Dive into a world of imagination and play in our SEN (Special Educational Needs) Creative Play Workshop
This workshop is specially designed to celebrate diversity and cater to varying abilities and needs. We will immerse ourselves in the magic of creative play with hands-on activities. You will discover the power of expressive arts in enhancing communication and self-expression taught by SEN-trained facilitators.
Wednesday 29 October
Have you got what it takes to be a successful theatre actor, producer or performer?
This advanced, practical Extended Diploma in Performing Arts (Creative Theatre Practice) is designed and taught by theatre professionals with extensive experience of theatre making and performance.
You will have the opportunity to develop your practice as an individual and as a member of a performance ensemble. You will be involved right from the start in an in-depth study of the performing arts, in which the practical side is strongly linked to the theory. The units that you study on the programme all lead to performance – some of these will be large scale public performances.
There is an option to complete the course after one year, achieving a subsidiary diploma, or complete two years which will lead to the extended diploma, equivalent to three A Levels. This will give you the option to apply to a range of universities or performance schools to study at degree level.
Fee for this course: £4,670
This course is normally free for the 16-to-18 age group.
This dynamic and intensive course takes place across four terms in a full calendar year. It is designed for those aged 21 and over who can discover and realise their potential as a creative artist over a year of training. You will be taught in group classes, developing your professionalism, collaboration and technical skill through ensemble learning and individual tutorials.
We expect you to be bold and fearless in your willingness to understand yourself and be prepared to be open and curious whilst experimenting with new methods of working. Throughout your training you will have opportunities to collaborate with leading directors, writers and producers.
The year culminates in London where you will perform in London venues to the public and to an invited industry audience. On completion of the course, you will be awarded Equity membership.
Graduates of this course include Tanya Reynolds, Babou Ceesay, Jude Owusu, Claire Foy and Richard Gadd.
This is a dynamic and demanding course based on the values of classical acting, adapted to suit the needs of the contemporary world and the artists of today.
The course is practical, not theoretical and provides a thorough training in vocal, physical and imaginative techniques which will support you in discovering your full creative potential. Our approach will provide you with the ability to continue learning and developing beyond these three years and throughout your professional life.
As a year group company you will be taught in classes and through regular one-to one tutorials across all of the core disciplines. You will have many opportunities to work collaboratively with leading directors, writers and designers from theatre, film and television as well as meeting key industry casting directors and agents.
You will be taught in group classes and through regular one-to one tutorials across all of the core disciplines. You will have many opportunities to work with leading practitioners from theatre, film and television as well as key industry casting directors and agents.
In your final year you will make your transition into the performing arts industries by spending your final term in London making work with directors and writers and performing at venues in London.
Our Level 1 Diploma is an inspiring first step into the world of music and performing arts.
Our UAL Award in Music (Level 1) is an inspiring first step into the world of music creation. We will be studying how to create music, utilise studio equipment, work collaboratively with others, and plan, develop and complete creative projects across a range of different genres, media and uses.
Picking a different focus every half term, we will be delving into the world of sound effects, creating a multi-genre class album, getting to grips with studio and stage equipment, and investigating the sound and music of film and video games.
Regardless of whether you’re a beginner with a strong interest in music, a well-practised musician or a keen home studio enthusiast, there will be something here to sink your creative teeth into.
Looking for new opportunities, need support with a personal project, or just after some advice?
Book a quick chat with the RicNic team to get unstuck, ask questions, or explore your next steps. We can help with everything from career planning and freelancing to opportunity-hunting, CV reviews, and more.
Our team brings a wealth of experience in event and theatre production, new writing development, and creative careers—and we’re connected to a broad network of industry professionals ready to offer shadowing, mentoring, or a helpful chat. Using proven coaching techniques, we’ll help you clarify your goals, find answers, and leave the session with a clear set of actions—plus our practical advice along the way.
NI Concert Band launches their new Training Band in September!
Starting Thursday 4 September 2025
Church of God, Glenmachan
6:30-7.30pm
Get more information available by emailing the address below.
The theme for our summer programme this year is Books and Story Telling!
We will take inspiration from Oscar Wilde’s sparkling comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest. Participants will be encouraged to explore the play’s themes of mistaken identity, love, and social conventions, and use these ideas to create their own performances.
Through lively workshops and creative exploration, they will devise unique theatre pieces that capture Wilde's wit and charm, bringing his timeless satire to life on stage.
Taught by a team of professional facilitators, this course is perfect for those studying Drama/Performing arts for GCSE and A level.
At the end of the week, family and friends will have the opportunity to join us for a sharing of their work, showcased in the Naughton Theatre.
Dates: Monday 18 – Saturday 23 August
A workshop for the politically engaged and perpetually exhausted. In the face of arts cuts, climate collapse, and rising authoritarianism, what does it mean to keep making political theatre?
Is it still a tool for change or just shouting into the void? This session creates space to reflect, rant, and reimagine: to swap strategies, share frustrations, and ask what resistance looks like onstage today.
All ticket sales will be donated to WarChild. The workshop will take place on June 22nd at Riverside Studios, 1:30pm - 3:30pm.
About Sam Rees:
Sam Rees is a critically acclaimed theatre-maker whose work has been staged at leading UK venues, including Summerhall, Oxford Playhouse, Soho, Norwich Theatre, and Jermyn Street. His recent projects include Edinburgh Fringe 2024 sell-out show Lessons On Revolution, praised as ‘compelling and galvanising’ (James Graham), ‘one of my favourites of this year’s fringe’ (Natasha Tripney),‘a heartfelt paean to the politics of hope ★★★★★’ (The Scotsman), ‘the best thing we’ve seen this year ★★★★★’ (The Morning Star), ‘intelligent, questioning documentary theatre ★★★★’ (The Stage), and ‘one of the most talked about shows from this year’s festival’ (The Conversation), and The Food Bank Show, called ‘utterly magnetic ★★★★’ by Broadway Baby, a show which ‘creates space for radical conversation to happen ★★★★’ by A Young(ish) Perspective), and ‘an exemplary production that defies the rules of the genre’ by Theatre Weekly.
We provide professional development opportunities for actors, writers, artists, designers and makers from the region
We strive to be a creative hub in the city that allows for peer learning and support, nurturing a culture of shared opportunities and experiences to support in career development and sustainability.
We know that all work, at every scale, starts somewhere and that it can be incredibly difficult to access space and support to develop new work in it's initial stages.
As part of our Studio programme, we have created Open Door to new and developing professional work.
