He realised he would be unlikely to get a place straight out of school and moved to Palmerston North, completing first a certificate and then a Diploma in Performing Arts in the second year.
All the students on the course had to sing and dance. He said neither of these were his strengths, but he had a reasonable ability to pick up new skills.
The diploma year was especially busy, with classes from 9am until 3pm followed by rehearsals. Tutor Jaime Dorner believed in physical theatre.
"I wasn't fit before the course, but I had to be fit later."
As the course ended he and three others among the graduates applied to Toi Whakaari.
There were about 200 applicants in all, for 22 places.
For their first audition they had to sing unaccompanied and give a contemporary classic monologue.
About 40 of the 200 were called back for the second stage of auditions, and Mr Brown was one of them.
The 40 students spent a weekend at the school, doing classes and mingling with other students.
Mr Brown was so nervous and excited that he didn't eat or sleep much during that time. On the last day everyone was auditioned again. Then a selection of students had to present their pieces a third time, to Mr Browns' panic.
But he found that the weekend's classes had improved his performance. "I was like 'oh my God, this feels real."
By that time he knew he really wanted to be chosen for the school, and he was.
He's now saving money for the move to Wellington and will begin a three-year Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) this year.
When he graduates he hopes to move straight into the industry in New Zealand, and eventually head overseas.