Courses

“We must all do theatre - to find out who we are and to discover who we could become.” Augustus Boal

Do you have a passion for theatre?
Do you want to learn more about the hobby you love, or step out of your comfort zone and try something new?

The 2025 School will take place from Saturday 26th July – 2nd August at Yarnfield Park, Stone, Staffordshire.

All of our courses are practical and students need to be ready to get involved. Please read the course descriptions carefully and pick one course to study for the week.

Full information about our courses for 2025 will be available from 15th November 2024. 
Booking for 2025 opens 1st December 2024.

If you have a question, please contact us at summerschool@noda.org.uk

In 2025, we will be offering the following Full Length and Short Courses.

(How to) Direct Plays

This is a must attend course for anyone wanting to build skills and confidence in creating plays on stage.  It will include exploration of how to get the best out of actors and how to translate a script into something that will engage your audience.

Actors Toolbox

An essential course for actors of every level of experience who want to spend a week going back to basics, creating the foundations on which to build inspiring performances.

Becoming an Actor Musician

A course for performers who play an instrument and are seeking an opportunity to explore where acting, singing and musicianship collide and create wonderful musical theatre.
A specific standard of playing an instrument will be required.

Costume: Aesthetics and Accessories

Short Course (Saturday - Tuesday) - A course for students who want to gain practical insight into how to enhance shop bought costume to look old or different and how to accessorise them to fit the need of the production.

Choreography

A course for choreographers – established or just starting out - to develop skills in this vital aspect of musical theatre production or pantomime. Students will develop a toolbox of techniques and approaches to enhance their next theatrical adventure.

Ensemble Excellence

A course where both performers and directors can develop their skills in this essential element of theatre. Students will practically play with a host of staging techniques and performance skills.

Make a New Musical

This course is for actors, singers and writers of song and script. In the space of a week ideas will be taken from initial concept to performance using inspiration from existing musicals. Students will also get chance to build their performance skills in the process.

Make Up for the Theatre

Short Course (Tuesday - Friday) - A course where students can learn the basics of make up for theatre and begin to explore some specific techniques to enhance the aesthetic of any production.

Making for Actors / Acting for Makers

A unique course for actors who want to learn how to make expressive masks and puppets or makers who want to learn how to bring their creations to life on stage.

Playwright’s Retreat

An opportunity for aspiring writers to work on their dream script project with input and guidance from an experienced tutor and the support and critique of their peers.  This course will create valuable space to write in a supportively challenging environment.

Revelling in Restoration Comedy

A course for actors and directors who relish the idea of spending a week revelling in classical theatre that is witty, rebellious and occasionally lewd.

Singing for Performance - West End Revivals

This course is for singers who want to become better at their craft – using the music of popular West End revivals as inspiration.

Stage Management

A course for students who want to learn essential skills for effective Stage Management – an element of theatre that revolutionises production values quality.

Unlocking Schwartz

A course for singers, dancers and actors who want to develop their performance skills, by practically exploring the work of inspiring composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz.

Voice and Text

This course is for actors of all levels of experience who want to dive deep into vocal technique and how to apply it in rehearsals and performance. Students will have the chance to go back to fundamentals to discover/rediscover the way to a fully supported voice.

Full information about our courses for 2025 will be available from 15th November 2024. 

Booking for 2025 opens 1st December 2024.

If you have a question, please contact us at summerschool@noda.org.uk