Studio courses for adults and young people

Intensive part-time courses for young people and adults.

NIDA Studios are for committed and creative individuals seeking an intensive and practical training experience.

Designed to develop skills and techniques in the performing arts, NIDA Studios deliver rigorous, practice-driven training in a supportive and collaborative environment. Classes are delivered on weekends over six or 12 months with a twice-yearly intake.

Studio Courses for adults 18 years+

Commencing in February in Sydney:

• Actors Studio
• Screen Actors Studio
• Actors Studio - Extension
• Directors Studio: Stage and Screen Performance
• Writers Studio: Stage and Screen Performance

Commencing in February in Brisbane & Melbourne:

• Actors Studio
• Screen Actors Studio

Studio Courses for young people aged 15-18 years

Commencing in February in Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne:

• Young Actors Studio

How to apply

Entry to studio courses is by audition or interview. All application information is available on each course page.

The audition/interview process

Auditions and interviews are an opportunity for us to get to know you and for you to ask questions about any aspect of the training.

Once enrolled you will be sent information about how to prepare your audition. You will have an opportunity on the day to collaborate with others and respond to direction.

If you have questions about auditioning or interviewing ahead of your session, you can speak with a member of the Program Management team.

Please note the courses will still be delivered face to face either in our Sydney or Melbourne Studios.

Studio benefits

With small class numbers and support from industry professionals, NIDA Studios offer fantastic opportunities to hone creative skills. As a NIDA Studio student, you also receive:

• 25% discount on selected full priced adult short courses for the duration of your studio
• access to an online learning management system
• individual tutorials with your core tutor (four-term program only).
• access to the NIDA library
• invitations to NIDA productions

Students graduate from a NIDA Studio with an autonomous and confident skillset that can be applied to building a professional career, going on to full-time training or simply enhancing their personal and professional creative lives.

Whatever your goals, a NIDA Studio will be a transformative part of your journey.

Quality teaching staff

NIDA Open tutors are experts in education and practice. Selected for their outstanding teaching ability, knowledge and industry experience, they are able to provide students with feedback, direction and guidance throughout each course. Many of our tutors are also NIDA graduates.

• Current NIDA Studio tutors include: Shane Anthony (director, Griffin Theatre and Sydney Festival); Pip Edwards (actor, Home and Away, Anzac Girls, June Again and Melbourne Theatre Company); Shaun Goss (actor, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries); Garth Holcombe (actor, Sydney Theatre Company and Bell Shakespeare); Zoe Houghton (actor, director, writer, All Saints, White Collar Blue, Belvoir St Theatre, Queensland Theatre Company); Anna Houston (actor & director, War Horse, Cyprus Avenue and Bell Shakespeare); Brendon McDonall (actor, director, filmmaker, Iris Prize winner, Spoilers and Janet King); Ngoc Phan (actor, Schapelle, The Black Balloon (feature film) and Queensland Theatre Company); Brett Rogers (actor, Rake and Terrapin Puppet Theatre); Nick Simpson-Deeks (actor, The Circuit, Winners and Losers and Bell Shakespeare); and Clara Voda (actor, L.S. Bulandra Theatre Co, Romania, If I Want to Whistle I Whistle (winner of Berlin’s Silver Bear and nominated for a European Academy Award) and The Death of Mister Lazarescu). Read more about our tutors.

Contemporary training practices

The 2021 NIDA Studios have been designed to reflect current practices in the arts and entertainment industries, drawing on the expertise of industry professionals. NIDA’s connection to the contemporary arts industry ensures students are provided with the opportunity to develop a professional network within the arts and entertainment industry.

Read what our students have to say about their Studio course.

Purpose-built facilities

Sydney
The NIDA Kensington campus is an award-winning facility tailored to dramatic arts training. The venue includes six professional performance spaces, rehearsal rooms, a sound stage, a lighting studio, make-up studios, fully equipped production workshops and the latest in audio-visual facilities.

Brisbane
In Brisbane, NIDA Studios are run at the state-of-the art facilities of TAFE Brisbane, located in the heart of Brisbane’s cultural precinct.

Melbourne
In Melbourne, NIDA Studios are held in our brand new NIDA Melbourne rehearsal rooms, located at Creative Spaces: Guild, in the heart of the Arts Precinct in Southbank, and at The Abbotsford Convent, a unique learning and cultural centre 4km from the CBD.

What people are saying

'Wonderful, glorious, challenging, frustrating, frightening, liberating, incendiary, breathtaking, transformational. I am a different human.'
Student, Actors Studio

'Under Shaun’s guidance, we learnt the diligence, commitment and discipline it takes to be an actor; he taught us how to really DO ‘the work.’ He challenged me with a character that was beyond anything I had ever played before, and I will always be grateful for him believing that I could do it. The experience was phenomenal, in that he made us work incredibly hard for our characters and we each produced work of which we are very proud.'
Student, Screen Actor’s Studio

‘Learning to develop my writers’ voice was a challenge but an incredibly rewarding experience. The Writers Studio changed how I read and understand plays and I would highly recommend the course for all creatives within the industry – whether writers, actors or directors.'
Student, Writers Studio

'A NIDA Studio creates opportunities by connecting like-minded creative professionals and industry experts. It fosters the development of new and long-term collaborations and encourages an exchange of know-how. With the support and encouragement from the tutors and my fellow classmates, I have founded an independent theatre company.'
Student, Directors Studio

Contact us

To talk to someone about the best studio course for you, please call 1300 450 417. We can advise you on options and pathways.