Courses 2025

Do you have a passion for theatre?
Do you want to learn more about an aspect of it that you love?
Or are you ready for the challenge of trying something new?

All our courses are practical and collaborative, students will be encouraged to get involved, in a secure environment with experienced, supportive tutors and likeminded students.

For up to date availability on our courses please sign in to see the booking page (page coming soon). Please read the course descriptions carefully and pick one course to study for the week.

The Summer School begins on Saturday at 5pm with a school meeting led by the Summer School Director. After the evening meal you will meet your tutor(s) and fellow students in your first course session. For Students attending the single short course - Make up for Theatre - Summer School begins with an evening meal on Tuesday evening.

Details of materials, scripts, scores or equipment needed for their chosen course will be sent to students at the end of June.

Make sure you ‘like’ the NODA Theatre Summer School page on facebook and Instagram so you can keep up to date with any new information, tips from previous students and much more!

To book your place head over to the Booking Form 2025 where you will be prompted to login to the NODA website to complete your booking.

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

Tutor: Chris Tomlinson

(How to) Direct Plays

A must attend course for students wanting to build skills and confidence in creating well-crafted plays on stage. This course focuses on both how to get the best out of actors and how to translate text into something that will engage and inspire your audience. During the week students will:...

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Tutor: Tri Cumming

Actors Toolbox

An essential course for actors of every level of experience. Spend time going back to basics to develop your vocal and physical skills, character development and how text is brought to life authentically on the stage. Acting technique is a vital element of any performance on stage. This week will...

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Tutor: Sarah de Tute / Conor O’Kane

Becoming an Actor Musician

A course for students who love Musical Theatre, have a passion for all things singing, acting and movement and play a musical instrument. Working with an industry Musical Director and an industry Director/Movement Director, students will be put through their paces learning about the ever exciting and increasingly popular world...

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Tutor: Lynne Bustard

Choreography

Choreography is a vital aspect of any musical theatre or pantomime. This course will provide both experienced and new choreographers with a toolbox of techniques and approaches – over the week you will cover a wide range of material and genres so there will be something for everyone – from...

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Tutor: Lu Herbert

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. This course is an opportunity to learn useful skills in distressing,...

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Tutor: Grace Goulding

Ensemble: Ease and Excellence

This course for both performers and directors will focus on an essential element of theatre which, if done well, can transform productions. Working with fellow students you will explore the possibilities and opportunities within ensemble work. During the week students will: practically play with a host of staging techniques and...

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Tutor: Mark Shayle

Introduction to Stage Management for Theatre

The very popular NODA Stage Management course returns to Summer School. It is geared towards people with little or no stage management experience in the amateur arena, teaching and explaining professional practice and techniques. The course is also suitable for directors, committee members and producers who want to gain knowledge...

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Tutor: Eva Sampson / Pamela Rudge

Make a New Musical

An exciting opportunity for actors, singers and writers to create and perform a new musical in a week! Students who want to develop skills in one of these disciplines or all three are welcome. In the space of a week, you will decide on an idea and take it from...

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Tutor: Paul Herrington

Make Up for the Theatre

Short Course (Tuesday - Friday) When performing, as a principal position or part of an ensemble, makeup and hair bring the characters to life and are an integral part of telling the story. Building on the success of last year’s workshop, and by popular request, this short course will introduce students...

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Tutor: Jonny Dixon

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. Using characters created by Dickens and Shakespeare as inspiration this course will be equally practical and performative. During the...

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Tutor: Jasmin Mandi-Ghomi

Playwright’s Retreat

A chance for aspiring writers to work on their dream scripted project with input and guidance from an experienced tutor and the support and critique of their peers. This course is all about making valuable space to achieve writing ambitions in a supportively challenging environment. During the course students will:...

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Tutor: Susan Tordoff

Revelling in Restoration Comedy

A course for students who would relish the idea of spending a week revelling in classical theatre that is witty, rebellious and occasionally lewd. This is a course for actors who want to dive practically into a seldom performed genre of theatre to develop both their understanding and skills in...

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Tutor: Marjory Watson

Singing for Performance - West End Revivals

This course is for students who want to develop their vocal technique as a singer – using the music of popular West End revivals as inspiration. We are offering a fabulous opportunity to singers, who want the opportunity to improve their technique. It’s also an invitation to experienced singers to go...

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Tutor: Jack Bennett / Jordan Langford

Unlocking Schwartz

Step into the world of Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist behind some of musical theatre’s most iconic works. Over a career spanning five decades, Schwartz has left an enduring legacy on the genre, earning three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and a place in the Theatre Hall of Fame....

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Tutor: Rosemary Berkon

Voice and Text

Often overlooked, but definitely a core skill of an actor, this course will dive deep into vocal technique and how to apply it in rehearsals and performance. Suitable for actors of all experience who are happy to go back to fundamentals in order to discover or rediscover the way to...

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Courses 2025

To book your place head over to the Booking Form 2025 where you will be prompted to login to the NODA website to complete your booking.

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