DramaWorks Newcastle

Region: Regional North Regional North and West | Newcastle
Years 7 to 12
Local arts program Drama

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

The workshops offer secondary students an experience in exploring styles and conventions of drama that are highly contemporary and relevant through access to entertainment industry leaders actively earning a living in the arts.

For many students DramaWorks is a significant stepping-stone on their journey of self-discovery and enables them to work with like-minded students in focusing on delving deeper into the development of their skills.  DramaWorks provides students with the skills to successfully enrich their confidence, life skills and academic abilities.

Masterclasses are delivered by a talented team of industry professionals and give students an unforgettable opportunity to develop new drama skills to playbuild, refine and deliver a performance in a professional entertainment venue.


2025 dates

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

How to apply

Applications are now open!

Cost

Venue

Civic Playhouse, 375 Hunter Street Newcastle 2300

2025 workshops

Workshop Practitioner

The Assembly

Students will explore the art of comedy, drama, and everything in between! Master the techniques of satire, learning how to create stories that balance humor with sharp commentary. This unique workshop is the perfect blend of humor, chaos, and order, designed to bring out the best in every performer. Develop key performance skills and work together to bring a showcase to life filled with hilarious and dramatic moments. Get ready to perform and have fun with new friends as you learn, laugh, and unleash your inner actor.

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Justin Buchta

 

Justin Buchta

Justin Buchta trained for theatre completing both the professional acting course and 2 years of LEM (Laboratory of Movement Study) under the tutelage of Jacques Lecoq in Paris. Prior to this he played the role of Harlequin in Sydney, under the direction of Richard Hayes-Marshall. He has co-directed an international ensemble of 15 theatre artists called Theatre Espiral, who performed Street Theatre, Circus, Giant Masks and Puppetry for the European Capital of Culture Porto. As a teacher-facilitator Justin taught acrobatics and stage stunts at the Actors Centre Sydney. Justin produces and tours both his one-man shows called WouldMan and CircusBox, for theatre festivals, for people of all ages.

Found Footage Film

Students will utilise camera, editing and ‘documentary style’ filmmaking to bring their story to life. This workshop gives students the opportunity to develop and refine their acting and play building skills through improvisation, ensemble-based dramaturgy, and multimedia. Student will explore a range of contemporary devising techniques built upon movement, imagination and storytelling, to collaboratively create a piece of theatre Including coaching in acting for screen, use of technology and editing programs, and roles behind the scenes. The final performance, will consist of movement, voice and dramatic storytelling on stage, as well as the use of film and multimedia.

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Jarrah Webster
Jarrah Webster

Jarrah is one of the practitioners and acting coaches at TrueScreen where she has been coaching for 3 years now, teaching all ages of kids, teens and adults both 1:1 and group classes. She has a strong background in professional acting training including Diplomas from both Sydney Theatre School and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama London. Jarrah has diverse and thorough experience working both on stage and on screen and devising and creating theatre. She has a worked professionally in the industry since 2015 and has also worked as a teacher assistant in both primary and secondary schools while she lived and worked in London.

Further information

Participating students must be available to perform in the final performance showcase which takes place on the Thursday evening from 6 pm at the Civic Playhouse, where we'd love to save you a seat!

Enquiries

Heather Ross
Arts Coordination Officer
Phone
0448 556 818
Renee Berger
Coordinator
Civic Playhouse

375 Hunter St
Newcastle NSW 2300
Australia

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All Arts Units programs are inclusive. If support is required to participate in DramaWorks Newcastle, please email heather.l.williams@det.nsw.edu.au so we can assist.