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Tim Bray Productions
Inspiring Creativity For All Children
Tim Bray Theatre Company (celebrating 30 years in 2021!) is excited to begin its Term 1 Youth Theatre drama classes for children, tweens and teens (ages 5-16). Classes start on Tuesday 9th February in three North Shore locations: Takapuna, Browns Bay and Unsworth Heights.
Tim Bray Youth Theatre has been offering drama classes and workshops on the North Shore since 2012. The classes encourage self-confidence, self-expression and focus. Drama is an enjoyable way for students to explore their imaginations and to harness and express their creativity where they also learn various acting techniques such as improvisation, voice, characterisation, movement and scene work.
In Term 1, the Youth Theatre students attend the final dress rehearsal of the company’s professional April theatre production of A Lion in the Meadow and Other Stories by Margaret Mahy at The PumpHouse Theatre. With a Q&A session afterward, the students learn from engaging with professional actors at work.
At the end of Term 1, there is an Open Class which parents and caregivers are welcome to attend to get a taste of what the students have enjoyed in the classes during the term.
These regular drama classes are held either at St Georges Community Hall in Takapuna or the East Coast Bays Community Centre in Browns Bay.
Brand New Classes
For more information on classes or to enrol you can visit: https://timbrayproductions.org.nz/weekly-drama-classes/ Or call 09 486-2261
Tim Bray Youth Theatre is thrilled to be launching a brand-new drama class programme in Unsworth Heights this year. Extraordinarily Creative drama classes have been created for children and teenagers who are differently wired to find their own voice and place. This is a weekly class especially created for those who skip to a different beat, who see and experience things in their own extraordinary way.
Extraordinarily Creative aims to provide a positive and fun programme in a safe and nurturing environment where children can use the creativity of drama and theatre to enhance their life skills and express themselves in extraordinary ways.
“A positive, fun and safe place for children and young people with ASD/neurodiversity to use the creativity of drama and express themselves as never before.” – Jo Sutton, General Manager, Children’s Autism Foundation.
Scholarships for Extraordinarily Creative are available for kids who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend, and are kindly funded by Stewart Germann, administered by Cognition Education Trust. Applications can be made via the Youth Theatre Weekly Classes page on the timbray.org.nz website.
The Extraordinarily Creative classes have been born out of a combination of the introduction of Sensory Relaxed performances by Tim Bray Theatre Company in their professional shows, and the observation of the challenges and the benefits for neurodiverse children who attend their shows and Youth Theatre classes. They recognised a need for this group of children and teenagers to have drama classes dedicated to their needs, with an environment and class structure designed to support their development and artistic goals.
Tim Bray Youth Theatre also offers classes for 5-19yrs across the bridge in Western Springs at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre (TAPAC).
Another brand-new programme
for 2021 launches at TAPAC. This is the 17-19 years Performance Class. This exciting new performancefocused class is for young actors who need a place to learn and to perform, who are passionate about theatre and all it involves. The Performance Class will teach new skills that will carry the students into future study and future careers. The weekly two-hour classes are designed for young actors to work within a variety of theatre styles, scripts, and acting techniques as they prepare for each performance, directed by their regular teacher and supported by the professional team at Tim Bray Theatre Company. Specialist tutors will be invited to workshop with the students to deepen their understanding of their craft. In Term 1, celebrated actor Michael Hurst will be the guest tutor on Shakespearean characters.
Students who also show an interest in stage design, stage management, writing, costumes, marketing or any other aspect of theatre making will be able to dip their toes into this side of developing the term performances.
