BIO
Yvonne Milroy’s career in writing for the arts came about as the result of a lifelong journey following her passions. Her childhood years were spent in a whirl of ballet, piano, clarinet and art lessons. She started studying music and law at university in New Zealand but eventually graduated with a Business degree in Australia.
Upon returning to New Zealand, Yvonne completed Michael Saccente’s 2-year Meisner Technique course in Auckland. Her musical childhood, marketing degree and acting combined when she returned to Hamilton and became involved in the local theatre scene. Since 2005, Yvonne has held various roles including Executive Producer for Cats; Assistant to the Director for Grease, Oliver, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Forbidden Broadway, The Secret Garden and Broadway on the Boardwalk; Marketing for Cats, Urinetown, We Will Rock You, Hudson and Halls Live; Makeup, Hair and Wigs for Mary Poppins, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, The Rocky Horror Show 2016, Mamma Mia, Evita, Sweet Charity, Sister Act and The Secret Garden; and Costumes for The Rocky Horror Show 2005, Hair, and Blood Brothers.
In 2012, her children’s book Jimothy was published. Queen Camilla wrote to Yvonne to say how much she enjoyed reading Jimothy to her grandchildren. Yvonne has a keen interest in literature and has spoken on multiple panels about her ongoing research for her historical fiction writing projects.
During 2017 and 2018 Yvonne delivered extensive marketing plans for the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival. The Festival is the preeminent arts event for the Waikato and the campaigns required multi-platform approaches that satisfied multiple stakeholders, partners, performers and sponsors. She then was contracted to work with the 55th National Jazz Festival.
Yvonne has held governance roles with Hamilton Operatic Society, One Victoria Trust, Tron Music Trust, Waikato Children’s Literature Association. She has worked with many theatre and production companies including Hamilton Operatic Society, The Meteor Theatre, Clarence St Theatre Trust, and Bold Theatre.
Yvonne completed a further qualification in Communications and Public Relations, and has been a freelance copywriter for fourteen years. In the last few years, she has narrowed her focus to the arts sector. Yvonne understands the importance of giving the correct voice to various forms of communication and is accomplished in writing for specific arts audiences.
In 2019 armed with experience in theatre, dance, literature, festivals, marketing and publicity, Yvonne launched Write On For The Arts, a copywriting business that specialises in the arts. Her published work to date under the Write On For the Arts banner includes media releases, magazine articles, programme content, advertorials, performer bios and reviews.
During the 2020 lockdown, Yvonne began writing scripts for online training videos for the education sector. Once the various lockdowns lifted, Yvonne went on to direct and produce a number of courses. In 2022, Yvonne dusted off her Meisner skills and alongside directing and producing the videos began to feature in them.
In 2021, Yvonne co-wrote the script for a one-person musical "My Life in Jandals" which premiered at Clarence St Theatre in early 2022.