The Belfast School of Performing Arts (BSPA) is Northern Ireland’s leading theatre School for 6-19 year olds and strives to deliver the highest level of training possible to every individual student.

As well as providing an exceptionally high standard of theatre tuition we endeavour to offer our students many unforgettable experiences. We have unique contacts with WestEnd & Broadway Performers, TV & theatre casting agencies (including our own in-house casting agency) and theatre professionals.  Through these opportunities, our students gain experience and learn more about performance and communicating with others.

Under the guidance of our Artistic Director, Peter Corry, we focus on helping our students grow in confidence so they can excel within the performing arts world and develop their social skills along the way. There is a strong emphasis on fun while we learn and we have a positive, creative, happy environment where our students develop friendships for life.

Every Saturday Morning from 10am – 1pm

York Theatre Royal, Harrogate Theatre and CAST are seeking to commission a new 45-minute play specifically for youth theatre groups aged 11–14, in response to the lack of existing repertoire for this age group.

The appointed playwright will work closely with each of the partner youth theatre groups, placing youth voice at the centre of the creative process. They will receive dramaturgical support throughout the development period.

The playwright will lead workshops and develop the script over the course of the 2025–2026 academic year. Performances by each partner’s youth theatre group will take place between September 2026 and July 2027.

We know that applying to drama schools can be daunting. Especially when there is so much choice! The Stage’s How to Choose Your Drama School edition is full of expert industry advice to help you navigate your next steps.

Whether you're interested in acting, technical theatre, or other performance pathways, this essential guide will give you a clearer picture of your options and what to consider when applying.

This year’s special edition comes out October 16 and this year, you can access the digital edition for free!

Simply sign up via the link, and a free digital edition will land in your inbox on October 16, packed-full with drama school advice.

Create your own model stage set with theatre designer Sophia Lovell Smith and explore stage design - could this be your future calling?

The 5 sessions offer the opportunity to explore the creative process from ‘text to stage’. Working from a set text, participants are given the space to create their own set design. Gathering creative references from text and pictures, the design is first visualised in white card, building towards a final 3D presentation in a model box.

Theatre design is not only about technical skills but also about nurturing a love of theatre and creativity.

The approach in these sessions creates a welcoming space that is friendly and inclusive. No particular prior experience is needed and we work in an inquiring and inventive atmosphere, sharing insights, ambitions, ideas.

Experience the magic of pantomime from behind the scenes!

Discover the magic that goes into creating our award- winning pantomimes. From costumes and props to stage secrets, it will be a unique glimpse into the world of theatre.

Take a picture of yourself in our pantomime set, see out wonderful costumes up close as you enjoy an exclusive backstage tour.

Our backstage tours are suitable for all ages to enjoy.

Dates:

Friday 12 December - 3.30pm & 4.15pm

Sunday 14 December - 11.45am

Tour lasts a maximum of 40mins.

Please bear in mind that there is no step free access on theatre tours.

Work alongside industry specialists as you develop your skills and abilities through the three essential disciplines: Acting, Dance and Singing. Collaborate, create and gain performance experience from full scale musicals to a graduate showcase.

With this musical theatre course you’ll become a confident, creative and self-motivated individual, ready to break into the industry.

This September, The Quay Theatre is re-launching its Youth Theatre groups, providing weekly drama workshops for young people aged seven to 15 years.

The new groups provide an exciting opportunity for local young people to engage with the craft of theatre in a professional space, with a focus on all manner of acting skills, as well as collaboration and creative communication.

The aim is to give young people somewhere they can feel safe to explore their creative expression - and have plenty of fun too!

Attendees will also have the opportunity to perform in The Quay Theatre itself, taking full advantage of its extensive professional facilities. Their termly showcase will be fully kitted out with lights, sound, costumes and more – a great experience for budding creatives.

Mortal Fools Youth Theatre is open to young people aged 5–19 years. We run weekly Youth Theatre groups, split by age in Ashington. 

At Mortal Fools, we focus on supporting children and young people’s creativity, wellbeing, and self-belief, using the medium of drama. We believe youth theatre can be a brilliant a vehicle to help young people to build their confidence and skills, support their mental heath, and to make sense of the world around them.

There are no auditions, no drama experience necessary, and no fees (although donations are welcome!). All we ask for is a willingness to give things a go, passion for performing, and lots of curious creativity.

Aged 18-25 and living in Edinburgh?

This autumn, join a professional director for a series of practical workshops where together you'll explore a range of theatrical approaches, practitioners, and performance styles in a collaborative, supportive setting.

This course is designed as an alternative training space for those who have recently left, or are about to embark on, further education, or those who are looking for fresh creative opportunities beyond school or work. Whether you're building on past experience or trying something new, you're welcome here.

No prior experience is needed, just curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to get stuck in.

Autumn Term – Tuesdays, 5pm – 7pm | 21 Oct – 9 Dec 2025

Apply your passion and complete your training at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – we offer drama school level training to mould you into a versatile actor and help you launch your career. 

Our BA (Hons) Acting is designed to develop you practically, personally and professionally and prepare you for this challenging industry. We have carefully designed a contemporary course that will train you for a creative career in front of a stage, screen or radio audience. You will receive specialist training in voice, movement and singing, graduating with the skill and aptitude to take on the exciting and dynamic world of the dramatic arts.

This course equips you with the skills you need to become a professional actor; continually stretching and challenging you to reach new levels of personal achievement and self-discovery. As a vocational actor training course, full commitment and attendance would be expected.

Read me aloud