Australia’s Leading 100% Online Acting Classes for Kids & Teens.

Fun, quality online performing art training in group classes & one-on-one coaching - all via Zoom!

Cut out travel time & traffic - try an online Mini Term today!

Ensemble Cast Nicola Parry, Riley Nottingham (WAA’s Head Teacher) and Guest Marty Sheargold on Thank God You’re Here
Photography: Hwa Goh

Head Teacher Riley Nottingham Collage

Flexible online classes for any schooling situation, any timezone and any skill level.

Giving young people all the tools they need to become working actors in a fun, safe and inclusive environment.

"Thanks so much for Dastan's first lesson with you last night. He absolutely loved it and was very happy afterwards. I also think you earned every dollar, thankyou for your patience and kindness."

— Parent/Guardian, WA

"Tom's really enjoying the classes."

— Parent/Guardian, WA

 

"Indrani had a GREAT time on the first class this week. Thankyou! :)."

— Parent/Guardian, NSW

"He loved it."

— Parent/Guardian, VIC

ENROL NOW FOR MON 19 FEB - SUN 24 MAR, 2024!

$135

WAA Juniors (7-10 yrs)

60 minute classes

5 Week Mini Term


$150

WAA Middles (11-13yrs)

60 minute classes

5 Week Mini Term

$160

WAA Seniors (14+ yrs)

60 minute classes

5 Week Mini Term

100% Money Back Guarantee - if you don't love the first class, receive a full refund no questions asked.

Small class sizes (capped at 10 students max).

Sessions fully recorded for safety reasons.

The goal of each term (apart from having heaps of fun!) is about learning many aspects performing: truth under imaginary circumstances, projection, team work, improvisation, script analysis, acting technique, performance technique and self-devised work.

Everyone has the opportunity each year to be involved in an on-screen performance that the students develop, write and/or rehearse themselves - to an audience of parents, guardians, family and friends!

“Hi Riley, thanks he really enjoyed it and keen to keep attending. Games are engaging for a boy who had never attended acting or drama classes before experiencing WAA online class. It’s a great way to enjoy role play and fun in an online small group setting.”

— Parent/Guardian, QLD

“I just wanted to send you a quick note to say that Evie loved the class tonight. She is still on a high hours later. I heard her telling her dad that it felt like it went for 15 minutes she was enjoying it so much! Keep up the great work.”

— Parent/Guardian, VIC

 

“Lochie is absolutely loving the classes!”

— Parent/Guardian, NSW

"Thank you for today. She really enjoyed it. Much appreciated."

— Parent/Guardian, SA

What You Get From WAA

For Students:

You get a dedicated weekly time (plus additional rehearsals!) where you’ll work with up to 9 other kids around Australia via video conferencing, learning performance skills and acting technique! Plus, make new friends, challenge yourself and have fun in a safe environment!


For Parents & Guardians:

You get a dedicated weekly time where your kid is learning, entertained and engaged - and you get to watch the performance at the end of the term! Your child will get to improve their confidence, explore their creativity and practise performance with kids from all over Australia.

FAQs

  • WAA is an online acting school for children, teenagers and adults, where students are taught by professional actors in an online setting.

    We aim to be the best online performing arts teaching experience for kids right across the world - from the remotest parts of the Top End, Tassie or Broome, through to small towns in Queensland or South Australia, through to Sydney's North Shore and bustling Melbourne. We also teach students from New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and all over Canada - all online!

    Wherever you are, if you have an Internet connection and an imagination, WAA can be the acting school for you!

  • We opened during March of 2020, initially as a response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. What we found was there are hundreds of passionate students all around the world who do not live close to suitable in-person training, so we exist for them :). (or anyone who'd like to give our classes a go!)

  • We almost always have classes (as well as private coaching) running, check available class times [here]. We run Mini Terms year round!

  • We teach online acting classes to children who are 7 right through to college students and adults.

  • You sure can!!! They're right here: Testimonials!

  • Because our classes are small, we've found our students generally have the best experience by grouping them into three brackets:

    • WAA Juniors - 7-10 years old (children 7 turning 8, through to 10)

    • WAA Middles - 11-13 years old (children 10 turning 11 through to 13)

    • WAA Seniors - 14+ years old (teenagers 13 turning 14 through to to 17/18)

    • Private Coaching (all ages)

    If you're unsure what group your child should go into or want to see if they can go into a different group, just email us [email protected], call 0410 305 433 or click here to book a call.

  • Yes! We have students from all over Australia - the Top End through to Victoria, Perth through to South Australia. Often our classes will have students from different regions and timezones which is always fun and interesting for the group. We're even international with students from outside Australia.

  • WAA is committed to being the BEST online acting experience for young people around Australia.

    Zoom has a feature called ‘Breakout Rooms’ which allows our teachers to break students into small groups (usually pairs) and switch between the sessions to provide coaching and monitor progress. It’s actually super easy! Read more at: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206476093-Getting-Started-with-Breakout-Rooms

  • Our head teacher and WAA founder is Riley Nottingham, you can read more about his career here, here[6] and below.

    Since 2016, Riley has taught thousands of students at various schools, aged 5 through to 18, and adult classes:

    • Working Actors Academy

    • APO Arts Academy (Children & Adults)

    • Stage Left

    • Centre Stage

    • Stage School Australia (VYT, YABC & Beginners on Stage)

    • Coach Music Academy (Children & Adults)

    Riley and WAA's style of teaching is based off our experiences of the tangible tools a working actor needs to be effective and powerful in rehearsal, on stage or on set:

    • being in the moment

    • being connected

    • the application of heart, body and mind to a scene.

    Recent actor or producer credits include:

    * Thank God You're Here

    * Junior MasterChef Australia

    * Beauty & The Geek

    * Metro Sexual

    * Australian Survivor

    * The Mole

    * The Weekly with Charlie Pickering

    * Hamish & Andy’s ‘Perfect’ Holiday

    * Gilligan’s Island: The Musical

    * True Story with Hamish & Andy

    * Married at First Sight

    * Toybox

  • Just email us at [email protected], or better yet book in a call here! If you can't wait, text or call 0410 305 433. Speak soon!

General Questions

  • Lots of things! **LIKE...**

    • Have fun

    • Make lifelong friends

    • Develop line learning techniques

    • Improve enunciation

    • Improve sight reading skills

    • Practise cold reads

    • Learn to self-devise stories

    • Learn how to deal with nerves and anxiety

    • Develop communication skills

    • Increase confidence

    • Improve active listening Skills

    • Learn to analyse a script

    • Learn theatre, film and television terminology

    • Understand the business of acting

    • Practise portraying truth in imaginary circumstances

    • Learn to make and accepts offers in improvisation

    • Develop physical and vocal character choices

    • Develop ability to act on impulse

    • Learn about how to get an agent

    • Learn about the casting process

    • Network with other young performers from all over Australia

    • Practise thinking thoughts in character

    • Practise being present/in the moment

    • Learn the power of the ensemble

    • Practise taking creative risks

    • Explore different emotions in performing

    • Create and understand objectives/goals in a scene

    • Create and understand motivation in a scene

    • Learn about stakes within a scene

    • Learn about setting up and overcoming obstacles

    • Learn about using tactics in a scene

    • Learn about emotional substitution

    • Practise giving yourself the right

    • Practise being a generous performer

    • Learn to be adaptable

    • Develop a positive mindset

    * gasps for breath *… Phew!! For more info, book an enrolment call today!

  • We have students from all over Australia, and often our classes will have students from different timezones which is always fun and interesting for the group.

  • Student numbers vary and the classes are always small enough to allow for one on one attention to students, so generally no bigger than eight to 12 students. This allows for genuine bonding, teamwork and friendships to form.

  • WAA runs on Mini Terms that act s 5 week focus blocks. No matter what Term you join us in, our classes are different every week (that's what keeps them fun and challenging!) and generally consist of check ins and check outs, focus activities, improvisation activities, teamwork activities, scriptwork and of course games!

  • When young people take ownership of their own learning, it generally leads to much better outcomes; this is the core of our ethos of performance-based learning. Our students constantly come up with ideas (guided along the way by our teachers) and create a story and performance of their own by applying the skills they’ve learned.

    • Students are equals

    • Students are free from judgement

    • Students are heard

    • Students work to make their fellow performers look good

    • Students strive to be in the moment as much as possible

    • Students focus on the work

    • Students give themselves permission to leave the day at the door (especially important during COVID-19 madness!)

    • Students learn there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ ways to act, just ‘interesting’ and ‘more interesting’

    • Fun is mandatory!!!

  • There are occasional extra rehearsals for extra passionate students! There’s no extra cost.

    Every mini term consists of your regular weekly classes, as well as extra rehearsals and events like industry Q&A and mindset talks.

    This is all included in your child's mini term price. Find out more here.

  • Certainly!

    Whilst we focus on the craft of acting, performance and confidence in class, we find a lot of students have questions about the industry. Therefore at least four times a year we hold a dedicated Q&A session for current students, their families and friends to participate and discuss the industry. Hosted by Head Teacher Riley Nottingham topics include, but are not limited to:

    • What 'success' looks like

    • How to pursue a career as a professional performer

    • How film/television projects are funded

    • Musicals VS film/tv VS immersive theatre, etc.

    • How the casting process works

    • How to get an agent

    • What an agent or manager does

    • Headshots

    • Showreels

    • What the entertainment or arts industry is like in Sydney and Melbourne VS other parts of Australia

    • What it's like working as a producer on Junior MasterChef, Married at First Sight, Survivor, Love Island, True Story with Hamish & Andy, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, etc.

    • Performing in a live studio setting

    • Performing and creating sitcoms

    • How to get into production roles

    • The Pitching Process behind film/TV

    • Opportunities for content creators through Netflix, Stan, etc.

    • Self-Taping for the USA

    • Time Management for performers

    And of course… whatever questions YOU ask!

  • We know our students love performing and guess what - our teachers do too! We are always working up to a performance, usually at least four times per year. Family and friends can watch what their children have created!

    We are very strong advocates of performance-based learning – in fact, it’s the bedrock of our approach!

  • Sometimes! Each performance is different but often, multiple groups come together in the additional rehearsals to put their skills into practice, collaborate and create something special for family and friends.

  • Haha, good question! Not SUPER loud, but a medium level. Acting involves a lot of listening and reacting to what's being given to you by a scene partner.

    Our term focusses on learning skills to apply to the creation of a self-devised screen-based performance which is specifically tailored to our audience – in this case, the camera lens of a smartphone, iPad/tablet or computer. So a loud scream that crackles everyone's mics isn't going to be on the cards TOO often :).

    P.S. Lots of students live in apartments, we know it’s a consideration!!!

  • Inclusivity is one of our core values at Working Actors Academy, so if your child has any learning difficulties or just has a particular challenge with something (like reading or being shy around others, etc.) just let us know! Our teacher will always tailor lessons around the individual needs and abilities of all students whilst keeping a fun and positive environment.

    We do do (haha, do do!!!) some reading (usually short two or three person scenes) but we go through scripts as a group and will tailor the material based on the students' ability level. Nobody ever has to read if they don't want to!

  • You'd be surprised how quickly even the newest of students learn to use the platform! (even the 7 year olds!) Our teachers are also experts at providing in-class tech support.

    We prefer parents/guardians not to be actively involved in class (just like would happen in an in-person environment) buheret you are welcome to be nearby should they have any issues!

    We teach students as young as 7.Please call us 0410 305 433 to discuss any concerns or questions, or book a call here.

  • WAA specialises in providing the best online acting experience for kids around Australia - pandemic or not!

    Whilst we (and most students) agree that there is nothing like real, in-person human connection, there is actually a heck of a lot of fun, learning and friendships that can be formed in our online classes.

    Our staff are also very experienced at dealing with all manner of phone and internet connections.

    Just read our testimonials, email [email protected] or call us 0410 305 433 to find out why young people from inner city, remote or rural Australia love WAA's online acting classes!

  • We would be surprised if you didn’t still have unanswered questions! Online performing arts classes are a new thing for a lot of people and we LOVE answering questions and talking about how we can work with your budding performers. Please call us on 0410 305 433 or email [email protected], OR better yet fill out the enrolment form here and our teaching staff will give you a buzz at your convenience.

The WAA Student Experience

Payment, Printing & Logistics

  • We've worked to make our prices as affordable as possible. Current prices are below which can be paid weekly or as a one-off.

    * $135/mini term ($27/week) WAA Juniors (7-10 yo)

    * $150/mini term ($30/week) WAA Middles (11-13 yo)

    * $160/mini term ($32/week) WAA Seniors (14+ yo)

    Included in the price is any additional rehearsals, optional industry Q&As and opportunity for performances for family and friends. Enrol here.

  • Yay, we’re excited to meet you/your child! You’ll be happy to know that new cohorts start all the time! You can join anytime. Check available class times here.

  • Whilst a term is intended to go over 10 weeks, some students stay for shorter periods and others stay for most months of the year. Join anytime and if for any reason you do not want to continue classes, you can cancel anytime. If you REALLY don't love the first class, see below!

  • We offer a 100% Moneyback Guarantee on your first class - if your child is not satisfied or decide it's not for them, we will happily refund you.

  • There is a small amount of suggested printing per term (scripts and worksheets, etc.), but if you don't have access to a printer, that's okay! Some students prefer to use iPads, etc. and we will always be able to work with individual students' situations.

  • Download here or give us a call on 0410 305 433. Please note this is an example curriculum intended only as a guide for what we've done in the past. We are constantly changing up our classes to keep them relevant, challenging and fun!

  • There are usually one or two rehearsals outside of regular class times for the extra passionate students - times/dates worked out within each class based on student availability.

  • We now structure our learning around mini terms, which are 5 week blocks. You can view upcoming dates for the year… here!

  • You history buff, you!! So, we used to do 4 x 10 week terms a year, but after a few years of trials and tribulations we worked out that we’re better off having classes happening… ALMOST ALL THE TIME!

    This is because we have students from all around Australia which have different start and end term dates/holidays.

    Therefore we now structure our learning around Mini Terms (the dates of all you can find here) suggested 10 week curriculum... and we do this because we optimise the student experience for MAXIMUM FUN!

    With not too many online group performing arts options post-pandemic, it is extremely important to us that signing up to experience our online acting classes is as simple as possible.

    Regular intakes means that ttudents as young as 7 can join at anytime, and be guaranteed a great, structured, fun term that has regular self-devised, on-screen or open class performance for family and friends that gives them a term structure.

    Additionally, the way we group students allows for bonding, familiarity and friendship to develop between classes, no matter people’s experiences and commitment levels.

  • Yep! Students can (and do!) join classes every week! We tailor each class for experienced students as well as beginners. Then just leave whenever you have holidays or follow the suggested 10 week structure.

    We love being flexible. There are enough headaches to deal with when living life in 2024 and beyond - and our online acting school shouldn't be causing more grief. (we HOPE it is actually helping!)

    If you have any questions at all about particular acting classes we offer, term dates or the curriculum, please call us 0410 305 433, email us ([email protected]) or simply enrol in the class you are interested in here. Our head teacher Riley will give you a buzz or send a text your way, usually in a couple of hours.

    We look forward to welcoming you and your child to the Working Actors Academy family.

  • We would be surprised if you didn’t still have unanswered questions! Online performing arts classes are a fairly niche thing and we LOVE answering questions and talking about how we can work with your budding performers. Please call us on 0410 305 433 or email [email protected], OR better yet fill out the enrolment form here and our teaching staff will give you a buzz at your convenience.

Safety

  • Yes, our teachers hold current Working With Children (WWC) Checks or equivalents.

    We teach students all over Australia and around the world - for more information please call us 0410 305 433 or email us [email protected].

  • Yes. Every session is recorded for child safety reasons only. You can view our full policy via the link at the bottom of the website.

  • We record sessions on our secure server for child safety reasons only; they are not viewed by anyone including staff. If you have further questions please contact us.

  • Zoom is the only video software that allows us to do the classes we do, with the Breakout Rooms feature which enables partner work within scenes, and the app overall has very high redundancy (i.e. it drops out far less than Facebook Messenger, Webx, Skype, etc.).

    All our classes are link/password-protected and people are only admitted into the room by the teacher conducting the session. For more information, please call us 0410 305 433.

  • We would be surprised if you didn’t still have unanswered questions! Online performing arts classes are a new thing for a lot of people and we LOVE answering questions and talking about how we can work with your budding performers. Please call us on 0410 305 433 or email [email protected], OR better yet fill out the enrolment form here and our teaching staff will give you a buzz at your convenience.