CREATING THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WORKSHOP

Duration:

Various ( 1 Hour - Full Day)

Suitability:

Grades 7 - 12

Available Terms:

Terms 1 - 4

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CREATING THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WORKSHOP
Venue: Double Teaching Space, Drama Classroom, Studio, Theatre, Hall

This high-energy, hands-on workshop empowers secondary students to create original performance works tailored specifically for children aged 3–12. Participants are challenged to step into the shoes of younger audiences, creating stories filled with joy, wonder, and purpose. Through play-based devising, visual storytelling, and ensemble creation, students learn how to inspire, entertain, and educate younger viewers with confidence and care.

WORKSHOP FOCUS AREAS

Unlocking Imagination & Childlike Wonder

Reconnect with imagination through improvisation and play
Explore curiosity, wonder, and simple joy as creative catalysts
Consider the question: “What would your 6-year-old self love to watch?”

Creating Original Works for Young Audiences

Learn the difference between “performing at” and “performing for” children
Develop characters, stories, and scenes that reflect themes relevant to younger audiences (e.g. friendship, courage, identity, loss, belonging)
Explore theatrical forms suitable for children – clowning, visual theatre, storytelling, puppetry, mime, and music

Storytelling Techniques for Younger Audiences

Deconstruct successful children’s theatre (e.g. The Gruffalo, Bluey, Possum Magic)
Emphasize rhythm, repetition, exaggeration, and surprise
Use visual metaphors, dynamic movement, and sensory triggers to communicate complex ideas with clarity and simplicity

Understanding Child Development & Audience Engagement

Investigate developmental stages of children from Prep to Year 6
Learn strategies for holding attention, balancing humor and sincerity, and ensuring age-appropriate content
Discuss common pitfalls (e.g. talking down, over-complicating, underestimating emotional intelligence)

Practical Performance & Collaboration

Students will work in groups to develop and perform short original pieces for young audiences
Opportunities for feedback, reflection, and peer evaluation
Consider how voice, gesture, costume, and physicality affect storytelling for different ages

CURRICULUM LINKS – AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM

DRAMA – Years 7–10 (ACARA)

ACADRM040 / ACADRM048: Develop roles and characters consistent with dramatic forms and performance styles
ACADRM041 / ACADRM049: Structure and perform devised drama for specific audiences
ACADRR043 / ACADRR051: Analyse how the elements of drama communicate meaning to younger audiences
ACADRM042 / ACADRM050: Develop and refine expressive skills for a targeted age group

ENGLISH

Use multimodal storytelling to enhance communication
Explore audience-specific language choices
Reflect on narrative, characterisation, and audience impact

GENERAL CAPABILITIES

Critical & Creative Thinking

Generate new ideas and possibilities through child-focused theatre making
Reflect on creative decisions and evaluate impact

Ethical Understanding

Explore the ethics of representation, age-appropriateness, and inclusivity in children’s content

Personal & Social Capability

Build collaboration and communication skills
Develop empathy by seeing the world through a child’s eyes

THEMES & CONTEXTS

Friendship, Imagination & Belonging
Risk-taking & Problem-solving
Diversity & Inclusion
Emotional Literacy & Growth
Curiosity & Discovery

STUDENT OUTCOMES

By the end of the workshop, students will:

Understand key principles of theatre-making for children
Be able to devise age-appropriate, imaginative scenes
Gain confidence in storytelling and ensemble creation
Reflect on their own voice as young artists and communicators
Discover the joy of theatre as an act of service, connection, and wonder

TEACHER TAKEAWAYS

Strategies for embedding Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) into classroom practice
Printable devising prompts and templates
Post-workshop extension tasks and reflection rubrics
Optional follow-up sessions or artist residencies for deeper development

Devised by: Clint Bolster
Directed by: Clint Bolster

"I have just experienced one of the best motivating and focused workshops in my 15 years of teaching.Clint's energy and commitment is contagious. His personal pedagogy is inspiring.

Children and older teenagers are guided through developmental guided practice of 'can do', support and self improvement. While the arts are used it is confidence, self worth and self-belief learners come out of the workshop with.

A new fresh air approach of learning is what Clint has given us and me.The techniques of focusing student's learning kept even resistant learners engaged. I filled 2 pages of notes; a workshop for students and Professional Development for me!

In a space of three focused days we achieved what would have taken a whole term. For confidence, working with others and a focus on the arts there is no equal.Thank you Clint.

The workshop was highly adaptable.Year 7 students through to senior drama students.No doubt this adaptability and Clint's professionalism would be highly suitable for primary school students too.

The whole school is talking about Clint's visit.How many of our last lessons did this happen? Genuine person with his heart in the right place Clint cannot return soon enough. Cooktown State School now has students with new skill sets and confidence. Education should be this, learning through inclusivity and inspiration!
Plans are afoot to work from our school cluster with Clint in the future.This is high school through to primary.The students would eagerly welcome him back tomorrow. We are a remote school with academic, lower ability, indigenous -all of them connecting and achieving. No doubt city schools and regional areas would experience,'the magic' too.

I could write and write and not too often do I write such glowing praise from real results and real impacts Clint has made.

Don't delay to book him before this secret is out! With a genuine thank you from me and all the students..thank you Clint!"★★★★★

Cooktown State High School, QLD

"For the past three days, I, along with my fellow classmates, have participated in Clint's Workshop. And I have absolutely loved every minute of it!

The workshop has helped immensely with my confidence levels, not only in drama class, as an actor but also in life. I have greatly improved my stage presence and am now much more comfortable with projecting my voice and retaining a projected voice for the duration of a performance. Most importantly, I have learned to laugh at myself, and to push past my shyness and my fear of being embarrassed. And all this is in just three days.

I have had so much fun over the course of the workshop! The time has flown! I can honestly say that I have never laughed so hard in my life. Not only that, but I feel much more confident in my ability to make other people laugh.

I have Clint to thank for this. The past three days have, honestly, been some of the best in my life 😊 Thank you 😊 "★★★★★

Student, Cooktown State High School, QLD

"Our Year 11 drama students at Mt. Alvernia College were totally energised today in a workshop with Clint Bolster of Hommunculus Theatre Company.

Clint introduced enjoyable, energy- raising drama games to start the session to engage the students and demonstrate the level of energy, enjoyment and exaggeration needed to perform Children's theatre. Students rehearsed their scenes and Clint interjected as director to focus on developing distinct characterisation by manipulating gesture, movement, voice and comic techniques. Students' ensemble work improved dramatically as they explored interesting physicalisation, group dynamics, purposeful use of space, exciting entrances and exits and fun interaction with the audience. I don't think I have seen my students laugh so much. I also think they were surprised at the consistent level of heightened energy that is needed by the whole cast.

Clint commented " You have given me 10%. More!" That's 50%! More!" . We all appreciated the one on one coaching and replaying of scenes for comic timing and audience engagement.

This workshop has really motivated the students to work hard in their ensembles towards their final performances for Primary School audiences.
We will certainly be booking Hommunculus Theatre again." ★★★★★