Shakespeare Ensemble

An 8 week part-time actor training course in Shakespeare & ensemble theatre culminating in a site-specific performance of Shakespearean tragedy

Actor Training

Shakespeare Ensemble

The 2025 Shakespeare Ensemble is an opportunity to learn from the courageous theatre artists at Whale Chorus and re-wild your performance making practice. Across 8 weeks you will receive over 80 hours of professional actor training in voice, text, ensemble theatre, clown and stage combat. Working as a theatrical company the Shakespeare Ensemble will collaborate to devise and perform an original site specific re imagining of a Shakespearean tragedy.

Oct 22nd – Dec 10th (with performances Dec 5th – 7th)

Wednesdays 6pm-9pm & Saturdays 10am-5pm

At The Station & Henderson Park Hall

Applications due August 28th

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This program is open to artists from a range of backgrounds and experience levels; from curious beginners eager to gain professional training to experienced artists seeking to reinvigorate your practice.

Actor Training

Course Content

Industry professionals will lead a comprehensive actor training program in:

VOICE: Awaken your connection to your speaking voice through Linklater voice training led by designated teacher Janie Gibson

TEXT: Experience an embodied connection to Shakespeare’s language grounded in your personal connection to the text, led by Janie Gibson & master acting teacher Isobel Kirk (NIDA)

ENSEMBLE: Explore theatre devising strategies born of the energetic connection between the ensemble grounded in leading European ensemble theatre (Grotowski/Song Of the Goat)

PLAY: Embrace your inner fool and discover the power of play with guest clown tutor Alicia Gonzalez (Lecoq)

FIGHT: Learn techniques for performing theatrical violence, and heightened physical action, with safety led by fight director & actor Tim Dashwood. (Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir)

PERFORM: Apply your skills and experience the magic of the actor-audience connection in a site-specific reimagining of a Shakespearean tragedy directed by Janie Gibson

Places strictly limited to 16 participants.

Cost

Concession/low income: $550

Full price: $850

Scholarships

For those needing financial assistance to participate, a number of scholarship places are available.

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“I came to Janie wanting to work on material from Hamilton. Her techniques gave me a fresh perspective on the story as well as an embodied experience of the text…The lessons are anchored in years of experience and technique that inspires you to fulfil your potential as a performer and human being.”

Callan Purcell, Actor (Hamilton, Australia)

“This workshop has reawakened something special in me and I’ve never been so excited to make theatre in Newcastle. So thrilled to have made great connections”

Amy Morris, Workshop Participant

“The program had a profound, positive impact on me personally, as an actor, and as a teacher and education researcher. Every aspect of training was rigorous. Janie’s expertise and coaching methods are unparalleled, especially in a regional city like Newcastle where access to quality training in the arts is rare”

Matthew Harper, Shakespeare Ensemble 2022 participant

“Janie supported an eight-month process and held space for me to explore creativity and grow as an artist and as a person. Janie’s approach was holistic and transformational…It was experiences like the one I had under Janie Gibson, which propelled me to be the best artist I can be.”

Roger Ly, Artist