Brayden Cresswell

Actor

An emerging actor and a theatre maker, Brayden Cresswell is an artist who relishes the joy of the creative process. He has loved being on stage since he was young, getting his start performing in local theatre in his hometown of Te Puke.

He recently graduated from Toi Whakaari and has been fortunate to work with two of New Zealand’s professional theatre companies in the time since. He recently enjoyed a sell out run with Auckland Theatre Company’s Murder on the Orient Express; and in 2025 toured Australia as Nightsong's Mr Red Light, playing the titular character.

Brayden is a collaborative and charismatic performer who thrives in the rehearsal room and is committed to the ongoing development of his craft. He has undertaken a wide range of workshops in movement, mask, clowning - and has experience with physically demanding performance and character work.

---

Hair Colour
Black
Location
Auckland | Tāmaki Makaurau
Age Range
20 - 30

Ethnicity
New Zealand European, Tongan
Height
191cm
Eye Colour
Brown

---

Full CV

• Credits

  Theatre
  2026 - Murder on the Orient Express - Michel/Head Waiter - Director - Shane Bosher - Auckland Theatre Co
  2025 - D'Things and Such - Stage Manager - Director - Seiyan Thompson-Tonga - NZ Fringe Festival
  2025 - Mr Red Light - Mr Red Light (lead) - Director - Ben Crowder - Nightsong Theatre (NZ/AU Tour)
  2024 - Fucking A - Butcher & Ensemble - Director - Keagan Carr Fransch - Toi Whakaari
  2023 - Mr Burns - Gibson / Troy McClure - Director - Stella Reid - Toi Whakaari
  2023 - Bodiless Futures - Ensemble - Director - Emele Ugavule - Toi Whakaari
  2023 - TŪ TE IHI TŪ TE WEHI TŪ TE WANA - Director - Sepelini Mua'au - A Potluck Community Tour
  2022 - Solo Season - Director/s - Anya Tate-Manning, Sarita So, Sean Dioneda Rivera, Peter Burman - Toi Whakaari
  2021 - Grease - Frankie - Director - Nicole Petua
  2020 - Gone to Seed - Detective - Director - Bernard Holmes - Te Puke Repertory
  2020 - Vicar of Dibley - Director - Allan Smith - Te Puke Repertory
  2019 - All Shook Up - Ensemble - Director - Allan Smith
  2018 - Back to the 80s - Ensemble - Director - Allan Smith

  Short Film
  2025 - Sisifo - James - Director - Chris Ulutupu - Toi Whakaari
  2021 - Island Time - Johnny - 48 Hour Film Festival - Director - Reuben Dwan

• Training

  2021 - 2024 - Bachelor of Performing Arts - Majoring in Acting - NZ Drama School: Toi Whakaari
  2022 - 2024 - Clowning Intensive - Anya Tate-Manning
  2023 - Mask Intensive - Nina Nawalowalo
  2023 - Audition Practice Workshop - Emma Draper
  2023 - Intimacy Workshop - Jennifer Ward-Lealand
  2023 - The Casting Workshop - Tina Cleary
  2023 - Screen Acting Workshop - Vicky Yiannaoutsos
  2023 - American Accent Workshop - with Jacquie Drew
  2023 - Creature and Motion Capture Workshop - Shane Rangi
  2022 - Movement Workshop - Charles Koroneho
  2022 - Actor Instincts - Britta McVeigh
  2022 - Actor in Action - Heather Timms
  2022 - Intimacy Workshop - Jennifer Ward-Lealand
  2022 - Pacific Dance Intensives - Tupe Lualua

• Skills

  Accents - American: Standard and Southern, Canadian, Australian, British
  Languages - Tongan
  Singer - Tenor
  Musician - Electric Bass
  Clowning