Workshops and Training
This is a place to find workshops and training opportunities for children, young people, educators and performing arts practitioners. From physical workshops to online sessions, and from children’s drama classes to professional development, our members offer training in areas as diverse as rehearsing creatively online, performance skills, teacher workshops, touring TYA and collaborating with young people.
PAYPA is also exploring opportunities for mentorship and internships by sector leaders. This programme, which we aim to introduce in 2023, will look at facilitating internships for emerging practitioners in TYA organisations across New Zealand, and mentorship for TYA productions.
The following is a list of upcoming and recent workshops and training. If you would like to offer or list a workshop, please email Kerryn Palmer so we can promote it here and add it to our calendar.
Storybox Drama
Enrolments are open for Storybox Drama’s Term 1 Process Drama Classes for ages 4-12, Christchurch.
Bring a Puppet to Life!
Make a Practice Puppet and explore techniques to breathe life into it - a 1-day workshop led by Bridget Sanders (Birdlife Productions), 18 December, Wellington.
Hagley Theatre School 2026
Auditions for the 2026 intake for Hagley Theatre School’s One-Year Acting Training and Six-Month Theatre Creation courses have been extended to 6 December.
Threads of Ancestry - A Soul Connection
A 3-day string puppetry workshop for adults, led by international puppeteer Rosana Lòpez - Rotorua 14-16 November.
Hagley Theatre School 2026 Audition
Applications for Hagley College Theatre School 2026 are now open - application deadline 30 October.
Who What Where Drama Workshops
Join us this November for some cheap-as-chips drama workshops for children aged 5 to 14, at Wellington’s Takina Exhibition space.
Massive Theatre Company’s Teacher Workshops
Massive’s professional development workshops, led by Massive’s Artistic Director Sam Scott, are suitable for teachers and theatre practitioners of all levels.
a2 Theatre Intensive
A crash course for 14 to 21 year-olds in how to find your voice as a professional actor and artist, lead by Ben Ashby and the a2 Company - 22-26 September, Wellington.
Basement Co-Labs - Voice
Voice workshop, free for Manawatu students aged 14 to 18. 11 October, Palmerston North.
Hagley Theatre School Taster Day
Aspiring theatre makers are invited to explore Hagley Theatre School's teaching style, study options and core elements of acting training - 3-5pm Friday 22 August at Hagley College, Christchurch.
Hagley Theatre School 2026 Audition
Applications for Hagley College Theatre School 2026 are now open - application deadline 30 October.
Basement Co-Labs - Tech
Tech workshop, free for Manawatu students aged 14 to 18 - 2 August, Palmerston North.
Massive Theatre Company July Foundations
Massive’s July Foundations Workshops for rangatahi aged 14-25 years - Auckland, 8-11 July.
Theatre Lab for Young Creators
Theatre training for ages 14-18, with professional theatre practitioners - 7 to 12 July at BATS Theatre, Wellington.
Basement Co-Labs - Devising
Devising workshop, free for Manawatu students aged 14 to 18 - 12-13 July, Palmerston North.
Basement Co-Labs - Stage Combat
Stage Combat workshop, free for Manawatu students aged 14 to 18 - 7 June, Palmerston North.
Massive Theatre Company Foundations Wellington
This free half-day workshop offers theatre training for people aged 18-25 years - 6 June, Wellington.
Ōtepoti Boosted X Moana Crowdfunding Workshop
Ōtepoti Boosted X Moana Crowdfunding Workshop — a relaxed and inspiring session made for Pasifika creatives, Dunedin, 22 April.
Advanced Acting Workshop
Refine your craft skills with award-winning actor Joel Tobeck . Free workshop for Manawatu students aged 14-18 - Palmerston North, 3 May.
Massive Theatre Company April Foundations
Massive’s April Foundations Workshops for rangatahi aged 14-25 years - Ōtara, Auckland, 14-16 April.