Creative Performance Academy

We have received an exceptional amount of demand for the Creative Performance Academy running this Easter, if you would like to be added to our waiting list please email octagontheatre@southsomerset.gov.uk

Join us for an action-packed four days of dance, drama and music workshops this Easter!

You’ll be dancing around the world and through the decades, creating and recording music on Javanese instruments, plus creating your own piece of theatre with some of Somerset’s most exciting artistic professionals. 

Creative Performance Academy is a great opportunity for those aged between 8-13 years old to make new friends, learn new skills and have a blast while doing so. The event will run from 10am-2.30pm on Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th, Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th of April. No previous dance, acting or musical experience is required. 

Included within the cost of the four day academy, participants will receive a hot meal daily and a selection of links to online dance, drama and music tutorials. 

We are pleased to announce there are a limited number of free places available for this programme, for children in receipt of Free School Meals, on behalf of Somerset County Council and Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership. To book a subsidised place you will require a discount code, these codes have been sent out to students in receipt of Free School Meals who attend school within Somerset, if this applies to you but you have not received a code please contact our Box Office.

If you have been provided a code to book a subsidised place please click the link below. Please enter your code on the basket page before you confirm your booking;

Book subsidised place using code.

Workshops include

Create Your Own Play - With Wassail Theatre Company

Join Wassail Theatre to play games, create characters and bring some silly Somerset stories to life!  You’ll spend a couple of hours with writer/ actor / director Nick White to imagine exciting ways of bringing your own wild and wonderful ideas to life.

Javanese Gamelan – with Actiontrack Performance Company

You don’t need to be a music specialist or be learning an instrument to be able to play the Gamelan.  We’ll show you how to make wonderful sounds and create music on these fabulous instruments that come from the other side of the world. 

Dancing Through The Decades – with Keri Hill Dance

This dancing extravaganza will take you through the decades of dance. From 1920's Charleston, 50's Rock'n'Roll, 60's Grooving, 70's Disco Fever and 90's Old Skool Hip Hop. These fun packed sessions will take us on a journey through history, sampling various iconic genres of dance.

Around the World in Dance – with Natalie Hyde

Jet set around the world with dance! Grab those dancing shoes and jump from continent to continent, as we explore popular dance styles all across the globe. From the fiery flamenco in Spain, to the quirky Charleston in South Carolina. Join us for this exciting adventure, as we learn, dance and create.

This activity will take place face-to-face at Westlands Entertainment Venue, all activity will be delivered in a COVID-19 safe environment and in line with all current government guidance.