Overview

Build confidence, enhance communication, and develop both critical and creative thinking skills. In engaging and dynamic classrooms, we will explore a variety of performance techniques that are exciting, fun, and foster personal growth and self-expression

Learning framework

Each term we focus on a specific area of performance practice to ensure students have a varied experience and learn a range of essential creative skills. Students can join us at the start of any term during the year. NIDA Open Drama courses are designed across a four-term structure within the following learning framework: 

Term 1 Improvisation and Performance Craft 
Term 2 Voice and Movement 
Term 3 Devising and Contemporary Performance 
Term 4 Script Work and Staging 

Term 1: Epic Crossovers

What happens when Red Riding Hood stumbles into Hogwarts or Harry Potter meets the Big Bad Wolf? Get ready to explore epic crossovers where fictional worlds collide in unexpected ways! Use improvisation techniques to create dynamic scenes, and develop characters as they navigate these wild, mixed-up universes. Explore the joy of spontaneity, and storytelling and share your unique crossover stories with friends and family in an exciting, off-the-cuff presentation.

Components

• Craft: Participate in improvised scene work to develop basic acting technique.
• Freeing the Imagination: Develop new stories, ideas and adventures through improvisation exercises and techniques.
• Ensemble: Work as part of a team to achieve a shared goal through performance.

Term 2: Radio Star

Turn up the volume and let your voice be heard as you dive into the world of soundscape storytelling and radio plays. Develop vocal expression and movement techniques to create engaging characters and stories in our vibrant and supportive classrooms. Work with NIDA Open teaching artists to bring your stories to life and create a short voice and character presentation to share with friends and family at the end of term.

Components

• Vocal Expression: Learn how the voice works and develop vocal confidence in a live performance setting.
• Characters: Experiment with vocal and physical expression to create an original character.
• Performance : Apply acting, voice and movement practice to a short scripted presentation.

Term 3: That’s Weird

Being a kid can be complicated, and some things are just plain weird! Inspired by the award-winning WeirDo book series by Anh Do, dive into the world of ‘fish out of water’ stories and create your own slightly offbeat scenarios. Develop your storytelling and character-building skills as you devise original scenes with your NIDA Open friends. Bring your oddball stories to life in our engaging and supportive classrooms and share your wonderfully weird creations with friends and family at the end of the course.

Components

• Creative Expression: Participate in fun and engaging performance exercises to develop and share your original ideas with others.
• Characters: Experiment with vocal and physical expression to create an original character.
• Collaboration: Incorporate and develop shared ideas into a live presentation.

Term 4: Journey Through Time

Embark on an exciting journey and explore the realm of time travel adventure plays for young audiences. Explore techniques to analyse scripts, develop characters, and uncover the exhilarating elements of storytelling. Rehearse scenes from contemporary works and bring these captivating narratives to life on stage. Share your time travel adventure scenes with family and friends at the end of term.

Components

• Text Analysis: Interpret and bring to life a short written text for live performance.
• Stage Craft: Consider the elements that contribute to the physical realisation of a performance.
• Performance: Apply acting, voice and movement practice to a short scripted, live presentation.

For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions.

For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions.