Cost

• $30.00 per student
• $30.00 per teacher attending the workshops as a professional learning experience.

Should In the Spotlight Play Day workshops be cancelled prior to the advertised workshops and no alternative offered, a full refund will be provided.

In the event of a COVID-19 related withdrawal from the program on the day of the workshop, the participant will be refunded 50% of the participation fee paid.

Application process

School applications for the 2025 CoLab Senior Drama Workshops are now open to teachers. Applications close Friday 28 March 2025 (Term 1 Week 9).

Students are required to complete an online permission and authority to publish form by Friday 4 April 2025 (Term 1 Week 10). Students are only permitted to attend with their students group and teacher.

Teachers, are required to collect their own excursion permission forms and follow their schools excursion processes.

Cost

• $20 per student – students attending in person workshops
• $15 per student – regional, rural and remote students participating in the virtual workshops
   
• Schools will be responsible for collecting participation fees from their students.
• Schools will be automatically direct debited for their participation in CoLab.

Please use the tabs below to find information about some of the drama programs at The Arts Unit which we are looking for additional staff: 

NSW Public Schools Drama Ensembles at Lewisham (weekly, over two terms)

Tutors in the Drama Ensembles at Lewisham will work with up to 24 students from a range of schools to devise an original piece of theatre. Please note availability for the following dates:

• In 2025, the NSW Public Schools Drama Ensemble rehearsals will run on Wednesdays from Term 2 Week 1 until the completion of the Drama Festival in October at the Seymour Centre (Except for Term 2 Week 10 due to State Drama Camp).
• Each Wednesday, primary ensembles will run from 4:45 pm to 6:45 pm and secondary ensembles will from from 5 pm to 7 pm. 
• Rehearsals will also include three Sunday rehearsals – one per term on Sunday 15 June, Sunday 21 September and Sunday 19 October from 10 am to 4 pm. 
• The 2025 Drama Festival will take place in Term 4 Week 2 at the Seymour Centre, Chippendale. 

Mentee for NSW Public Schools Drama Ensembles at Lewisham

Mentees attend at least three rehearsals during the devising process and work with the tutor to assist with the ensemble for professional development. Note that this is not a paid role. Ensembles run across the following dates:

• In 2025, the NSW Public Schools Drama Ensemble rehearsals will run on Wednesdays from Term 2 Week 1 until the completion of the Drama Festival in October at the Seymour Centre (Except for Term 2 Week 10 due to State Drama Camp).
• Each Wednesday, primary ensembles will run from 4:45 pm to 6:45 pm and secondary ensembles will from from 5 pm to 7 pm. 
• Rehearsals will also include three Sunday rehearsals – one per term on Sunday 15 June, Sunday 21 September and Sunday 19 October from 10 am to 4 pm. 
• The 2025 Drama Festival will take place in Term 4 Week 2 at the Seymour Centre, Chippendale. 

Drama Ensembles coordinator (weekly, over two terms)

The Drama Ensembles Coordinator is a role that overseas the NSW Public Schools Drama Ensembles at The Arts Unit in Lewisham. The coordinator will have the following responsibilities: 

• managing student arrival and dismissal
• follow up of student absence and communication with parents during all rehearsals
• being the medical officer on site for the duration of the rehearsal period
• providing support, including behaviour management and creative feedback, for the program tutors
• assisting with communication between the tutors, ensemble members and the program officer

Please note availability for the following dates:

• In 2025, the NSW Public Schools Drama Ensemble rehearsals will run on Wednesdays from Term 2 Week 1 until the completion of the Drama Festival in October at the Seymour Centre (Except for Term 2 Week 10 due to State Drama Camp).
• Each Wednesday, primary ensembles will run from 4:45 pm to 6:45 pm and secondary ensembles will from from 5 pm to 7 pm. 
• Rehearsals will also include three Sunday rehearsals – one per term on Sunday 15 June, Sunday 21 September and Sunday 19 October from 10 am to 4 pm. 
• The 2025 Drama Festival will take place in Term 4 Week 2 at the Seymour Centre, Chippendale. 

State Drama Camp at Collaroy (one week intensive)

The State Drama Camp is a residential camp that will run at the Collaroy Centre. Tutors work with an ensemble group to devise a work across the camp and provide skills-based workshops to a range of students.

This year there are 3 different camps running concurrently: 

• Year 7 and 8 State Drama Camp - from Monday 30 June to Wednesday 2 July
• Year 9 and 10 State Drama Camp - from Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July
• Year 11 State Drama Camp - from Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July (performances on the evening of Thursday 3 July and metro students depart then)

Mentee at State Drama Camp

Mentees attend camp to observe a tutor's devising process and workshops for professional development.

This year there are three camps running concurrently:

• Year 7 and 8 State Drama Camp - from Monday 30 June to Wednesday 2 July
• Year 9 and 10 State Drama Camp - from Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July
• Year 11 State Drama Camp - from Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July (performances on the evening of Thursday 3 July and metro students depart then)

State Drama Camp workshop presenter (one day)

We are looking for industry specialists and expert tutors to run in-depth, specialist workshops across a few days of State Drama Camp (Tuesday 1 July - Thursday 3 July). Please select this option if you are interested in applying to be a specialist workshop presenter for any year group at this event for one or more days. 

State Drama Ensemble at Lewisham (one week intensive plus performances)

The State Drama Ensemble is a weekly intensive which will run during the school holidays from Monday 29 September to Friday 3 October.  The 2025 Drama Festival will take place in Term 4 Week 2 at the Seymour Centre, Chippendale. 

Sydney North Drama Ensembles expression of interest 

We are looking to build an inter-school drama ensemble somewhere in the north of Sydney. Dates, times and format are TBC and will depend on numbers, but select this option in the form below if you are interested in hearing more about this opportunity. 

CoLab Senior Drama Workshops at Parramatta, Pennant Hills, Penrith and Virtual (two workshop dates)

A collaboration on HSC group devising. Workshops occur over 2 separate days, with dates in 2025 TBC. Select this option if you are interested in being a workshop facilitator in this program.

Visit the website for more details.

LightsUP Drama Festival in Chatswood and Penrith

You can apply to be coordinating or assisting staff for the LightsUP festival. 

LightsUP – Penrith 

Thursday 19 June 2025 (Term 2 Week 8)

• Technical rehearsals: 9 am – 12 pm or 1 pm – 4 pm
• Performance: 7 pm

Q Theatre, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith

 

LightsUP – Chatswood 

Tuesday 17 June to Thursday 19 June 2025 (Term 2 Week 8)

• Technical rehearsals
  • Tuesday 17 June, 9 am – 3:30 pm
  • Wednesday 18 June, 9 am – 1:30 pm
• Performances (60 mins)
  • Wednesday 18 June, 7:30 pm
  • Thursday 19 June, 5 pm and 7:30 pm

The Concourse Theatre, Chatswood

In the Spotlight Play Day at Campbelltown (three workshop dates and performance)

In the Spotlight Play Day is an outreach drama program that provides public school students from Preschool to Year 8 with an innovative and inspiring opportunity to authentically engage in the Drama and English syllabus.

Workshops

Workshop sessions will take place from 9 am to 3 pm as an incursion on the following dates:

Term 1 Week 8: Monday 17 to Friday 21 March 2025
Term 1 Week 9: Monday 24 to Friday 28 March 2025
Term 1 Week 10: Monday 31 March to Friday 4 April 2025

Performance

The student showcase will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday 3 June 2025  (Week 6 Term 2) at Campbelltown Arts Centre.

Visit the website for more details. 

Dramaworks in Newcastle (one week of workshops plus performance)

Contemporary theatre workshops for secondary students providing an opportunity for them to engage in a diversity of performance techniques and conventions beyond the classroom.

Monday 31 March to Thursday 3 April (Term 1 Week 10) 9 am – 3 pm Showcase performance Thursday 3 April 6 pm

Visit the website for more details. 

Hunter Senior Drama Workshops in Newcastle (one day workshop)

Workshops providing Year 11 and 12 drama students from NSW regional and rural public schools with expert support in their skill development. A variety of different genres in drama will be investigated.

Tutors have been found for 2025, but select this to be an alternate tutor contact or for future connection to this program. 

Visit the website for more details.

Hunter Drama Festival in Newcastle (three day festival)

The Hunter Drama Festival is an opportunity for Hunter/Newcastle/Lake Macquarie/Port Stephens public schools to showcase selected drama items in a professional theatre. 

Select this option to be contacted for staffing this event.

Visit the website for more details.

Casual tutor - ongoing

Please select this option if you are interested in being contacted as a casual tutor option for any of the drama programs throughout the year.

Please complete the webform below to register your interest as a drama tutor. Be sure to check your email address (this is the only way we can communicate with you).
 
All applicants for child-related employment are required to provide a 'Working with Children Check Number' and a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

Once you have completed this form, you will receive an email confirming your application.

Please note that this application will only be considered in the calendar year of 2025, and future programs may require alternate application processes.

Should you have any queries, please contact us at drama.artsunit@det.nsw.edu.au.