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 New World

Venture to the edge of the universe and uncover a whole new world! Explore improvisation and acting techniques to create unique characters and scenes in a galaxy where the rules of life are bizzarely different. Develop skills in spontaneity and creative thinking under the guidance of our NIDA Open teaching artists and present your cosmic adventures to family and friends at the end of term.

Components

• Craft: Participate in improvised scene work to develop basic acting and improvisation technique.
• Freeing the Imagination: Engage your imagination and develop lateral thinking skills through spontaneity and improvisation exercises.
• Ensemble: Work as part of a team to achieve a shared goal through improvised performance.

Term 2 Beasts, Bogs and Jabberwocks

Enter the fanciful worlds of Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, Shel Silverstein’s The Unicorn, and Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches to explore enchanting poems featuring extraordinary creatures. Explore physical theatre and choral voice techniques to bring these fantastical beings to life. Immerse yourself in a collaborative environment that celebrates self-expression. Share the rhythms and rhymes of your magical creations with family and friends at the end of the 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 Objects of Imagination

Unlock the power of ordinary to create extraordinary stories as you transform everyday objects into remarkable catalysts for storytelling. Explore devising techniques to build captivating scenes and characters and develop creative approaches to stage your stories. Delight your family and friends in a presentation of your original, devised scenes and imaginative journeys.

Components

• Physical Awareness: Take command of your physical presence on stage. Practice movement and performance skills through physical exercises and training.
• Creative Expression: Participate in fun and engaging performance exercises, learn how to develop and share your original ideas with others.
• Collaboration: Incorporate and develop shared ideas into a live presentation.

Term 4 Scenes from Australia

Discover exciting plays for young people by some of Australia’s leading playwrights. Combine your acting, voice, and movement skills to bring scenes and monologues from contemporary works to life. Develop your ability to read, analyse, and interpret scripts, and build your performance confidence. Invite friends and family for a short, scripted end-of-term presentation.

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.