Richard Smith, Writer (libretto and book)

Richard is an award-winning teacher and writer, who lives with his wife in Porirua. His first foray into songwriting was in partnership with Dave Fuller, resulting in the album Dream of a Land recorded by Pete Woolston. He has since written songs for bands, churches and schools. 

His poetry has been published in many New Zealand journals such as Turbine, Takahē and Trout but more recently in Balloons Literary Journal (Hong Kong), Relief Journal, MiNDFOOD and Ekstasis. In 2025 he was runner up for the ‘Kathleen Grattan Prize for a Sequence of Poems’.  Although Richard has written a number of musicals for children, often working in collaboration with tamariki, 'Labrats' is Richard's first musical written for an adult audience.

Andrea Robinson, Composer

Raised in Tauranga, Andrea is a pianist, flautist and composer. While living in Wisconsin, Andrea co-wrote the album Old Carmylie with Scott McCutcheon. She then studied jazz piano with Charmaine Ford, sparking her love of jazz.

Andrea played in the ‘Capital City Big Band’ for a number of years then in 2017 began leading the 9-piece Wellington jazz band ‘Duke Wellington’, playing keyboards and arranging music. Andrea is a song leader and the accompanist for the Wellington Community Choir. She teaches flute and piano, and leads the Khandallah Singers, composing and arranging songs for both choirs. In 2001 Andrea co-wrote the children’s musical Miriam with Richard Smith before collaborating again to write Labrats.

Simon Eastwood
Conductor, composer, and bass player, Simon Eastwood has a diverse practice, including orchestral and chamber works, electronic pieces, and improvisation. He studied at New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī in Wellington and the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 2024 was appointed Mozart Fellow at Otago University Ōtākau Whakaihu Waka. 

He was Musical Director for 'the OGs’, a sold-out operatic showcase at the 2024 Auckland Arts Festival. As a composer himself, Simon is always excited by new work, and ‘Labrats’ presents a delightfully subversive kiwi take on the musical theatre genre.

Allan Marsden

Allan has been involved with theatre for over 50 years. During that time he has been involved in over 80 productions, producing, directing and acting. He has also directed musicals in China. The musicals has directed include, Les Misérables, Evita, Blood Brothers, Oliver, Fidder on the Roof, Little Shop of Horrors, and Jesus Christ Super Star. He has also directed and performed in a variety of New Zealand plays including but not limited to: Trick of the Light, The Raft, Memory of Water, Bert and Maisy.

Alan says he’s excited to be involved in this production, especially seeing as it is a New Zealand first. Not many full musicals progress through development to being performed on stage in New Zealand and he believes Labrats has a distinctly New Zealand flavour.