THE PRETEND PEOPLE – 2026 INDUSTRY MASTERCLASSES
Advanced Acting, Screen, and Musical Theatre Training for Young People Who Are Ready for More!
Not all drama classes are created equal. Some help your child burn an hour, ours help them build a future.
Introducing The Pretend People Industry Masterclasses — a year-long program designed for young people who want real acting, screen, and musical theatre skills taught by actual industry professionals.
Whether your child is already auditioning, dreams of working in TV or theatre, or simply wants to understand their craft on a deeper creative level, this program will elevate them far beyond the basics.
Professional. Personal. Supportive.
A space where young performers learn to trust their instincts, unlock their talent, and shine from a place of truth.
📍 Location: Earlwood (close to Inner West, Marrickville, Canterbury, Bayside areas)
⏰ Time: Sundays 9:30am – 11.30am (years 3-6), 11.30-1.30 (highschool only)
📅 Dates: Fortnightly sessions!
Term 1:
Session 1: Sunday 1st Feb
Session 2: Sunday 15th Feb
Session 3: Sunday 1st March
Session 4: Sunday 15th March
Session 5: Sunday 29th March
HOW TO BOOK? These classes are for experienced performers and are by application only.
Click on the application link OR email us at thepretendpeople@gmail.com to organise a 15-minute phone call.
🎬 WHO THESE WORKSHOPS ARE FOR
For young people in Years 3–6 and High School who:
✔ Already love performing
✔ Want more than a standard drama/dance class
✔ Are ready for industry-level training in a nurturing space
✔ Want to grow confidence, craft, and emotional intelligence
✔ May have an agent, or want to prepare for representation
✔ Want to understand self-taping, auditions, monologues, scenes, songs, and the real expectations of the industry
Entry is by application, ensuring every student is placed in the right class for their skill level. Classes are split by age.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE: FORTNIGHTLY SUNDAYS (TERM COMMITMENT)
Because young performers are busy, we’ve designed a schedule that works:
Fortnightly Sunday sessions
2 hours each session
Separate classes for Years 3–6 and High School
Max 12 participants in each class, ensuring individualised attention
$495 per term (payment plans available with an admin fee)
Join at the start of any term (Term 1 highly recommended)
Each term focuses on a specialised area — with brand new skills, tools, and outcomes.s
MEET YOUR LEAD COACH
Meet Veronica — The Coach Who Actually Walks the Walk
Veronica Clavijo is a professionally represented actor, writer, performer, and emerging director with more than 15 years in the industry — on screen, on stage, and behind the scenes.
She’s trained hard (Cert IV in Performing Arts, Cert IV in Dance Teaching & Management, BA in Media & Philosophy with Distinction, and an MA in Creative Writing), worked consistently, and brings all of that real-world experience straight into the room with your young performer.
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:
Lina Lamont in Singin’ in the Rain, Marion in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Maria/Ensemble in 9 to 5, and work with KXT Broadway, Depot Theatre, Sydney Fringe, and more.
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).
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.
WHY FORTNIGHTLY WORKS
(AND WHY FAMILIES LOVE IT)
✔ Less burnout
✔ More space to practise between sessions
✔ Deeper focus during each class
✔ Easier to manage around school + extracurriculars
✔ Students stay excited, not exhausted!
🌟 TERM 1 — THE TRUTHFUL ACTOR
Acting for Screen, Audition Skills & Self-Taping
Modern actors book jobs from home, and young people need these skills now.
This term builds powerful, grounded acting technique through:
Script + character analysis
Truthful acting for screen
Understanding briefs + direction
Building rapport with casting directors
Self-taping like a professional
Vocal + emotional clarity
Knowing your casting type
Your child will finish Term 1 with:
✔ 1 polished self-tape
✔ A strong understanding of the casting process
✔ Confidence on camera
✔ A repeatable audition workflow
Perfect for young actors already auditioning, or hoping to.
Term 1 Dates:
Session 1: Sunday 1st Feb
Session 2: Sunday 15th Feb
Session 3: Sunday 1st March
Session 4: Sunday 15th March
Session 5: Sunday 29th March
🎵 TERM 2 — THE TRIPLE THREAT TOOLKIT
Musical Theatre Training for Stage & Screen
A joyful deep-dive into the storytelling heart of MT.
Not competition-style.
Not “just dance.”
Real musical theatre craft.
Students will learn:
Acting through song
Musical theatre movement
Audition cuts (16/32 bars)
Ensemble building
Character + physicality
How to read and prepare MT audition briefs
They’ll walk away with:
✔ 1 polished audition song
✔ Beginner/intermediate MT choreography tools
✔ What a personalised repertoire list should look like
✔ More confidence performing while singing + acting + moving
Term 2 Dates TBC
🎭 TERM 3 — THE WORKING ACTOR STARTER PACK
Industry Skills, Branding, Materials & Audition Prep
This term demystifies the industry.
If your young person has ever wondered:
“What goes on a CV?”
“Which monologue should I pick?”
“What headshot do I need?”
“How do I talk to my agent?”
“What’s my type?”
This is the term that answers it all!
Students will build:
A clean, industry-ready CV
A self-tape suitable for a showreel
A polished monologue
A polished song or scene
A clear sense of personal branding
Term 3 Dates TBC
🎤 TERM 4 — THE SHOWCASE LAB
Performance, Confidence & Applied Technique
The heart of good acting is practice.
This term is where everything comes together.
Students work on:
Scene work (screen or stage)
Partnered or ensemble pieces
Musical theatre or drama performance
Rehearsal process + etiquette
Emotional storytelling
The term culminates in a performance tailored to be supportive, meaningful, and confidence-building.
Not a school-style concert.
A genuine creative lab where students grow and shine.
