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Playbox Theatre
The Dream Factory
Stratford Road
Warwick CV34 6LE
United Kingdom​

Illustrative lines Illustrative lines Acting for
ages 4-7

Home | Acting for ages 4-7

Develop your confidence, imagination, self-esteem and talent within these wonderful weekly workshops.

Children in our Acting programme become eligible to audition for productions, and to take part in a range of special masterclasses and performance opportunities. 

Whether you are looking for an after school drama club for your children to develop confidence, explore their creativity and make friends, or aspiring young actors craving high-level training and performance opportunities, the Playbox experience caters for everyone.

If you would like to know more about our Acting workshops, please have a look at the FAQs at the bottom of this page.

Would you like to know more?

Playbox Theatre’s Acting workshops cover a broad spectrum of creative skills designed to build self-esteem, confidence and to nurture their talent. The approach is lively, full of fun, group-based, and created especially for this age group.

Sessions include mime, movement, role play, improvisation, acting, voice, physical theatre and self-expression. It is a perfect springboard for the imagination and develops important life-skills that ensure young people grow with the ability to think creatively, collaborate and speak with confidence.

Please note, these workshops are suitable for children once they start Primary School. If they are 4 yrs old and still pre-school, please head to our EARLY STAGERS page.

Acting membership includes:

  • Weekly training workshop
  • Discount to attend Playbox Holiday Schools
  • Discount on tickets for Playbox productions (except Christmas show)
  • Opportunity to audition for Young Production Company 
  • Chance to participate in annual Starry Nights showcase
  • Eligible to audition for Playbox Agency
  • Discount on all Playbox specialist courses

To find out even more, please visit our FAQ page.

Locations: Workshops for 4-7 yr olds take place at a range of Warwickshire locations, please see below for details.

Workshop Schedule

Warwick
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Session Age Day Time
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Wednesday 16.30-17.30 Apply
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Thursday 16.30-17.30 Apply
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Thursday 17.00-18.00 Apply
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Friday 17.00-18.00 Apply
Playbox 1 4-6 yrs Saturday 9.00-10.00 Apply
Playbox 1 7-8 yrs Saturday 10.00-11.00 Apply

Location

The Dream Factory,
Stratford Road,
CV34 6LE

Membership Fees

Per season (school term)
£138

Membership of
Playbox includes: -

  • A place in your designated Playbox Theatre Workshop
  • Eligibility to attend appropriate Playbox Theatre auditions
  • Eligibility to participate in annual Starry Night Productions
  • Discounts on Playbox Theatre Holiday Projects
  • Tickets for Playbox Theatre productions (excluding Christmas production)
  • Discounts for special Master Classes
  • Priority information regarding all Playbox Theatre events
  • Twice yearly Arena Magazine and so much More!
Stratford-upon-Avon
(Tap and scroll horizontally for more)
Session Age Day Time
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Thursday 16.30-17.30 Apply
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Saturday 9.30-10.30 Apply

Location

King Edward VI School,
Stratford-upon-Avon

Membership Fees

Per season (school term)
£135

Membership of
Playbox includes: -

  • A place in your designated Playbox Theatre Workshop
  • Eligibility to attend appropriate Playbox Theatre auditions
  • Eligibility to participate in annual Starry Night Productions
  • Discounts on Playbox Theatre Holiday Projects
  • Tickets for Playbox Theatre productions (excluding Christmas production)
  • Discounts for special Master Classes
  • Priority information regarding all Playbox Theatre events
  • Twice yearly Arena Magazine and so much More!
Session Age Day Time
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Wednesday 16.30-17.30 Apply
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Thursday 16.30-17.30 Apply
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Thursday 17.00-18.00 Apply
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Friday 17.00-18.00 Apply
Playbox 1 4-6 yrs Saturday 9.00-10.00 Apply
Playbox 1 7-8 yrs Saturday 10.00-11.00 Apply

Location

The Dream Factory,
Stratford Road,
CV34 6LE

Membership Fees

Per season (school term)
£138

Membership of
Playbox includes: -

  • A place in your designated Playbox Theatre Workshop
  • Eligibility to attend appropriate Playbox Theatre auditions
  • Eligibility to participate in annual Starry Night Productions
  • Discounts on Playbox Theatre Holiday Projects
  • Tickets for Playbox Theatre productions (excluding Christmas production)
  • Discounts for special Master Classes
  • Priority information regarding all Playbox Theatre events
  • Twice yearly Arena Magazine and so much More!
Session Age Day Time
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Thursday 16.30-17.30 Apply
Playbox 1 4-7 yrs Saturday 9.30-10.30 Apply

Location

King Edward VI School,
Stratford-upon-Avon

Membership Fees

Per season (school term)
£135

Membership of
Playbox includes: -

  • A place in your designated Playbox Theatre Workshop
  • Eligibility to attend appropriate Playbox Theatre auditions
  • Eligibility to participate in annual Starry Night Productions
  • Discounts on Playbox Theatre Holiday Projects
  • Tickets for Playbox Theatre productions (excluding Christmas production)
  • Discounts for special Master Classes
  • Priority information regarding all Playbox Theatre events
  • Twice yearly Arena Magazine and so much More!

A perfect platform for growing your child’s confidence, as well as their knowledge and skills in drama and acting”
Charlotte McCarthy

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Ages 4-7 FAQs

POPULAR QUESTIONS

What is Acting for 4-7 yr olds - The Apple Club - all about?

Becoming a member of The Apple Club is often the start of a very exciting journey. Once children join this workshop, they are able to audition for some of our major productions, they can appear in our annual main stage production of Starry Nights and are old enough to benefit from lots of other opportunities available to Playbox members. Most of all, The Apple Club is HUGE fun, deeply imaginative and rooted in theatre skills…children quickly develop in confidence, social skills, become more articulate and able to collaborate. Here are a few answers to some of our most asked questions!

What are the workshops all about?

They’re about lots of different things! Each week we take a different story or stimulus as a springboard. This might be a book, a poem, a painting or a prop. The workshop then guides the group through a range of exercises that respond to the theme of the week.

What skills will I use in a workshop?

Each week the workshop will encourage members to explore a range of different skills and techniques, and these depend upon the starting point. A typical week will see Apple Club children engaging with MIME, MOVEMENT, IMPROVISATION, ROLE PLAY, VOICE, STORYTELLING, DEVISING, TABLEAUX, DISCUSSION, THEATRE GAMES & WARM UP ACTIVITIES.

Do we perform in Apple Club workshops?

No we don’t. The weekly workshop is focussed on development of skills and confidence, whilst encouraging lots of super collaboration, team devising and responding to each week’s stimulus. The Apple Club is designed to enable every child to develop at their own rate and to always aim to achieve as highly as they possibly can. People come to Playbox Theatre for all sorts of reasons, and lots of them don’t seek to perform. Without the need to constantly work towards a presentation, we are able to prepare very fully-rounded weekly workshops, each time taking a fresh, new stimulus as a springboard. From time to time, parents are invited in to share an Open Workshop, and occasionally there will be a celebratory and informal presentation at the end of a season e.g. at Christmas – although we stress this is not a performance that has been rehearsed over a number of weeks.

Do I have to come every week?

We do encourage members to attend as regularly as they possibly can, and to make their workshop a priority. The group bond is very important to the success of the workshop and this is always much stronger when the group are committed and attend every week. Children progress so much more quickly when they can build strong relationships with their director and their group members, and this happens more effectively when attendance is high. Of course, we know that there will be occasions when children just can’t make it, and there is never any penalty for this’ we just want them to be there every time!

Do I need to bring anything with me?

No! Just yourself and lots of imagination. Sometimes children like to bring something small to share with the rest of the group at ‘News Time’, at the beginning of the workshop. However, we don’t encourage people to bring items with them as we only hear 2-3 pieces of ‘news’ each week and don’t want to disappoint children. Anything that’s brought into the workshop will need to go on a table at the side during the session, so that members are totally free to work.

Will I have to do any homework?

Absolutely not! It’s an hour of joy and engagement and, although the benefits will be felt throughout the week, in other parts of life, there is no homework set at all. Sometimes there might be a tongue-twister to practise!

I'm very shy, is Apple Club right for me?

Of course it is! The type of children who love coming to Apple Club is very diverse. Some children who join are already very confident and are looking to really extend their skills…others are incredibly nervous and parents are hoping that Playbox workshops will help to address this. Our workshop team are highly skilled and have huge experience in welcoming new children and, in particular, settling children who are anxious or shy. Our directors are supported by a team of senior assistants, so all children are given the attention and support they need. Parents often see a dramatic improvement in their nervous child’s confidence incredibly quickly. Frequently this will also impact upon their behaviour at school and in other areas of life.

Will I be able to audition for Playbox productions?

Once a child is of school age, they are eligible to audition for some of Playbox’s main stage productions. Each project we mount has specific casting requirements, and age suitability will always be delighted on the casting newsletter (Casting Spotlight). Every year we stage a major production with our ‘Young Production Company’, where the actors are all between aged 5-13 yrs. Although it is very competitive, all Apple Club members are invited to attend the audition for this production. Sometimes, other major productions also seek cast members from 5+. Every year, EVERYONE has the opportunity to perform on the main stage in a large production, if they register for STARRY NIGHTS. This is our special annual fundraiser which works over a week to create a big show with members from age 5-19 yrs, and is incredibly popular!

Will I have to read scripts?

Absolutely not! There is no script work in The Apple Club, although we do encourage children to read and read as much as possible, as this can really improve their use of language, imagination and ability to communicate.

Do we do any singing and dancing in Apple Club workshops?

Not usually. The Apple Club is primarily an ‘acting’ workshop, with children responding to a range of exercises that focus on the theme of the week. For children who are very keen to explore singing and dancing, we’d encourage you to look at MUSICAL THEATRE when they turn 8 yrs old.

How much does it cost for a term?

Current fees are £130 per season. A season runs in conjunction with the school term, so is between 10-12 weeks. Children register for a full season and then renew each holiday.

Can I try a taster session first?

There’s a two-week trial period when you join Playbox. Fees are payable in advance, but if it’s not totally right for you after a couple of sessions, we are able to refund the rest of the season’s fees. You just need to apply for this by writing to membership@playboxtheatre.com

What should I wear?

You don’t need to wear anything special to Apple Club. Comfortable clothes that you can move freely in are absolutely fine. You should always wear soft shoes. Because the workshops are highly physical, we do ask all children to wear trousers, leggings or shorts (rather than skirts or dresses).

Is there a uniform that I can choose to wear?

We don’t have a specific uniform, as we want to encourage children to be absolutely individual and to wear clothes to their workshops that make them feel confident and comfortable. We do have a great selection of Playbox merchandise and lots of members love to wear a Playbox t-shirt or hoodie. These are available to order at any time, so just call us on 01926 419555 and we can help.

Will I have to go on a waiting list?

Some of the workshops have waiting lists and others have a couple of spaces, so this is a tricky question to answer! We try to open up new workshops where the demand is very high, so that your waiting time is as short as possible. Ideally, if you can give us a few options for potential workshops you could join, then this will help us to offer you a space as quickly as possible. Once you join a waiting list, you’re already part of the team and you’ll receive priority information about holiday workshops, special events, masterclasses etc.

How do I apply to join?

We hope that you feel ready to apply for membership…it will be one of the best decisions you ever make! If you’d like to get involved, please apply online. We’ll then contact you by phone or email to tell you when you can start!