Shakespeare Ensemble

Shakespeare Ensemble

Actor training course in Shakespeare & ensemble theatre

The 2025 Shakespeare Ensemble is an opportunity to learn from the courageous theatre artists at Whale Chorus and re-wild your performance making practice.

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.

Details

Dates
22 OCT – 10 DEC
Times
Wednesdays 6pm-9pm
Saturdays 10am-5pm
Location
The Station & Henderson Park Hall
Performances
5-7 DEc 2025

Comprehensive actor training program led by Industry Professionals

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.

Course Content

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

Actor Training

Apply for Shakespeare Ensemble

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.

Learn From Practising Artists

Course Tutors

Janie Gibson

Voice & Direction

Isobel Kirk

Co-Director & Master Teacher

Tim Dashwood

Stage Combat

Alicia Gonzalez

Clown

Adam Deusien

Movement

“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

“The program gave me a significant amount of confidence when performing, the ability to listen and become a much stronger ensemble member.”

Participant of HOME, Trajectory Ensemble 2017