DSC07076

Workshops

Some of the biggest names in New Zealand theatre have been sharing their skills through professional workshops over the past 26 years. Subjects include acting, directing, vocal techniques, Shakespeare, lighting, costume and set design, unarmed combat, and performing in the intimate zone. These workshops are kept affordable with support from Creative Communities/Auckland Council.

For information about upcoming events, join the mailing list. NB: HLT members will be offered workshop places first. For ongoing tuition, see HLT's Acting Classes.

Past Workshops 

2025
  •  "Working in the 'L'" – a directing and design workshop with Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Michael Hurst and John Verryt that focused on the challenges of directing in HLT's "L" stage configuration.
2024
  •   “The Craft of Acting" with Jennifer Ward-Lealand – a level 1 master class in which actors were directed in scenes.
  •  "Performing in the Intimate Zone – Advanced" with Jennifer Ward-Lealand.
2023
  •  “Performing in the Intimate Zone" with Jennifer Ward-Lealand. In this workshop, actors and directors worked on the process of developing an intimate scene for the theatre.
  •  "An Introduction to Sound and Lighting Design" with designer Glen Mortensen.
  •  A 10-week "Playwriting Workshop" with playwright and screenwriter Paul Kalburgi.
  •  "Speaking Shakespeare" – a vocal workshop with internationally trained voice and performance coach Kirstie O’Sullivan.
  •  Unarmed Combat and Falls Workshop with stunt professional Peter Hassall.
2022
  •   ”The Actor's Voice” with internationally trained voice tutor Kirstie O’Sullivan.
  •  “The Craft of Acting" with Jennifer Ward-Lealand. A level 1 master class in which actors were directed in scenes.
2021
  •  A “Screen Naturalism” masterclass for beginners with director and acting coach Miranda Harcourt.
  •  An advanced “Screen Naturalism” masterclass with director and acting coach Miranda Harcourt.
  •  “How to Find an Audience for Your Creative Work” with Paris Kirby and Elisabeth Vaneveld.
2020
  •  ”The Actor's Voice” with internationally trained voice tutor Kirstie O’Sullivan.
  •   A “Screen Naturalism” masterclass with freelance director and acting coach Miranda Harcourt.
  •  “The Craft of Acting" with Jennifer Ward-Lealand – a master class in which actors were directed in scenes.
  •  “Performing in the Intimate Zone" with Jennifer Ward-Lealand. Actors and directors worked on the process of developing an intimate scene for the theatre using Equity NZ’s best practice guidelines.
2019
  •  "The Craft of Acting" with Jennifer Ward-Lealand – a master class in which actors were directed in scenes.
  •  "Lighting Design" with Nik Janiurek. A workshop for beginners and intermediate lighting practitioners that explored the intricacies of lighting a production, The Spirit of Annie Ross
  •  "Performing in the Intimate Zone" with Jennifer Ward-LealandIn this workshop, actors and directors worked on the process of developing an intimate scene for the theatre using the best practice guidelines instigated by Equity New Zealand in 2015 and further developed by UK intimacy co-ordinator Ita O’Brien.
  •  "The Craft of Acting" with Jennifer Ward-Lealand – a master class in which actors were directed in scenes.
  •  A “Screen Naturalism” masterclass with freelance director and acting coach Miranda Harcourt.
2018
  •  "Seeing the Ghost", a weekend playwriting workshop with Murray Edmond, writer, poet, dramaturge and former Associate Professor in Drama at the University of Auckland.
  •  A screen naturalism masterclass with director and acting coach Miranda Harcourt.
2017
  •  "An Introduction to Directing for Theatre" with HLT member Terry Hooper. Run over eight weeks.
  •  "Accents in Action" with Kirstie O'Sullivan, head of voice for the Actor's Program.
2016
  •  "Sound Design" with HLT member Hanneke Beets.
  •  "Auditioning" with Terry Hooper, BA (Hons) in Theatre. Auditioning tips and techniques. 
  •  An Introduction to Directing for Theatre" with HLT member Terry Hooper BA (Hons) in Theatre. Run over eight weeks.
  •  "The Craft of Acting" with Jennifer Ward-Lealand  a master class where participants were directed in scenes.
  •  "Take Your Performance to the Next Level" -- a workshop for actors with Cameron Rhodes.
2015 
  •  "Stage Management for Community Theatre" with HLT member Nick Martin.
  •  "Unarmed Combat Workshop" with experienced fight tutor Peter Hassall
  •  "Lighting Design" with Nik Janiurek. A workshop for beginners and intermediate lighting practitioners that explored the intricacies of lighting a production, Mary's Wedding
  •  Acting Workshop: Connecting actors to their emotional impulses" with actor/teacher Juliet Furness.
  •  "Accents in Action" with Kirstie O'Sullivan, head of voice for the Actor's Program.
2014
  •  "An Introduction to Directing for Theatre" with HLT member Terry Hooper BA (Hons) in Theatre. Run over eight weeks.
  •  "Acting Workshop: Connecting actors to their emotional impulses" with actor and teacher Juliet Furness.
  •  "The Craft of Acting" with Jennifer Ward-Lealand  a master class where participants were directed in scenes.
  •  "Set Design", with John Parker, one of NZ's most accomplished set designers. Over four days, participants worked collaboratively on the set and costume designs for HLT's 2014 production of Noises Off.
2013
  •  An Introduction to Directing for Theatre" with HLT member Terry Hooper BA (Hons) in Theatre. Run over eight weeks.
  •  “Accents & The Actor's Voice” with internationally trained voice tutor Kirstie O’Sullivan, from the Actors’ Program. 

2012

  •  "Set Design", with John Parker, one of NZ's most accomplished set designers. Over four days, participants worked collaboratively on the set and costume designs for HLT's 2012 production of Peninsula, a NZ drama.
  •  "The Craft of Acting – developing acting craft to improve the actor's performance", with Jennifer Ward-Lealand
  •  "Sound Design", with Robert Hunte from Unitec. 
  •  "Lighting Design, with Nik Janiurek. A workshop for beginners and intermediate lighting practitioners. 

2011

  •  "Shakespeare  – As You Like It" workshop for actors, with Michael Hurst, Shakespearean authority and one of NZ's most experienced actors and directors.
  •  "Directing Actors – Enabling directors to get more out of a performance by developing acting craft" – for actors and directors, with Jennifer Ward-Lealand.

2010

  •  "Cleaning and Maintenance of Theatre Lights" with award-winning lighting designer Nik Janiurek.
  •  “Impulse, Vocal Tune Up and Connection – a workshop for actors”, with leading professional actor, director and voice/acting tutor Cameron Rhodes.    
  •  "Directors' Workshop" with professional actor, director and acting tutor Miranda Harcourt. 

2009

  •  "The Actor's Voice", with leading voice teacher and Unitec's Head of Voice Kirstie O’Sullivan
  •  “Let There Be Context”, with professional actor, director and tutor Stuart Devenie
  •  "Lighting Design Workshop" for beginner and intermediate designers, with award-winning designer Nik Janiurek.
  •  "Directing Actors – enabling directors to get more out of a performance by developing acting craft", with actor/director Jennifer Ward-Lealand
  •  "Bringing Your Performance to Life – An acting technique workshop", with leading acting coach Miranda Harcourt

2008

  •  "Owning the Stage – Improvisation to Enhance Your Performance Skills" with professional actor/director and tutor Clare Kelso of ConArtists. 
  •  "The Actor's Voice" with Unitec's Head of Voice, Kirstie O'Sullivan

2007

  •  "Exploring the Actor's Craft" with professional actor/director and voice coach Cameron Rhodes
  •  "Actors in Search of a Character" with professional actor/director Oliver Driver
  •  "Shakespeare in Action" with Jonathon Hendry, then head of acting at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School.

2006

  •  "Acting Is Reacting – Exploring and Developing Acting Craft in Scene or Monologue Study" with professional actor/director and teacher Jennifer Ward-Lealand

2005

  •  "Whatever Happened to Comedy? – a short course in acting", with professional actor/director Stuart Devenie

2004

  •  Professional director John Callen directed HLT's Speaking in Tongues, working with cast, crew and observers to improve skills and knowledge.
  •  "From Scratch: Creating Characters for Theatre" with Indian Ink Theatre Company director/co-writer Justin Lewis.

2003

  •  "Shakespeare to Shortland Street – Acting in a Parallel Universe" with director/actor John Callen.
  •  Advanced Lighting Design and Special Effects with award-winning lighting designer Bryan Caldwell.
  •  Improvisation with professional Theatresports Auckland actor/tutor Clare Kelso of the ConArtists.

2002

  •  Acting and Devising with Ben Crowder of Theatre Stampede.
  •  Directing with Ben Crowder of Theatre Stampede.

2001

  •  Acting with Miranda Harcourt, then head of acting with Toi Whakaari: The NZ Drama School.
  •  Set and Costume Design with award-winning designer Tracy Grant.
  •  Lighting Design with David Seaton, then Head of Technology for Auckland’s The Edge. 

2000

  •  Acting with Christian Penny, co-founder of Theatre at Large and director of Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School.
  •  Directing with Christian Penny.

1999

  •  Lighting Design with Steve Marshall, head of Performance Technology at Unitec. 
  •  Set Design with designer/architect Dorita Hannah, then head of department at Victoria University, Wellington.