FILM / THEATRE
In 2018 Nikita debuted her play 歲月不饒人 (Tide Waits for No Man: Episode Grace) a non-verbal theatre-piece using shadow calligraphy, puppetry, music and movement. This show resonated deeply with the NZ audiences of the Asian diaspora.
Nikita has spent the last decade flowing between acting roles and music, poetry and visual arts. Her early experiences onscreen as an actor lead to nominations at the Madrid International Film Festival with the 2 indie NZ features ‘CLOSE ENOUGH’ and ‘SISTER, PLEASE’ in both leading and supporting roles. Her recent screen work includes her appearance as a sub-pilot in James Cameron’s AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER, and even more recently in Aotearoa’s highly praised TV Series FAR NORTH as the character ‘Hui’ directed by David White, starring Temuera Morrison and Robyn Malcolm. View Nikita’s full portfolio of work here.
MUSIC / VOCALS
Nikita has collaborated with artists from all over the world, from non-english speakers in Japan, to her apprenticeship in New York with Chinese Theatreworks, as well as her time puppeteering and playing music in Vermont at Bread & Puppet Theatre.
She has worked hard to balance her artistic life sustaining herself as a performing musician, a film and theatre actor and director, visual artist, creativity teacher, music facilitator (by referral and intuition), band manager and producer. Tu-Bryant has just completed a nationwide tour with her Pōneke based trio • KITA • (Tu-Bryant, Ed Zuccollo, Rick Cranson) touring their 3rd release ‘Love Lives Here’ EP produced by Tomasso Colliva (Italy-based Grammy-award producer). This release comes after the last summer of touring playing mainstage at Splore, as well as their debut appearance at WOMAD, and other Festivals in Aotearoa.
Other successes have included the theme song for Tales of Nainai reaching younger Kiwi-asian audiences, theme song to TV show SIK FAN LAH!, as well as composing/performing music for Asian Playwrights in Auckland (Proudly Asian Theatre). View Nikita’s full portfolio of work here.
MUSIC FACILITATION
Music was a form of intuitive-self-therapy and safe escape for Tu-Bryant growing up in a very difficult environment. With over 2 decades of music being her main medium, she has been recommended more and more to people with diverse backgrounds. Nikita has worked with a wide spectrum of age groups; from very young children, to the elderly - using music and other mediums as a creative expression to feel heard, to work and process through intense trauma and grief; as well as people who simply struggle with communication and/or self-confidence. Nikita has worked in this sphere both overseas and in Aotearoa also incorporating theatre techniques in overseas collaborations making art with the kaupapa of suicide prevention (JAPAN). Nikita has been teaching/facilitating for over a decade without official training, through personal referrals and word-of-mouth. All on an intuition/client-led basis with great success. She has worked with people through chapters of self-harm, experiences of violence, to people who have experienced life-altering accidents and changes. View Nikita’s full portfolio of work here.