Actors Studio is an intensive 12-week program where emerging actors aged 18–25 develop grounded artistic practice through rigorous, rehearsal-based training.
Led by Artistic Director Luke Rogers, you’ll work each week on contemporary scenes with partners, developing not just acting skills but a complete approach to performance built on preparation, collaboration, and creative courage.
Through scene work, text analysis, improvisation, and individual coaching, you’ll expand your range of vocal, physical, and imaginative choices. You’ll connect to your creative instincts, learn how to select material that showcases your strengths, and deepen your understanding of the actor/director relationship. Working within a supportive ensemble under professional rehearsal conditions, you’ll develop the standards for preparation and engagement that drama schools and directors look for.
Each week builds on the last, progressively deepening your craft. You’ll learn how actors prepare material outside rehearsal and bring it into the room ready to refine, how to respond creatively to direction, and collaborate meaningfully in the creative process. The program culminates in a sharing of work where you present your scenes to an invited audience.
Whether you’re preparing for drama school, building towards professional work, or beginning to develop your artistic methodology, Actors Studio gives you what serious performers need: expert guidance, dedicated practice time, and the artistic experience that creates real growth.
| ELIGIBILITY | Emerging Artists aged 18 – 25 |
| DATES | 14 May – 30 July 2026 |
| TIMES | Thursday 6:30 – 9:30pm |
| DURATION | 12 weeks (42 hours) |
| LOCATION | Canberra Youth Theatre Gorman Arts Centre Batman Street, Braddon |
| COST | $400 – Member $460 – Non Member |
| HOW TO APPLY | EOI Form |
| LEAD ARTIST | Luke Rogers |
Who is this program for?
Emerging performers aged 18–25 who want to develop their craft through focused scene work and ensemble training. This program suits you if you:
- Have your sights set on drama school or are working to develop a professional practice
- Want to build on school and community theatre experience with rigorous skills development
- Are passionate about acting and ready for intensive, focused training
- Are curious, committed, and ready to collaborate
- Are open to feedback and eager to take creative risks
Previous performance experience is valuable, but what matters most is your willingness to invest in your development as an actor.
Limited to 12 participants to ensure intensive, practical learning.
Application Information
Applications Open: Tuesday 3 February 2026
Applications Close: Tuesday 28 April 2026
To apply please follow these steps:
- Complete the Application Form.
- Your application will then be considered by our team.
- Outcomes will be sent to everyone by Friday 1 May
- If your application is successful, you will be sent a link to enrol in the program.
- You will need to be enrolled in the program by Friday 8 May.
Program Activities
Scene Work & Rehearsal Technique: Work with scene partners each week on contemporary texts, learning how actors prepare, rehearse, and collaborate. Develop your ability to interpret text, make strong choices, and build authentic relationships with partners. You’ll learn how to prepare material outside rehearsal and bring it into the room ready to refine, working in professional rehearsal conditions that respect process and demand thorough preparation.
Material Selection & Audition Preparation: Learn how to research, source, and select scenes and monologues that showcase your strengths. Discover what makes material work for auditions and how to build a repertoire that demonstrates your range and unique qualities as a performer.
Improvisation & Ensemble Building: Develop spontaneity and creative responsiveness through exercises that sharpen your ability to think on your feet and make bold choices in the moment. Unlock your creative instincts, learn to trust your impulses in performance, and build strong collaboration skills.
Text & Character Analysis: Understand how to break down a script and extract everything you need to build a compelling performance. These analytical tools help you make informed choices grounded in the text rather than relying on instinct alone, approaching any role with clarity and specificity.
Voice, Movement & Physical Presence: Expand your expressive possibilities through targeted exercises that free your voice and body for performance. Discover new physical and vocal choices that serve your characters and extend what you thought you could do, developing the technical control and presence that makes your work repeatable and compelling.
Understanding the Director/Actor Relationship: Gain insights into how directors work, what they look for, and how to collaborate creatively in rehearsal. Learn professional rehearsal practices—respecting process, collaborating generously, and responding effectively to direction—so you can walk into any rehearsal room and contribute meaningfully to the creative process.
Individual Coaching Sessions: Receive personalised feedback on your work that identifies your strengths, addresses technical challenges, and helps you develop your unique artistic voice. Get detailed direction that refines your scenes to showcase-quality standards and reveals what makes you distinctive as a performer.
Sharing of Work: Present polished scenes to an invited audience in our rehearsal space. Experience what it means to perform work you’ve developed over weeks and feel your work landing with an audience—the confidence that comes from completing the full journey from first rehearsal through to performance.
Program Outcomes
By the end of Actors Studio, you’ll:
Prepare like a professional: Know how to analyse text, rehearse partnered scenes, and bring rehearsal-ready material into the room with confidence, clarity, and creative authenticity. You’ll develop the rigorous preparation approach that sustains a professional acting practice.
Expand your range: Discover new physical, vocal, and imaginative possibilities through targeted voice, movement, and improvisation work. You’ll have more tools in your kit and the confidence to make bold, truthful choices in the moment.
Work well with directors: Understand how directors work, what they look for, and how to collaborate creatively in rehearsal. You’ll know how to take notes, respond effectively to direction, and contribute meaningfully to the rehearsal process.
Choose material that showcases your strengths: Understand what makes you distinctive as a performer and how to research and select audition pieces that demonstrate it. You’ll leave with polished, showcase-quality scenes ready to present.
Meet professional standards: Develop the work ethic, preparation habits, and collaborative practices that drama schools and professional directors look for. Support your fellow actors, create rehearsal environments where everyone does their best work, and become someone people want to work with. You’ll be ready for the next step.
Build your artistic network: Connect with an ensemble of emerging artists who share your passion and commitment—the foundation of relationships that sustain your practice.
Complete the full creative journey: Experience the complete rehearsal-to-performance process, presenting your work to a live audience and feeling what it means to share material you’ve developed over weeks.
This program gives you what every actor needs: repetition, feedback, and the chance to practice your craft in a supportive environment that pushes you to grow. You’ll leave with skills you can use in any audition or rehearsal room, material that showcases your work, and the confidence to pursue your next creative opportunity.
Actors Studio participants will also be invited to collaborate as actors within the Directors Studio program.
Key Dates
Weekly Sessions:
Thursday 14 May 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 21 May 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 28 May 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 4 June 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 11 June 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 18 June 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 25 June 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 2 July 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 9 July 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 16 July 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 23 July 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Thursday 30 July 2026 (6:30 – 9:30pm)
Individual coaching sessions will be by arrangement.
Culture and Commitment
Commitment
This program builds week by week, with each session deepening established work. Your consistent attendance matters for your own development and for your scene partners who are building performance work with you. When you commit to this program, you’re committing to other artists who need you present, prepared, and engaged. Missing sessions disrupts the collaborative creative process for everyone involved. Show up ready to work, honor your colleagues by being reliable, and understand that you’re an essential part of an ensemble—this isn’t a class you can catch up on later.
The Culture We Build Together
Being part of Canberra Youth Theatre means joining a professional artistic community where emerging artists shape the future of Australian theatre. Our practice is built on:
- Commitment – to the work, the process, and the artists you’re creating alongside
- Courage – taking creative risks, challenging conventions, and pushing your practice forward
- Respect – for diverse perspectives, bold artistic choices, and the collaborative space we share
- Curiosity – treating each project as a chance to deepen your craft and expand your voice
- Professionalism – holding ourselves to the standards of the theatre industry we’re entering
This is where you transition from training into practice, where your ideas matter, and where the work you create contributes to your development, our community, and the broader arts sector.
Fees & Payment Structure
Actors Studio is a heavily subsidised program – the full cost is $1,315 per person, which, due to the generous support of our funders, we are able to offer for only $400 for our members. Nonetheless, we understand that paying upfront in full can be difficult, so we offer flexible payment plans to spread out the cost over the course of the program.
Please see the financial support we offer, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@canberrayouththeatre.com.au to discuss payment options.
“Canberra Youth Theatre was a lifeline for me. My time with the company was invaluable both personally and professionally, from the workshops I first attended at 14, to the plays I would go on to be in, to the stretch of time I was lucky enough to spend as a company ensemble performer. It’s the first stage I was ever on, the first place to ever commission writing from me. It’s where I learned to be an actor.”
Liv Hewson
Actor
Actors Studio is generously supported by Liv Hewson.
