THE ACTORS' PROGRAM is a rigorous one-year training program for established or emerging adult actors wishing to develop and deepen their craft, or new actors who show great potential. 

It will be taught by experienced and highly-regarded working professionals with strong connections within the industry who will be brought to the Program for specific classes or productions.  They will work under the guidance of founding Artistic Directors Sara Wiseman, Michael Hurst, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Charlie McDermott, John Callen, Michele Hine, and Cameron Rhodes.

The Program is designed to train actors to the level of excellence and professionalism required by the industry, and will be attentive to the needs of the industry, adapting the content as required.  Training will be vocational and practical, in an environment of discipline, passion, and respect.  It will include modern techniques of theatre, film, and television performance, as well as classical language and theatre skills. 

The Actors' Program course is unique in its approach to actor training in New Zealand:

 • Everything our students do will work towards, and culminate in, performance--whether on stage, in front of a camera, or into a microphone

 • There is no academic outcome required or written test component.  Students will, however, be expected to undertake specific research to prepare for character, scene, or performance work, in their own time

 • The training is intense and pared back to the core craft skills needed to be a working actor

 • We have high expectations of our students to be mature, independent, and self-motivated professionals from day one

 • We are a door to the industry led by highly regarded practitioners, taught by highly regarded practitioners, and producing highly regarded practitioners

 • We will give our students the skills to thrive in a tough and demanding industry, and the practicalities of life as a working actor

THE PROGRAM

WHO

A maximum of 14 students will be selected each year on the basis of talent and potential, regardless of gender, adult age, ethnicity, marital status, cultural or religious background, or sexual orientation.  Successful applicants must have the maturity and emotional capacity to cope with the demands of intensive training, and the potential to succeed as professional actors.

WHAT

Classes will cover:

 • Movement: flexibility, strength, expression, co-ordination, body knowledge, specific stage and screen movement techniques

 • Voice: physical/emotional connection, articulation, breath, tone, projection, accents, singing

 • Acting Technique for stage and screen: specific techniques for creating character and sustaining performance including:

    -    scene analysis and interpretation techniques
    -    classic and contemporary texts
    -    acting for camera
    -    improvisation
    -    characterisation

 • Professional Skills:  theatre and film/tv protocol, producing and creating work, business skills, marketing

 • Performance:  Each term will include a performance component for a selected audience.  There will also be a showcase season at the end of the year for industry professionals and the general public.

WHEN

Forty-two weeks of study divided into four terms.  Dates for 2012:

Term 1 - 23 January-29 March
Term 2 - 9 April-14 June
Term 3 - 2 July-13 September
Term 4 - 24 September-20 November

Classes will be held Monday-Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Performances may take place outside of these hours.

WHERE

The Auckland Performing Arts Centre (TAPAC), 100 Motions Road, Western Springs, Auckland.

HOW

Applications will be accepted from June 1 to August 22, 2011 for our debut course in 2012.  Auditions will be held in September.

A full prospectus will be available soon.  Email info@theactorsprogram.com to request a copy.  Be sure to provide your full name and address.