Di Mason
Youth & Senior Youth Tutor
Di is a highly respected drama, music and dance teacher, having worked in schools for 40 years and been a Troupe Co-ordinator for the Primary Schools Festival of Music. She has received many awards and nominations during her career, including an ‘Australia Day Award’ and a short-listing for an ‘Education and Arts Minister’s Award.’ Di joined the Hills Youth Theatre as a Tutor in 2008, directing many classic shows such as Pollyanna, Seven Little Australians and the award-winning James and the Giant Peach, as well as being our Trinity Speech and Drama Tutor. Di is passionate and dedicated in her role as a Tutor at HYT, where she finds great creative satisfaction in working with others and watching a show evolve into something wonderful, and endeavours to inspire her students with the joy and fulfilment of being involved in theatre.
Tutor's Assistant: Lazuli Chittleborough
Ben Proeve
Senior Tutor
Ben Proeve has been involved with HYT since 2014, first as a student, then as a Tutor's Assistant in 2019, and now as the Senior Tutor since 2021. It was performing with HYT that first helped him realise his love for theatre, and he has since performed with other companies in Adelaide, such as Deadset Theatre Company and the Stirling Players. He has also delved into aspects of theatre, including directing, lighting, sound, and most recently, writing, having written HYT’s January 2022 production, Rapunzel: The Tower-rific Pantomime! He also has a great interest in teaching, leading to his pursuit of a career in high school drama (and maths) teaching, which he is studying towards at Flinders University. Ben has also worked as a high school/university tutor, seminar presenter and drama workshop coordinator, and is excited to combine his passions for theatre and education as the Senior Tutor at HYT. He is thrilled to be part of providing a theatre experience that gives young people a place to have a voice, explore their creativity, and grow as people, the same experience that helped shape who he is today.