THE ACTOR'S ROOM
An 8-Week Acting Development Program
From script to performance.
When: Thursday evenings in Term 4
Years 3–6: 5.30 - 6.30 pm
High school: 6.30 - 7.30 pm
Cost: $210 for the 8-week course
Where: Marrickville PCYC, Thursday 15 October – Thursday 3 December 2026
What is it?
A focused acting program for young performers ready to develop their craft.
The Actor's Room is an eight-week acting program designed to take students beyond introductory drama activities and into the process of actually developing a performance.
Over the course of the term, students will work with scripts, characters and scenes, developing the practical tools actors use to analyse text, make choices, collaborate with scene partners and create believable performances.
The term culminates in a final performance for parents and families, where students will present a prepared monologue or scene they've developed throughout the program.
THE ACTING PROCESS
Great acting doesn't happen by accident.
It starts with understanding the material, asking questions, making choices and learning how to communicate those choices through voice, body and behaviour.
Across eight weeks, students will work through the process from first read to final performance.
01 — THE ACTOR
What does an actor actually do?
We'll establish the foundations of working in an ensemble, building confidence in the room, responding to direction and making active performance choices.
02 — THE SCRIPT
We'll learn how to interrogate a script.
What's happening?
What does the character know?
What's changed?
What isn't being said?
Students will begin developing the skills of script analysis and interpretation.
03 — THE CHARACTER
Who is this person?
Students will explore character objectives, relationships, circumstances, physicality and behaviour to develop characters with depth and specificity.
04 — THE WORLD
Characters don't exist in isolation.
We'll explore the world of the scene, relationships and circumstances and how these influence the way a character behaves.
05 — THE SCENE
Acting is about connection.
Students will work with scene partners to develop listening, responding, timing, chemistry and truthful interaction.
06 — MAKING CHOICES
There is rarely only one way to approach a character.
Students will experiment with vocal, physical and emotional choices, learning how to make specific decisions rather than waiting for someone to tell them how to play a scene.
07 — REHEARSAL
Now we put it together.
Students will rehearse their chosen monologue or scene, receive direction and refine their performance.
They'll learn an important professional skill:
How to take a note, make an adjustment and try again.
08 — PERFORMANCE
The room becomes the stage.
In our final session, parents and families will be invited to watch students perform their prepared monologue or scene.
A chance to celebrate the work they've created, the skills they've developed and the progress they've made throughout the term.
THIS IS ACTING TRAINING — NOT JUST DRAMA CLASS.
Students will develop practical skills including:
Character development
Script analysis
Scene study
Vocal and physical choices
Subtext and intention
Working with scene partners
Taking direction
Performance confidence
Monologue preparation
Professional performance habits
The emphasis is on process, craft and application.
Students won't simply be learning lines. They'll learn how to understand, interpret and perform them.
About the Course Director
Meet Veronica — The Coach Who Actually Walks the Walk
The Actor’s Room: An Acting Development Program, is led by Veronica Clavijo, a professional actor, writer and creative producer. This intensive is designed to give young performers a space to explore, grow and feel genuinely supported.
With experience across screen and stage, Veronica brings both industry knowledge and a deeply human approach to teaching. Her goal is to help students build confidence, trust their instincts and connect to their creativity.
As the founder of The Pretend People, her work is driven by a belief that every child deserves the chance to express themselves, be imaginative, and develop skills that go far beyond performance.
Her screen work includes:
F Ward (Stan), Deadly Women (Beyond), Final Broadcast, Keith Urban & P!nk’s One Too Many, Face Up to the Sun, plus major campaigns for Bankwest, CitiBank, Real Insurance, and Tylenol.
Her stage highlights:
Recently, Ophelia in Hamlet with Mad In Craft for Sydney Fringe, Sarah in Atlantis with Subtlenuance at KXT Broadway. Lina Lamont in Singin’ in the Rain, Marion in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Big Jule in Guys and Dolls.
She’s also directed and coached young performers in Shrek Jr, Aladdin Kids, and assisted on The Lightning Thief (Regals) and Margaret Fulton: Queen of the Dessert (Bondi Theatre Company) and is currently directing the parody adaptation of Once More With Feeling, Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
But here’s the bit kids love most:
Veronica is the rare coach who blends professional-level training with playfulness, emotional intelligence, and genuine belief in every young performer she teaches. She knows how to challenge kids in ways that feel safe, exciting, and confidence-boosting — not intimidating.
She’s represented by CMT Talent, a proud MEAA member, a devoted educator, and the creative force behind The Pretend People.
In short?
She’s legit. She’s warm. And she knows exactly how to bring out the best in your young performer…on stage, on camera, and in themselves.
