Teenage Classes – for ages 12–17

Term Classes

Our teenage program forms a major part of the school. Teenagers are introduced to the techniques of acting used at major full time drama schools, adapted for their age and experience.

Drama classes give teenagers the edge in many areas of life – now and in the future.

Subjects

Subjects include:

  • Improvisation. Coming up with your own ideas on the spot. As well as extending the imagination, this is a valuable tool for later life – for interviews, ideas, presentations and so on.
  • Voice: Creating clearer and more confident speech.
  • Character work: Teenagers create their own characters through a range of methods.
  • Movement: Not dance as such but movement that expresses various emotions, situations, characters and so on.
  • Script work: We work with pre-written scripts however teenagers are also encouraged to write their own.
  • Film/TV Classes: All teenagers have a chance to work with the camera and learn the techniques of film and TV acting – again, this is a valuable life skill. We also offer a Teenage Intensive for teenagers who wish to be part of the making of a short film.
  • Performance: All teenagers take part in an end of year performance. For those looking for extensive theatre work please see the Teenage Intensive class.

Class description

This class begins to look at the actual craft of acting. Students engage in improvisation and script work. Scripts range from classical to contemporary, with an emphasis on scripts by or for young people in Australia. Issue based plays relating to teenage years are explored and students are taught the art of Improvisation – thinking on their feet and coming up with their own ideas.

Voice Work is encouraged – not as a separate entity but within the realm of the projection of ideas in class. In other words, if a young person mumbles and cannot be understood, we work with the intention of his/her ideas, communication and confidence in order to be understood.

Students begin to learn the actual Technique of Acting; how to create believable Characterisations and spend at lot of time on Script Work. Students work on professional scripts written for stage and screen as well as   coming up with their own Scripts and Ideas.

There is a strong component of Film and Television; at some point in the year each student experiences Camera Work – a valuable tool not only for the actor but for all teenagers who need encouragement, nurturing and positive feedback in order to feel good in front of the camera and perhaps more importatnly with how they come across on camera. This comes with time and familiarity with this medium. All students work towards an end of year performance where the emphasis is on Working as a Team.

Many of our older senior students are at the stage of wanting to take drama seriously. Students should advise us if they are interested in attending professional auditions / applying for an agent or auditioning for the major full time drama schools when they finish school. This will give us an indication of their class.

Class details

For full details of each teenage class, see the class pages listed below. All classes are held at our Northcote/Fairfield venue.

Teenage General Class, Mondays, [Teacher Damian Bernardo]

Teenage Intensive: International Fringe Festival Film/Theatre Show, Tuesdays  [Teacher: TBA]