Meet the cast of Hana the Glowworm

Introducing Emerson D’Aguiar-Sanders. Emerson, who performs the lead role of Hana the Glowworm, turns 14 this week. She has been the recording studio artist for the Hana the Glowworm songs since she was 11. An accomplished actor, she was nominated for a NAPTA Award for her role as Skipper in Madagascar Jr in 2024. We are so excited to have Emerson in the Hana cast!

Introducing Katie-Rose Pemberton. 19-year-old Katie-Rose has been selected twice as a Kiwi All-Star performer at the Junior Theatre Festival in New York and Sydney. She is a remarkably talented actor, singer, and musician. She is performing the lead role as Eel in Hana the Glowworm. We are so excited to have Katie-Rose in the Hana cast!

Introducing Boston Davis. Hana the Glowworm is Boston’s ninth musical role. At 12 years old, he loves the fun, friendship, and challenges that musical theatre offers and was nominated for a 2024 NAPTA award for his role in Elf the Musical. Boston is playing the lead role of Stoat. We are so excited to have Boston in the Hana team!

Introducing Gabriella D’Aguiar-Sanders.  Gabriella is a seasoned performer, dancer, and recording artist at 11 years old. She was nominated as a Junior Theatre Festival NZ All-Star for her lead role as Dory in Finding Nemo Jr. in 2024. She is performing a lead role as Ruru in Hana the Glowworm.  We are so excited to have Gabriella in the Hana cast!

Introducing Ethan Heke.  Ethan was nominated for a NAPTA and as a Junior Theatre Festival All-Star for his lead role as Marty in Madagascar Jr in 2023. Ethan is a talented all-round musical theatre performer and is performing in Hana the Glowworm as Hana’s Dad, Violin, Mal and a Stoatette.  We are so excited to have Ethan in the Hana cast!

Introducing Milla Rodrigues-Birch.  Milla is a passionate and intuitive performer who has been dedicated to her craft since childhood. A multi-award winner in acting, singing, and musical theatre, she can’t wait to bring her characters to life in Hana the Glowworm! She is performing the roles of Clarinet, Tim and lead Stoatette.

Introducing Elise Chapman. Elise is a passionate dancer and performer who is a regular in youth shows at Centrestage Theatre. She lights up on the stage and can’t wait to bring Hana the Glowworm to life! Elise is part of the ensemble and is also performing as a musician, spider and a DOC ranger. We are so excited to have Elise in the Hana cast!

Introducing Natalia-Rose Armstrong! Natalia-Rose began her dancing passion at age 3 and has studied ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, hip-hop, and jazz genres to the highest level in exams and City Impact Arts Academy shows. She received 2024 nominations for NZAMD Ballet and Contemporary dance scholarships in Wellington, and she previously achieved the highest results in Auckland and NZ. She is excited to perform in Hana the Glowworm as her first professional show and is also playing the roles of a Glowworm, centipede and stoatette. We love having her in the Hana cast!

Introducing Liberty-Faith Armstrong. Liberty-Faith 13, was literally born into dancing as a baby, with her two big sisters ahead of her, studying ballet, pointe, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop at City Impact Arts Academy, as well as exploring a new interest in acro dance and being part of three school dance troupes. She is also passionate about modelling and performing on stage, with her most recent role as the lead, ‘Sasha,’ in the City Impact Christmas Spectacular. Libbi is excited to be part of the dance ensemble cast and also performing as Baby Kiwi and a Glowworm for Hana the Glowworm as her first professional show alongside her sister. We are so excited to have Libbi in the Hana cast too!

Introducing Stephanie Harman. Stephanie took to the stage at just 4 years old and hasn’t looked back since! Her passions include dance and musical theatre. Stephanie’s next role is Sebastian in The Little Mermaid Jr. Stephanie is part of the ensemble and is also performing as a Stoatette, Musician and Cicada! We are so excited to have her in the Hana cast!

Introducing Jemma Harman. Jemma is 12 years old and has trained in ballet and musical theatre. She loves to read and wants to one day work at McDonalds so she can eat all the fries. Jemma is part of the ensemble and is also performing as a Stoatette and Tui! We are so excited to have her in the Hana cast!

Introducing, ten-year-old Katelyn Harman. Katelyn is a gymnast and dancer. She also has a passion for musical theatre and will soon portray Jetsam in The Little Mermaid Jr. Katelyn is part of the ensemble and is also performing as a Stoatette and Puriri Moth! We are so excited to have her in the Hana cast!

Introducing Layla Russel. Layla enjoys dancing and performing on stage. She takes ballet and jazz classes and, this year, has started lyrical and contemporary dancing. Layla is looking forward to performing in Hana on stage as part of the ensemble, and we are so excited to have her in the Hana cast!

Introducing our amazing Hana the Glowworm choreographer, Louise Wilkie! Louise is a choreographer and director committed to creating inclusivity and empowerment in the performing arts space. As the founder of Smoky Mirror Arts Company (SMAC), she champions opportunities for young creatives, particularly those with disabilities, to collaborate, build confidence, and take centre stage.
Holding a Master’s in Dance Movement Therapy and with extensive experience in musical theatre, Louise blends her technical expertise with a passion for teaching. She has choreographed and taught at theatre companies and schools across New Zealand including Studio 246, Centrestage Youth Theatre and StageAntics. Louise has also spent the past few years as a pilot program choreographer and workshop leader at the Junior Theatre Festival New Zealand. Through her work, she inspires performers of all abilities to develop their skills, express themselves, and thrive. We are so excited and lucky to have Louise in the Hana team!
Introducing our fabulous director Rachael D’Aguiar! Rachael began her acting career with a Diploma of Acting for Screen and Theatre from Unitec in 1995. As a fresh graduate she spent several years working with Legacy Shakespeare Theatre Company, featuring in many short films with budding – now award winning – directors, taking roles in Shortland Street, Mercy Peak, Homeward Bound and various TV commercials, was the voice of Whitcoulls for 3 years, she continues to dance tap and jazz and performing for children in musicals; Snow White NZ Tour (Snow White), Tom Thumb NZ Tour (Bow-Wow).
Rachael has always loved working with children and was also part of theatre in education programs and has worked in childrens entertainment for decades.
Her own acting career took a long hiatus when Rachael decided to open her own businesses, first a hair and beauty salon which she ran for 10 years, a business coaching and mentorship program and her current business @onetruth818nz Skincare which won her a finalist spot in the Next Pandora Woman of the Year Awards in 2016. Finally, back in front of a camera, she now frequently presents on home shopping channels in Australia and the UK highlighting the science behind the products.
Hana is the biggest show Rachael has directed, relaunching her theatre career with a bang! She has had the joy of directing a committed and talented young cast that include her 2 children and bringing her husband’s story to life on the stage.
We love having Rachael in the Hana team!!!
Introducing Chris Sanders. Chris is an award-winning children’s musician, songwriter, and author who has been creating music for over twenty years. His work has earned him several accolades, including a nomination for the 2020 TUI Award for Best Children’s Artist and his announcement as a winner at the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) that same year.
Known for writing some of New Zealand’s most memorable children’s songs, Chris’ tunes include the 111 Ambulance Song and Mittens, inspired by the famous Wellington Cat.
In a ground-breaking 2021 lockdown collaboration, Chris wrote ‘Teddy Bear Hunt’ with Auckland Philharmonia, and released the accompanying picture book ‘The World’s Greatest Teddy Bear Hunt.’
To date, he has released over 50 original children’s songs, four of which have made it into the Official Aotearoa Music Charts. His third album, The Songs and Stories For Kids, was released in November 2021, with the album’s opening track, ‘Kia Ora Are Such Beautiful Words,’ receiving the Australian School of Broadcasting Network (SBN) Funky Kids Radio Presidents Award and ‘Okee Dokee Goatee,’ the SBN Best Audio Story of the Decade Award.
His TUI Award nomination was in recognition of his album ‘Who Wants to Be a Super Ambulance Hero’, which was written for St John NZ. It was also turned into a stage show musical, and the music used as a key part of the St John in Schools Education programme. For this work, Chris received an NZ Honour from Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy, specifically ‘The Order of St John Priory Vote of Thanks.’
Chris champions young performers through his creation of the Kōkako Award, which is presented at the annual NZ Children’s Music Awards and his role on the Kiwi Kids Music committee, a trust set up to promote and encourage the growth of children’s music.
Now, four years in the making, Hana the Glowworm marks Chris’s seventh book, fourth album, and second stage show musical.

Purchase Hana the Glowworm Book

Basket Basket BUY NOW