Guide to Finding Drama and Theatre Activities in Melbourne
Do you have a yearning for the stage? For the dramatically inclined, Melbourne has a range of places to learn the crafts of theatre and then to demonstrate and improve your skills.
Even if on-stage singing, acting and dancing is not for you, there are plenty of other opportunities within theatre companies such as front of house (looking after audience members), back stage (stage managers, assistants, back-stage crew, properties, rehearsal prompters), technical (lighting and sound design and operation), costumes and set (design, construction and painting).
This guide lists service providers offering drama, musical theatre and acting lessons plus theatres with opportunities to perform. Also refer to our other performing arts guides:
Guide to Finding a Dance Studio in Melbourne
Guide to Finding Music Lessons and Activities in Melbourne
Search for a Drama / Theatre Activity
The Fast Find search lets you find dance, music and drama service providers within a certain distance of a suburb. Select "Dance, Drama & Music" from the Activity menu.
Use the Enhanced search to search for specific drama classes such as acting, cheerleading, drama or musical theatre or classes for a specific age group. This search can also be used to find theatre companies for production or back-stage opportunities.
List of Drama Providers / Theatres
A list of service providers for drama, musical theatre and acting lessons plus theatre locations by suburb is shown below. Click on the links to get more information such as address and contact information.
A.
Artz Collective Performing Arts School Altona North
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Performing Arts, dance & singing for pre-schoolers, dance & ballet, music theatre, Irish dance for children, dance for adults, music theatre programs, singing lessons, VCE/VCAL exams, holiday camps.
The Hartwell Players Ashwood
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Community theatre which produces 2-3 shows a year.
B.
Fab Nobs Theatre Bayswater
Ages: All age groups
Classes: A non-for profit organisation, which is dedicated to producing three major musical theatre productions a year. The Fab Nobs Junior program for young people aged between 8-18 is designed to foster young talent in theatre. Junior musical theatre workshop during September school holidays.
Beaumaris Theatre Beaumaris
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Amateur theatre company which produces 5 seasons of shows each year tailored to give children opportunities. Stagecraft classes for 5-17 year olds.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Bentleigh
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Academy of Sound, Arts and Performance (ASAP) Bentleigh East
Ages: Children
Classes: Helps develop grace, composure and style including encouragement of special needs children.
Andrea Catherine Performing Arts Berwick
Ages: From 2 years and up
Classes: Tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, musical theatre, contemporary, acrobatics, baby star, pre-school, drama, singing, exam conditioning, elite performance group, hip hop crew, dance birthday parties.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Berwick
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Masquerade Performing Arts Berwick
Ages: 5-18 years
Classes: Acting, singing and dancing with musical theatre productions.
MBCTA Youth Theatre Boronia
Ages: From 8 years and up
Classes: Drama development and acting, VCE Drama.
Nova Music Theatre Box Hill North
Ages: Adults
Classes: Non-professional musical theatre company which performs two shows a year.
Wit Kids Braybrook
Ages: Children
Classes: Inclusive theatre, subsidised children's drama classes.
Brighton Theatre Company Brighton
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Theatre company which stages four productions each year, regular workshops about the inner workings of the theatre world
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Brighton
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.:
Centrestage Performing Arts School Brunswick East
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Dance (classical ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop), drama (including film/television electives), musical theatre, acrobatics. Private lessons in dance, singing and piano.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Bundoora
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Melbourne Dance Theatre Bundoora
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Acrobatics, ballet, character, cheerleading, contemporary, commercial jazz, hip-hop, jazz, kinder & pre-primary, musical theatre, singing & drama, tap, competition-troupe, adult classes, VET dance, private lessons.
C.
Babirra Music Theatre Canterbury
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Non-professional music theatre company which performs two musicals a year plus an occasional concert or special event.
Encore Theatre Company Clayton
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Not-for-profit theatre company which aims to produce high-quality theatre productions to the community at affordable prices.
Society for Creative Anachronism Clayton
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Broad range of pre-17th century activities from costuming, cooking, music, dancing, armouring, brewing, calligraphy, woodwork, embroidery, and any of arts and sciences of the middle ages.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Croydon
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
D.
Karen Margaret Studios Doncaster
Ages: 3-18 years
Classes: Theatrical school with acting, dancing and singing lessons.
E.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Essendon
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Michelle Slater Performing Arts Studio Essendon
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Ballet, jazz, tap, singing, hip hop, acro, musical theatre, adult classes, contemporary, yearly musical theatre performance, singing performance, Showcase and Spectacular.
Western Arts Theatre Essendon
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Amateur theatre company with a focus on community development and equal opportunity.
Essendon Theatre Company Essendon West
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Community-based theatre company which produces four production per year.
F.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Frankston
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Frankston Theatre Group Frankston South
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Community theatre which stages three productions a year.
G.
Geelong Academy of Performing Arts Geelong
Ages: 3 years and above
Classes: Dance and musical theatre tuition. Classes combine drama with dance and singing. Dance styles are hip Hop / funk, theatrical, and combination jazz, ballet & tap for pre-schoolers.
Stage Left Performing Arts School Glen Iris
Ages: Children
Classes: Blended singing, dance and drama classes, holiday workshops, private tuition.
H.
Stage Left Performing Arts School Hampton
Ages: Children
Classes: Blended singing, dance and drama classes, holiday workshops, private tuition.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Hawthorn
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
ARC Theatre Heidelberg
Ages: Ages 15-28
Classes: Amateur repertory company which aims to involve young people in all aspects of theatre performance, production and organisational activities, annual musical production, singing group and various social and recreational activities.
I.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Ivanhoe
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
K.
Track Youth Theatre Kew East
Ages: 9-17. Children are not auditioned, anyone is eligible to join regardless of ability.
Classes: Theatre group which helps children, not just with the development of theatrical skills, but with more valuable life skills such as self-esteem, respect for others and self-confidence in front of groups.
L.
ARK Theatre Lilydale
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Community theatre which has a youth section for those aged 12-25 years.
M.
Malvern Theatre Company Malvern East
Ages: All age groups
Classes: One of Melbourne's leading non-professional theatre companies.
Stage Left Performing Arts School Malvern East
Ages: Children
Classes: Blended singing, dance and drama classes, holiday workshops, private tuition.
Wit Kids Maribyrnong
Ages: Children
Classes: Inclusive theatre, subsidised children's drama classes.
Acting Performance Studio Moorabbin
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Training for actors.
CLOC Musical Theatre Moorabbin
Ages: All age groups
Classes: One of Australia's largest and most successful non-professional music theatre companies which relies on local community support for their on and off-stage activities.
Mooroolbark Theatre Group Mooroolbark
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Local theatre group which specialises in comedy productions in a relaxed cabaret style setting.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Mornington
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Karen Margaret Studios Mount Waverley
Ages: 3-18 years
Classes: Theatrical school with acting, dancing and singing lessons.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Mount Waverley
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Peridot Theatre Mount Waverley
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Non-professional theatre company which performs four full-length plays together with a shorter season of one act plays.
N.
Showbiz Performing Arts Studios Niddrie
Ages: Up to 18 years
Classes: Dance, singing, instrumental, theatre training.
O.
Players Theatre Company Oakleigh East
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Amateur theatre company.
P.
Cardinia Performing Arts Company Pakenham
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Non profit production company which performs two full scale musicals per year.
Mordialloc Theatre Company Parkdale
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Community based theatre group which presents five plays each year.
R.
Stage Left Performing Arts School Rowville
Ages: Children
Classes: Blended singing, dance and drama classes, holiday workshops, private tuition.
S.
Bev Palmer Performing Arts South Morang
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Dance, singing and drama classes, recreational and elite performers programs, Tiny's dance program, VET dance.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus South Yarra
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
St Martins Youth Arts Centre South Yarra
Ages: 5-25 years
Classes: Not-for-profit organisation theatre community which provides performing arts experiences for those aged between 5-25 years.
The National Theatre Drama School St Kilda
Ages: 5-17 years
Classes: Drama classes, summer holiday program.
FlashDance Performing Arts Sunbury
Ages: Children
Classes: Dance, singing and acting. Ready Set Dance, classical ballet, jazz, tap, acrobatics, musical theatre, hip hop, acting , contemporary.
T.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Taylors Lakes
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Templestowe Lower
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
The Basin Theatre The Basin
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Multi-award winning theatre company producing four shows each year.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Truganina
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Isolation Performing Arts Studio Tullamarine
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Professional Entertainer & dance certificates, VET dance, jazz, tap, classical (including Cecchetti exams), contemporary, hip hop/ funk, musical theatre, acrobatics, vocal/singing, acting/drama, cheerleading.
U.
1812 Youth Theatre Upper Ferntree Gully
Ages: 14 - 25 years
Classes: Youth oriented theatre group.
W.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Wantirna
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Syndal Baton Twirlers Wheelers Hill
Ages: Females and males from 5 years
Classes: Baton twirling, dancing gymnastics and pom poms.
Williamstown Musical Theatre Company Williamstown
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Community musical theatre company which has a Junior program for young performers aged between 8 - 18 years old.
Young Australian Broadway Chorus Williamstown
Ages: 8 -18 year olds
Classes: Musical theatre course with a mix of tuition and on stage performance.
Y.
Schamozzle Workshops for Kids Yarraville
Ages: Children
Classes: Drama classes.
Various Locations.
Helen O'Grady Drama Academy Various Locations
Ages: 5 to 17+
Classes: Drama
Locations: Coburg, Hampton, Glen Huntly, East Bentleigh, Mount Waverley, Parkdale, Glen Waverley, Forest Hill, Dingley, Wheelers Hill, Knoxfield, Aspendale Gardens, Rowville, Patterson Lakes, Endeavour Hills, Langwarrin, Mount Martha, Berwick, Pakenham.
Action Drama Studio Various Locations
Ages: All age groups
Classes: Acting techniques for theatre, film and TV, musical theatre, holiday program, weekend workshops, private lessons.
Locations: Heidelberg, Epping, Montmorency, Mill Park, Doncaster East, Eltham, Diamond Creek, Greensborough, Ivanhoe, Balwyn North and Watsonia.
Stage School Australia Various Locations
Ages: 5-18 years
Classes: Drama and musical theatre classes, stage performances twice a year.
Location: Bentleigh, Berwick, Brighton, Bundoora, Camberwell, Croydon, Essendon, Frankston, Hawthorn, Hoppers Crossing, Mornington, Mount Waverley, Taylors Lakes, Templestowe, Thornbury, Wantirna and Williamstown.
Performing Arts Themed Birthday Parties
See a list of dance / drama / music locations which run kids birthday partiesWeb Links
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