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
Creative teens in Tameside, Rochdale and Oldham are invited to sign up for a free course that could open the door to a career in the arts.
The Creative Careers programme includes a choice of music, dance, or visual arts taster sessions as well as exploring career paths and learning how to stage an event.
Delivered by Tameside Carnival arts organisation Global Grooves, it is open to young people aged 13-18, and will run on weekday evenings at The Vale in Mossley, Tameside, Richard Street Studios in Rochdale and The Old Museum in Oldham.
Over nine sessions, from November 2025 to January 2026, participants will hear from inspirational arts role models and have the chance to chat with them about their own goals and creative ambitions. They will gain a deeper understanding of what it means to work in the arts industry through practical tasks, and have the opportunity to further their skills and knowledge by working with like minded artists already in the industry.
Additional taster days for arts and crew training will run on November and January weekends.
There will also be the chance to join Global Grooves for work experience on large scale events in Tameside, Stockport, Rochdale, and Manchester during November and December.
Global Grooves are particularly interested in supporting young people who are either neurodivergent, have no qualifications, are not currently in work or education, or have faced barriers elsewhere. Young people with additional needs are eligible to join up to the age of 25.
The first sessions will run 6.30-8.30pm on Monday 3 November in Oldham, Tuesday 4 November in Rochdale and Wednesday 5 November in Tameside.
Travel expenses can be claimed back on request.
Suffolk Community Libraries, National Centre for Writing and Suffolk Wildlife Trust are looking for six up-and-coming short-form writers to take part in an intensive residency, engaging creatively with nature, landscape, and communities.
Are you an emerging short-form writer living in Suffolk and looking to develop your written craft and community practice? Wild Pages gives you the chance to collaborate with fellow writers, develop your voice, and hone your skills in delivering workshops and activities with an eco-focus to people of all ages.
Over the course of the week, you’ll take part in talks and workshops led by environmentally conscious organisations and community artists, offered self-led creative and field research time, and encouraged to share your work with the public.
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.
Each day, the children will explore different styles of musical theatre, focusing on singing, dancing, and acting.
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.
