Sally Stockwell
Actor, singer-songwriter, performance-maker

“ Exceptional, transcendent, theatre of the highest calibre. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen.” (‘We’ve Got So Much To Talk About’) – Art Murmers

Sally’s practice bridges theatre, film, television, and music, and is defined by an ongoing exploration of voice as both instrument and storyteller.

She trained at Toi Whakaari / New Zealand Drama School and holds a Performance Diploma with Pantheatre, France, specialising in voice and choreographic theatre. Further studies in London (Royal National Theatre) and Aotearoa have deepened her approach to voice, performance, and storytelling.

Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Sally has performed with leading companies including Circa Theatre, Downstage, Auckland Theatre Company, Silo Theatre, Court Theatre, Centrepoint Theatre and Red Leap Theatre. Her work has been recognised with a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for Best Newcomer (Taking Sides, 1997), a Chapman Tripp Best Actress nomination (Proof, 2002), and a Broadcasting Council TV Award nomination for her screen work (Insider’s Guide to Happiness, 2005).

Her original theatre works — including We’ve Got So Much To Talk About, Firefly, and Gravity Hotel — blend music, movement, and text into dynamic performance experiences. Through live sound triggering and real-time layering, she builds soundscapes, stripped-back melodies, and vocal harmonies to create immersive worlds that are both intimate and expansive.

As a musician, Sally has performed at festivals such as Splore, Auckland Arts Festival, Titirangi Festival of Music, TAHI Festival, and Taranaki Arts Festival, alongside numerous solo and collaborative gigs. Her albums Weightless (2015) and Little Triggers (2024) showcase her songwriting and vocal artistry, with the latter accompanied by a trilogy of music videos (Far & Wide, Village, Uncovering Me).

Beyond her performance career, Sally is a dedicated voice teacher. She has taught at the University of Auckland, Unitec, The Actors’ Program, and the University of Canterbury and continues to run workshops and private coaching in Christchurch. Drawing on Roy Hart Voicework and her extensive professional practice, she helps students connect to the full expressive range of their voices.

Whether on stage, in the studio, or in the classroom, Sally’s work is driven by a commitment to sound, story, and transformation.

“The music is dark yet gorgeous and relentlessly catchy… her voice is flat-out incredible.”
– Lumiere
“Sally takes a no-holds-barred, wickedly funny approach with the wild freedom of rock ’n’ roll.”
– Katie Wolfe

Explore more