Black Swan State Theatre Company of Western Australia acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live.

First Nations People have been telling stories on this country for many thousands of years, and we acknowledge their incredible contribution to the cultural and environmental landscape we reside in.

School Workshops

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School Workshops

SPECIALIST DRAMA WORKSHOPS FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS

Our Specialist Drama Workshops are designed to motivate and inspire learners while growing collaborative skills, confidence, and a genuine understanding of theatre-making in practice.

Led by Black Swan’s team of teaching artists, who infuse learning with fresh approaches and hands-on industry knowledge, our workshops help students develop skills across all aspects of performance, theatre-making and design.

Choose from the Specialist Drama Workshops below, or talk to us about a bespoke session. Every workshop is designed in collaboration with classroom teachers to meet your specific goals, and we work around your timetable to ensure convenience and accessibility.

Workshops can be delivered in-school or on-site with us (more on that below).

THE WORKSHOPS

Please contact us if you have questions about our workshops or if you would like to discuss a bespoke session for your students.

learn@blackswantheatre.com.au

Recommended Duration: 1 or 2 hours

Develop fundamental drama skills through voice, movement, improvisation and performance conventions, building confidence, collaboration and expressive communication.

Recommended Duration: 2 hours

Create and sustain believable characters while applying ensemble skills, role, relationships and performance conventions to communicate dramatic intent.

Recommended Duration: 2 hours

Explore physical storytelling through the methodologies of key theatre practitioners, using movement, gesture, space and physical expression to communicate character, relationships and dramatic meaning beyond dialogue.

Recommended Duration: 1 or 2 hours

Actively interpret texts by exploring language, context, themes and dramatic meaning to transform written texts into engaging theatrical experiences.

Recommended Duration: 2 hours

Explore the art of solo performance through scripted and devised monologues. Students develop skills in characterisation, voice, movement and dramatic interpretation, experimenting with language, intention and performance choices to communicate character, ideas and meaning.

Recommended Duration: 1 or 2 hours

Investigate how set, costume, colour, texture and symbolism communicate character, mood, time and place, then develop design concepts through practical and collaborative activities.

Recommended Duration: 2 hours

(Suitable for Literature students)

Discover how dramatic texts are transformed into performance through acting, directing, design and staging choices. Students explore how context, style, audience and theatrical elements shape interpretations of a text.

Want to Make It an Excursion?

Take your students out of the classroom and into the places where theatre is made. Host your workshop at one of three iconic venues, in a dedicated studio space reserved just for your group, and add an insider tour that most audiences never get to see. Excursion packages start from just $300.

State Theatre Centre of WA Tour
Step backstage at WA's State Theatre for a sneak peek at the inner workings of the Heath Ledger Theatre and Studio Underground – the spaces where the magic happens.

His Majesty’s Theatre Tour
Step behind the curtain of Australia's only working Edwardian theatre and discover the backstage spaces and stories that have shaped more than 100 years of performance in Perth.

Black Swan’s Production Facility Tour (Bassendean)
Discover where our productions come to life. Explore the prop store, the workshop floor and the wardrobe department, and see the craft and artistry behind every Black Swan show.

Bookings are subject to availability.

Workshop Pricing

SINGLE & REPEAT WORKSHOPS

We offer the flexibility of one and two-hour workshops. A discounted rate applies for a repeat of the same workshop delivered to multiple classes during a single visit*.

One hour: $400.00 (+ $200.00 per repeat workshop)
Two hours: $550.00 (+ $350.00 per repeat workshop)

*Please note our maximum of 6 x one-hour workshops or 3 x two-hour workshops per visit.

WORKSHOP BUNDLES (DIFFERENT TOPICS OR MULTI-DAY BOOKINGS)

Our workshop bundles offer discounts when more than one workshop topic is booked. Discounts vary according to how many topics are chosen, and whether the workshops are delivered on the same day or across different dates.

INCLUDED IN ALL PRICING

Your choice of in-school workshop(s), delivered by Black Swan's professional teaching artists
Tailored advice from our Creative Learning team to match workshops to your curriculum goals and students' needs
Workshops designed in collaboration with your classroom teachers
Flexible scheduling – workshops delivered at a time that suits your timetable
Capped class sizes – a maximum of 32 students per workshop to ensure a high-quality experience for every student
Travel up to 100km return

SEE THE SHOW. MAKE THE CONNECTION.

Live theatre is an experience that goes beyond textbooks and classrooms, offering a multi-sensory journey that has the power to reshape perspectives, ignite robust discussion and elevate learning on multiple levels.

Our Creative Learning team can recommend which of our programmed plays might benefit students studying linked topics – connecting what your students see on stage with what they're exploring in the classroom.

Our recommended productions are well suited to students in Years 11 and 12. See the table below to view the workshop connections to our 2027 school-recommended shows.

Please visit our School Bookings page to find out more about student-priced tickets.

	WICKED LITTLE BEASTS	THE FATHER	NOODLE SHOP	THE 39 STEPS	RECOMMENDED DURATION
The Actor's Toolkit	X	X	X	X	1 or 2 hours
Character & Ensemble				X	2 hours
Physical Theatre	X			X	2 hours
Working with Text				X	1 or 2 hours
Monologues	X		X		2 hours
Design Workshops		X	X		1 or 2 hours
Page to Stage		X		X	2 hours

Visit School Bookings Page

Explore 2027 Season

THE BRIDGE PROGRAM

CROSS CURRICULAR LEARNING

Our Creative Learning Team is currently piloting The Bridge Program, an exciting cross-curricular program for Year 7-9 Humanities and Social Science, English and Media classrooms.

Based on relevant learning theory and instruction models, and utilising arts-integration practices with subject curriculum, this fun and engaging program is designed to develop greater levels of engagement and achievement through experiential-learning activities.

The program lasts for 6 weeks and takes place in the classroom for 1-2 hours a week, depending on the school schedule.

For each lesson the teaching artist will apply a diverse range of creative processes to the unit of study selected by each teacher.

A workbook is supplied to all participating students to make notes and engage and reflect on activities. Educators can incorporate this workbook into their assessment strategies, whether it be for formative or summative evaluation purposes.

See What Students Say

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