, directed by Oliver Driver. Elliot played the role of ‘Ken’ alongside Michael Hurst’s portrayal of ‘Mark Rothko’. It was his former principal at Northcote College who prompted him to apply for an AIMES Award. “Vicki Barrie encouraged me to apply because she knew I wanted to further my acting career. She has always been a strong supporter of mine. I was trying to find a way to finance my next career step, and the AIMES Awards seemed like a great opportunity.” Northcote College provided a creative environment that Elliot relished, providing him with some well-earned accolades. “I enjoyed performing in school plays, assessments, theatre sports teams, stage challenge productions and Sheilah Winn Shakespeare competitions. In 2006, I received both the Jan Fraser Award for ‘Student-Directed Ensemble Work’ and the Dymocks Award for ‘Special Individual Performance’ at the National Sheilah Winn Festival in Wellington.” The year 2006 also saw Elliot receive the New Zealand Top Scholarship award for Drama, and since then he has built a respectable
Elliot Christensen-Yule receiving the Arts Award at the 2011AIMES Awards Gala Dinner from North Harbour Club President Peter Wall (left) and David Brook of award sponsor ASB.
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resume comprising both stage and screen. In 2009, Elliot was cast in the role of ‘Posner’ in the Peach Theatre Company production of The History Boys. “I was fortunate to work with, and learn from theatre great George Henare, Annie Whittle and Bruce Phillips.” Elliot is also a proud member of The Outfit Theatre Company, performing with them in their two productions of Little White Men at the Auckland Fringe Festival and The Basement Theatre. On screen, Elliot has played a range of diverse roles including ‘Young Wolf’ in Outrageous Fortune, ‘Jed’ in This is Not Your Life, Tourette’s Syndrome patient ‘Angus Phelps’ in Shortland Street, and roles in both Go Girls and The Insatiable Moon. Elliot confesses that he’s not too sure exactly what leads him to be such a high achiever in his field. “I guess I don’t like to leave things half done and for some reason I usually strive further than the task requires. I like a challenge and I enjoy learning new things, both of which help motivate me to better myself.” Elliot credits his family, including his grandfather ‘Big Dad’, with providing him with the inspiration to do what he loves. His mother Lesley is a chef and food writer, and his father Phil, a sound engineer. Younger brother Miller is pursuing a career as a musician in addition to studying audio engineering. Other important players in Elliot’s sphere include Vicki Barrie, his drama teachers from Northcote College, Richard Edge and Megan Peterson, and especially Kate Olliver who has played a key role in his life, influencing Elliot’s acting and personal development. Elliot’s plans for the immediate future will see him well on the road to achieving his ten-year goal of acting internationally. The funds from the AIMES Award will help to support him while he pursues professional acting work in Australia. “My one-year plan involves heading over to Sydney, getting an Australian-based agent, finding my way around the city, setting up camp someplace affordable, familiarising myself with the theatre and film industries, and hopefully getting some work. My agent at Auckland Actors is already working to facilitate meetings with Australian agents for me.” While acting remains his primary focus, one day Elliot would also like to try his hand at writing and directing, the perfect complement to an acting career.