HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES“Playbox is brilliant!
It’s easily the best thing I do”
Playbox member, age 14
Holiday workshops take place at The Dream Factory in Warwick, ranging from half-day, to weeklong specialist projects. These are open to both members, and non-members, of Playbox Theatre.
Our holiday workshops are a perfect way for young people to be creatively engaged during the school holidays, and to develop skills across a range of performing arts.
Get involved
The programme of classes available varies throughout the year, and information on this page is continuously updated.
Holiday workshops are themed, and appropriately age-banded. Schedules regularly include Musical Theatre; Shakespeare; Stage Combat; Film-Making; Acting; Dance; Drama School Preparation; Technical; Design; Pre-School Events.
Come and join us for a whole day of theatre inspired by some of our favourite mythical creatures. If you are a fan of Beast Quest, Newt Scamander, Lord of The Rings, or any story set in a land of magical beasts then this is the holiday project for you. Led by director ALFIE JONES, this workshop will involve storytelling, devising, movement, and performance skills to take a closer look at staging these epic monsters!
This course is 1 day long and lunch is provided by Café Whirl.
Age: 6-9
Cost: £70 (10% discount for Playbox Members)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be related to a fairy-tale villain? The Descendants know that feeling all too well. This one day project will delve into the world of Auradon, a world ruled by Queen Belle and King Beast, and explore how we can use our theatre skills to bring these infamous figures to life. Led by director NANCY FARINO, the course covers acting skills, devising techniques and lots of character work to get to the heart of these magical stories.
This course is 1 day long and lunch is provided by Café Whirl.
Age: 8-11
Cost: £70 (10% discount for Playbox Members)
When a small bear from Peru arrives at Paddington Station, he doesn’t know where to find home, but luckily he meets The Brown Family. This May at Playbox, we want to celebrate Paddington’s adventures in the big city with our special 3-hour High Jinks project. Using imaginative role-play, expect to ride a red bus, take photos of Big Ben and maybe even have tea with The Queen! With plenty of Paddington stories and a picnic lunch to top it all off (we’ll order the marmalade in!)
Age: 3-5
Cost: £40 per workshop (10% off for members)
This three day Musical Theatre adventure will take us down The Yellow Brick Road and through to the Emerald City, exploring all the songs and choreography from the classic musical, The Wizard of Oz. Prepare to bop along with The Lollipop Guild and leap Somewhere Over The Rainbow. This course will end with a presentation for participant’s families on the final day.
This course is three days long and includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age: 7-12
Cost: £180 (10% discount for Playbox Members)
At Playbox, we are huge fans of Roald Dahl’s stories and are so excited about our ‘Enormous Week’ of theatre inspired by some of his greatest works. Each day of the week will celebrate a different Roald Dahl story and will be run by a variety of Playbox Theatre directors. Blending acting, devising, storytelling and music – there will be plenty of nonsense for everyone!
This is a week long project and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age: 5-8
Cost: £255 (10% discount for Playbox Members)
This two day course is the perfect opportunity for young people thinking about a career in acting. Run by Ralph Davis, a Playbox alumni who graduated from RADA and has since had a range of roles in the industry including working with Shakespeare’s Globe, The BBC and HBO, the workshop will cover various aspects of the professional world of acting. Ralph will work on audition technique and monologues as well as bringing an insight into life at drama school.
Age: 14+
This course is two days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Cost: £130 (10% discount for Playbox members)
To celebrate the much anticipated West End production of The Hunger Games this autumn, we are going to explore these epic novels by Suzanne Collins and use our theatre skills to adapt them for stage. How can we bring to life the arena in our theatre? How can we portray the characters of Katniss and Peeta as actors? What elements of production can we bring in to recreate Panem and all it’s gory glory? This course will end with a presentation for participant’s families.
This course is two days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age 11-15
Cost: £130 (10% discount for Playbox members)
This weekend course will take a look at all aspects of technical theatre. Led by our director, Rich, who has worked across the industry as a sound designer for many years, the participants will get a chance to use and manage our theatre’s professional rig and desk system. This course is perfect for those with an interest in the technical aspects of the stage, and is suitable for both beginners and those with experience.
This course is two days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age 13+
Cost: £130 (10% discount for Playbox members)
We are all currently ‘holding space’ whilst we wait for the second part of the Wicked film to drop, so why not fill the gap with a week long musical theatre course exploring choreography and vocals from the original Broadway production? Spend the week ‘Dancing Through Life’ and feeling as ‘Popular’ as Elphaba and Glinda The Good Witch. There will be a presentation for families of participants at 3pm on Friday 1st August to conclude the week.
This course is five days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age 11-15
Cost: £255 (10% discount for Playbox members)
We can’t tell you too much about this course, as it has all been classified as TOP SECRET information. But those of us who love stories about secret agents will be united in recreating some of the most thrilling scenes of spy-craft. All spies need to be good actors… but can we be convincing enough to be successful in our mission?
This course is three days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age 7-11
Cost: £180 (10% discount for Playbox members)
This two day course is perfect for actors who want to get some experience in front of a camera. Led by Nancy Hall, an industry expert who has worked with AppleTV, Sky, BBC and Netflix, the course will give an insight into working on a professional film set. Participants will be able to record their work and watch it back, with Nancy guiding them every step along the way.
This course is two days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age 6-9
Cost: £130 (10% discount for Playbox members)
The Stinky Cheese Man, The Three Little Wolves and The Big Bad Pig and all kinds of fairly stupid fairy tales have been totally mixed up and meddled with. This two day course will take some classic storybook tales and turn them on their head! Participants will use mime, movement and voice to retell their very own ‘alternative’ versions of the world’s most famous fairy tales.
This course is two days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age 5-8
Cost: £130 (10% discount for Playbox members)
Directing and devising, creating pieces from tiny sparks of an idea and working on invention and innovation, that is what this two day intensive course is all about. If you have aspirations to create new and exciting theatre or film, then this course is for you. Nancy Hall, actor and Playbox alumna, who has worked for BBC, Netflix, Apple TV and Sky since she graduated from Bristol Old Vic, will work on honing your director’s craft as well as offering valuable insight into the industry.
This course is two days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age 11-15
Cost: £130 (10% discount for Playbox members)
The summer version of our hugely popular Spring production, Starry Nights Lite is the chance for young performers to gain valuable stage experience. With a cast of 30 and multiple directors, this course is an epic week with performers staging multiple scenes from some of Playbox’s most loved shows all concluding in a presentation for participant’s families. It is an intense week, and perfect for hard-working, dedicated performers who love to spend time on stage.
This course is five days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl as well as a Starry Night’s T-shirt to wear for the performance.
Age 7+
Cost: £265 (10% discount for Playbox members)
Playbox Theatre’s founder Mary King has directed multiple versions of Shakespeare’s most magical story in Playbox’s past and this summer will be running a two-day course for those who share a passion for The Bard! Using the text as a springboard, participants will explore the themes from the play and stage some famous scenes. There will be a presentation for the families of participants at the end of the two day course.
This course is two days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age 7-11
Cost: £130 (10% discount for Playbox members)
This two-day FIGHT LAB will explore the techniques required to bring thrilling fight scenes to both stage and screen, utilising an array of skills and choreography.
Sessions are led by trained professional, Tom Briggs, and take place in a safe, secure environment designed to finesse the skills of choreographing dynamic and explosive fight scenes. The session will be physical and involve high levels of teamwork and communication.
This course is two days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age 10 -14
Cost: £130 (10% discount for Playbox members)
Join us for a fun-filled two-day holiday project where young performers aged 9-11 can dive into the world of clowning and commedia! Through games, improvisation, and creative play, we will explore classic clown techniques and the lively characters of commedia dell’arte. With a focus on laughter, teamwork, and self-expression, this two day course is the perfect opportunity for you to build confidence, unleash your creativity, and have a blast!
This course is two days long and the cost includes lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Age 10 -14
Cost: £130 (10% discount for Playbox members)
This energetic, action-packed workshop will be headed up by professional dancer and choreographer Cherelle Coleman. Both newcomers and those with experience of this contemporary genre will learn new skills and refine their techniques in this masterclass. Expect lots of choreography, great music and whole day of dancing!
This course is 1 day long and lunch is provided by Cafe Whirl.
Age: 9-13
Cost: £70 (10% discount for Playbox Members)
Three brilliant High Jinks workshops filled with imaginative role play and storytelling, come and join us on a journey into the jungle, a trek to the arctic circle or a deep dive across the seven seas. Each day will take on a different theme inspired by the great wonders of our world and your little one is welcome to join us for all three days or just one of our amazing adventures.
The workshops are three hours long and include a picnic lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Tuesday 22nd July – Jungle Journey
Wednesday 23rd July – Arctic Adventure
Thursday 24th July – Under the Sea
Age: 3-5
Cost: £40 per workshop (10% off for members)
We also offer a bundle rate if booking three or more High Jinks workshops. Get in touch for more info!
This week at Playbox we will be celebrating all things Disney with three classic movies that the whole family love. Let it go with Elsa and Anna, say ‘Hakuna Matata’ with Timon and Puumba, or spend a day at the scare factory with Sully and Mike. These workshops will be filled with arts and crafts, songs from the soundtracks and lots of High Jinks!
The workshops are three hours long and include a picnic lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Wednesday 30th July – The Lion King
Thursday 31st July – Monsters Inc
Age: 3-5
Cost: £40 per workshop (10% off for members)
We also offer a bundle rate if booking three or more High Jinks workshops. Get in touch for more info!
Playbox Theatre sprinkles a little bit of magic with three High Jinks workshops that will take little imaginations to places beyond the grown-up’s realms. Fight with dragons, save treasure from pirates, crash land on a far off planet and so much more in Fantasy Week. Believe in the impossible! Join us for either one or all three of the fantasy workshops this week…
The workshops are three hours long and include a picnic lunch from our Cafe Whirl.
Tuesday 5th August – Pirates Ahoy
Wednesday 6th August – Aliens in Space
Thursday 7th August – Knights and Princesses
Age: 3-5
Cost: £40 per workshop (10% off for members)
We also offer a bundle rate if booking three or more High Jinks workshops. Get in touch for more info!
All holiday clubs are hosted in beautiful studios at The Dream Factory, with plenty of outdoor space for participants to get fresh air during breaks. Lunch, or evening refreshments, are included in fees, prepared by Café Whirl.
To receive priority information and to join our Holiday Activity mailing list, please email info@playboxtheatre.com