Technical Theatre - The Production Program

Want to work in the exciting world of Technical Theatre?

In partnership with Auckland Live, The Actors' Program is expanding its offerings with The Production Program.

This one-week intensive workshop will give you a solid foundation of technical ability, basics of design and an understanding of the professional live theatre process. Suitable for participants of any level of knowledge or experience, you'll work in a safe and supportive environment on stage at The Herald Theatre. 

The workshop will take place Monday 10th  – Friday 14th  of October in The Herald Theatre, 10am and 4pm. 

This exclusive course will cover the following topics:
* Theatre jargon and orienting yourself to the stage
* Safe rigging practices
* Lighting and AV equipment setup and the principle of signal flow
* Show control
* Stage management and show calling.
* Design fundamentals

The workshop will be delivered by Michael Craven, the lighting designer for The Dust Palace
and former discipline lead of UNITEC’s Production Design and Management course.

Sign up today!

Workshop Dates & Times: Monday 10 October 2022 - Friday 14 October @ 10am – 4pm

Venue: The Herald Theatre, 50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland CBD

Cost: $400 (gst inc.)

The Actors’ Program is proud to fling open the mysterious doors of the rehearsal room to Secondary and Intermediate teachers of Drama and the Performing Arts.

Led by current theatre professionals this weekend intensive will give a gentle taste of the training we offer actors and directors. Gain an insight into the working practices of crafting performance and a robust toolbox of professional tips and tricks to get you inspired. Fun and inclusive, the workshops combine theory, practical exercises and discussion to lift the lid on the professional rehearsal room and explore how this can be easily adapted for the classroom.

Dates:   Saturday 11th September, 10am – 3pm

               Sunday 12th September, 10am – 3pm

Cost:   $350 +GST

The Actors’ Program presents the Directors’ Series

 The Directors’ Series is designed to be the perfect toolbox generator for ardent directors for stage and screen, of any experience level. Whether taken individually or as a series package, these craft-based workshops are the perfect opportunity to hone your skills and further discover the exciting and challenging world of screen and theatre arts.

The Craft of Screen Writing:

Led by the prolific and dexterous Kate McDermott, The Craft of Screen Writing is a practical and vibrant creative lab designed to invigorate your writing muscle. Discover the power of your own unique voice, of the vision you have of our world as you see it now, and how this can be brought creatively to the screen. Discover constructive ways to nurture the spark of an idea to full fruition; accessible ways to keep motivated through the writing process and a fresh perspective on building character, connection and conflict. Whether itching with ideas for short films, web series, or feature length dramas, this workshop is the perfect opportunity to sharpen your tools in the craft of screen writing.

Kate McDermott is one of New Zealand’s busiest screen writers having worked on a wealth of the country’s favourite television including Shortland Street, Westside, Outrageous Fortune, Go Girls and the latest SPP series Head High. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be led by the industry’s best.

Sign up today!

Workshop Dates & Times: Saturday 8th May + Sunday 9th May, 10am – 4pm

Venue: The Actors’ Program Studio, Auckland

Cost: $325

Book two workshops and receive a 20% discount! Book three workshops and receive a 30% discount!

Directing for Television 101:

Have a passion for screen directing and want to get down to basics?

Want to sharpen your technical knowledge?

Desire and insight into the fast world of television?

Screen Directing 101 is the workshop-intensive for you.

This weekend-long course is led by Shortland Street directing treasure, Jacqueline Nairn, in order to kickstart your skills in screen arts through fuss free, hands-on exercises. Participants will lift the lid on shot coverage, shoot planning and the shaping of scenes with actors. Jacqueline will be joined by a South Pacific Pictures DOP and professional actors. Practical, motivational and professionally led, Directing for Television 101 is a rare opportunity to challenge what you know and hone your unique artistic voice as a television director. Perfect as a stand-alone weekend, or as part of a series of our workshops.

 Workshop Dates & Times: Saturday 29th May + Sunday 30th May 10am – 5pm

 Venue: The Actors’ Program Studio, Auckland

 Cost: $325

 Book two workshops and receive a 20% discount! Book three workshops and receive a 30% discount!

Screen Directing - Crafting Performance:

Feeling technically proficient but wanting to broaden your scope with actors?

Want to expand your skills in crafting rich and complex performances?

Passionate about unlocking the depth of a scene?

Screen Directing - Crafting Performance is the workshop-intensive for you.

Led by well-respected industry practitioner Ian Hughes (Step Dave, Shortland Street) this hands-on, craft-focused workshop is designed to broaden your skills in shaping complex and dynamic performances from actors. Perfect for screen directors who want to extend their relationship with actors and their process, participants will use a variety of techniques introduced to them through highly practical exercises with professional actors. Perfect as a stand-alone workshop, or as part of a double-bill of workshops.

Workshop Dates & Times: Friday 11th June 5pm – 9pm; Saturday 12th + Sunday 13th June 10am – 4pm

Venue: The Actors’ Program Studio, Auckland

Cost: $325

Book two workshops and receive a 20% discount! Book three workshops and receive a 30% discount!

Vernon God Little - directed by Leon Wadham

Featuring - Anya Banerjee, Beth Alexander, Bianca Paine, Bronwyn Ensor, Dominique Bela, Dylan Toussaint, Emily Brill-Holland, Genevieve Kent, Hamish Annan, Isaac Cleland, Jarred Blakiston, Jessi Williams, Karen Ellett, Sebastian Dudding, Simon Mead and Sophia Johnson

In this age of American gun violence and Reality TV comes a splittingly caustic black comedy that is both staggeringly perceptive and stupidly salient. Adapted by Tanya Ronder from the Man Booker prize-winning novel, The Actors’ Program and Last Tapes Theatre Company present this Auckland premiere.

Tickets available now - vernon-god-little

Latecomers cannot be admitted.

The Actors’ Program and Last Tapes present the Auckland premiere of Vernon God Little at the Basement Theatre, November 16-25. 

And what better way to end the year than a biting black comedy about American gun violence? Think South Park meets Bowling for Columbine. 
 

“Vernon is a brilliant comic creation: hapless, unlucky, cynical, often tragic”
– The Guardian

Written in 2001 by celebrated playwright Tanya Ronder as an adaptation of DBC Pierre’s Booker Prize-winning novel, it’s almost stupidly relevant to the current bizarre state of contemporary politics and culture. In Pierre’s own words “I’m not a satirist. Reality has surpassed satire”.  

The original novel was described by The Booker Prize judges  as a "coruscating black comedy reflecting our alarm but also our fascination with America"

It’s absurd and unsettling, but no more so than the real world. 

It’s challenging and entertaining and madcap and heartfelt. 

It’s pure theatre, just like the presidential elections.

“Vernon... is like Holden Caulfield on Ritalin”
– The Independent

This production is particularly precious to director Leon Wadham (known for his role in Go Girls), who worked on the NZ premiere of the work in 2010 with Long Cloud Theatre Company under Sophie Roberts and Willem Wassenaar. Fresh from a 2015 directing internship with Roberts and Silo Theatre Company, Wadham is looking to bring the chaotic mania of Pierre’s novel to life with an invigorated troupe of new actors. Wadham say’s “Vernon… is like South Park meets Bowling for Columbine. It has its finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the world right now, just turned up to ‘eleven’. It’s a delight”.

The Actors’ Program are optimistic about emerging talent in NZ performing arts, and encourage mentoring to grow a world-class theatre industry. This means working with exciting, fresh new talent, but also bringing in the best in the business to help out. Fittingly, the creative team for Vernon God Little includes Andrew Foster – board member of Wellington’s Circa Theatre and celebrated theatre maker in his own right; Lara Macgregor – ex-Artistic Director of Dunedin’s Fortune Theatre; and Paul McLaney – one of New Zealand’s most influential musicians. 

Together with the Basement Theatre, the home of the most exciting emerging voices in Auckland theatre, Last Tapes and The Actors’ Program unfold a show that’s as mad as the present, and a production full of future promise.

Vernon God Little
presented by The Actors’ Program  

Basement Theatre, 16-25 November 2016
iticket.co.nz/events/2016/nov/Vernon-god-little