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Workshops

Some of the biggest and most illustrious names in New Zealand theatre have been sharing their skills through professional workshops at Howick Little Theatre in the past 25 years. The subjects of these mainly weekend workshops have included acting, directing, vocal techniques, Shakespeare, lighting, costume and set design, unarmed combat, and performing in the intimate zone. We are able to keep these workshops affordable thanks to the wonderful support from Creative Communities/Auckland Council.

If you want information about upcoming events, add your name to the workshop emailing list. NB: HLT members will be offered workshop places first. If you are interested in ongoing acting classes with a leading professional tutor, see HLT's Acting Classes.

Past Workshops 

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 using Equity NZ’s best practice guidelines.
  •  "An Introduction to Sound and Lighting Design" with Glen Mortensen, an expert in his field.
  •  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 freelance director and acting coach Miranda Harcourt.
  •  An advanced “Screen Naturalism” masterclass with freelance 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. In this workshop, 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, whose teaching included a post-grad course in playwriting.
  •  A screen naturalism masterclass with freelance director and acting coach Miranda Harcourt.
2017
  •  "An Introduction to Directing for Theatre" with HLT member Terry Hooper. Run over eight weeks, the course taught participants the basics of directing theatre, then each one put their newfound skills to work directing a short item, complete with lighting, props and costumes, for an HLT club night in front of an audience.
  •  "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 and how to audition successfully. 
  •  An Introduction to Directing for Theatre" with HLT member Terry Hooper BA (Hons) in Theatre. Run over eight weeks, the course taught participants the basics of directing theatre, then each one put their newfound skills to work directing a short item, complete with lighting, props and costumes, for a staged performance.
  •  "The Craft of Acting" with Jennifer Ward-LealandThis course took the form of 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. The course included an Introduction; safety tips; who? where? why?; acting the fight – noise, facial expressions, angles; warm-up and basic stretches; punch to face; punch to stomach; elbow to stomach; basic kicks; non-contact slap; contact slap; strangling/choking; fainting; and carrying a body/unconscious person.
  •  "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 Juliet Furness, professional actor and teacher.
  •  "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, the course taught participants the basics of directing theatre, then each one put their newfound skills to work directing a short item, complete with lighting, props and costumes, for an HLT club night in front of an invited audience.
  •  "Acting Workshop: Connecting actors to their emotional impulses" with Juliet Furness, actor and teacher with 17 years’ acting, studying and teaching experience in the US and New Zealand.
  •  "The Craft of Acting" with Jennifer Ward-LealandThis course took the form of 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, a revival of Michael Frayn’s comedy. They learnt how to deal with text, form a concept, make a scale model, design costumes and communicate their plans.
2013
  •  An Introduction to Directing for Theatre" with HLT member Terry Hooper BA (Hons) in Theatre. Run over eight weeks, the course taught participants the basics of directing theatre, then each one put their newfound skills to work directing a short item, complete with lighting, props and costumes, for an HLT club night in front of an audience.
  •  “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 by Gary Henderson. They learnt how to deal with text, form a concept, make a scale model, design costumes and communicate their plans.
  •  "The Craft of Acting – developing acting craft to improve the actor's performance", with Jennifer Ward-Lealand
  •  "Sound Design", with Robert Hunte from Unitec. Students learnt about sound, how it behaves, how to use sound equipment and setting up and running sound tracks during productions.
  •  "Lighting Design, with Nik Janiurek. A workshop for beginners and intermediate lighting practitioners that explored the intricacies of lighting a production. 

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, which focused on connecting impulse/instinct with breath, voice and script.    
  •  "Directors' Workshop" with leading professional actor, director and acting tutor Miranda Harcourt. Learning approaches and techniques that help draw out the best of any actor/director relationship. 

2009

  •  "The Actor's Voice", with leading voice teacher and Unitec's Head of Voice Kirstie O’Sullivan. The workshop covered relaxation techniques; basic breath work; articulation; and pitch, pace and volume.
  •  “Let There Be Context”, with top actor, director and tutor Stuart Devenie. This workshop explored how context can assist the actor in the conscious creation of a company of actors on stage rather than a group of individuals performing in the same space, and workshopped scenes from different periods as a way to develop processes that the actor may apply to any script.
  •  "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. Techniques to help improve scripted, devised and improvisational performance.
  •  "The Actor's Voice" with Unitec's Head of Voice, Kirstie O'Sullivan. The workshop covered how the voice works; relaxation techniques; basic breath work; articulation; and pitch, pace and volume.

2007

  •  "Exploring the Actor's Craft" with actor/director and voice coach Cameron Rhodes, who explored releasing character through physicality. 
  •  "Actors in Search of a Character" with actor/director Oliver Driver. Exploring and discovering characterisation through mannerisms, speech patterns, attitudes and body language.
  •  "Shakespeare in Action" with Jonathon Hendry, then head of acting at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School and a leading Shakespeare interpreter. 

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. Examining the serious business of comedy, its changing nature and the acting questions the changes reveal.

2004

  •  Professional director John Callen directed HLT's Speaking in Tongues, working with cast, crew and observers to improve directing/acting skills and knowledge.
  •  "From Scratch: Creating Characters for Theatre" – an acting workshop 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, who works for the Auckland Theatre Company and NZ Opera, among others.
  •  Lighting Design with David Seaton, Head of Technology for Auckland’s The Edge, incorporating the Aotea Centre, Herald Theatre and Town Hall. 

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.