Rochelle Laplante (Acting, 2019, Edmonton, AB) as Scilla in Serious Money by Caryl Churchill, directed by Lezlie Wade as a graduating class show of the National Theatre School, February 2019.
Photo by Maxime Côté
The Acting Program is a rigorous and immersive training program that exposes the emerging artist to a wide array of theatre styles and approaches. Through core training in voice, movement, text, and music the actor builds a personalized process to support the development of a resilient and sustaining artistic expression. In an intimate setting, students are guided and challenged by influential artists of contemporary theatre. The Acting Program supports powerful and independent artists by developing each actor’s awareness of their own unique artistic process.
VOICE / MOVEMENT / TEXT / ACTING WITH THE CAMERA / CLASSICAL TEXTS / MUSICAL THEATRE / CONTEMPORARY WORKS
3 years of training | 10 to 14 students per year
Quincy Armorer
Director of the Acting Program
- Highly individualized training with an emphasis on building long-lasting professional relationships
- Hands-on experience in a variety of venues, from intimate and immersive to the large stage
- Daily interactions with professional artists who work in theatres across the country
- Partnerships with theatres such as the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, as well as professional artistic organizations across the country, to support professional integration after graduation
Audition tour dates:
- Toronto: March 1-2, 2027
- Winnipeg: March 3, 2027
- Saskatoon: March 3, 2027
- Edmonton: March 4, 2027
- Calgary: March 4, 2027
- Whitehorse: March 5, 2027
- Vancouver: March 5, 2027
- Ottawa: March 11, 2027
- Halifax: March 17, 2027
- Fredericton March 17, 2027
- Charlottetown: March 17, 2027
- St. John’s: March 17, 2027
- Montréal: March 23-24-25, 2027
Curriculum & Teaching Artists
NTS offers highly individualized training. As such, the curriculum is subject to change, following the latest development in technology, new artistic practices, and the needs of the unique group of artists making up each class. Our training is always practical, supported by the 10 student shows created each year.
Our students are taught and mentored by working professional artists who have their finger on the pulse of the artistic community.
They share a wealth of theatre experience from across Canada and around the world. NTS has an overall ratio of two instructors per student. Our group of teaching artists varies each year according to student needs.
⇀ CURRICULUM
⇀ TEACHING ARTISTS
Ellie Ellwand (Acting, 2017) during voice over class in the National Theatre School’s sound studio.
Benjamin Thomas (Acting, 2019, Saskatoon, SK) in 7 Stories by Morris Panych, directed by Philip Akin, as a graduating class show of the National Theatre School, December 2018.
Photo by Maxime Côté
They hired our Acting alumni:
Our graduates work with numerous arts organizations around the world. Here are just a few examples:
- Alberta Theatre Projects (Calgary, AB)
- American Repertory Theatre (San Francisco, US)
- Arts Club Theatre Company (Vancouver, BC)
- Banff Centre (Banff, AB)
- Buddies in Bad Times (Toronto, ON)
- Canadian Stage (Toronto, ON)
- Factory Theatre (Toronto, ON)
- Mirvish Entertainment (Toronto, ON)
- National Arts Centre (Ottawa, ON)
- National Theatre (London, UK)
- Neptune Theatre (Halifax, NS)
- Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (Winnipeg, MB)
- Stratford festival (Stratford, ON)
- Shaw festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON)
- Soulpepper (Toronto, ON)
- Summerworks (Toronto, ON)
- Tarragon Theatre (Toronto, ON)
- Theatre New Brunswick (Fredericton, NB)
- The Confederation Centre (Charlottetown, PEI)
Our graduates also work in various media including mo-cap technology and gaming such as with Ubisoft, streaming platforms as well as mainstream film and television.
APPLICATION FORM
The Acting Program admits between ten and fourteen students each year.
Applications for admission to the program for the 2027/2028 school year are available HERE until January 31, 2027.
To stay up-to-date on the Acting Program application process, sign up for the Admissions Newsletter by clicking on Pre-admissions.
Please contact Admission if you would like to speak with someone about the program, or visit NTS in person.
You must be at least 18 years old as of December 31 of the year of entry at NTS.
AUDITION
For the initial audition, applicants are asked to prepare two short monologues that must not exceed 2 minutes each, one from the classical repertoire and one contemporary monologue. Classical monologues must be chosen from the list provided by the School.
*The video auditions are reserved for candidates outside of Canada*
CALLBACK WORKSHOP
A number of candidates are then selected for a callback workshop held May 4 & 5 or May 7 & 8.
The callback is a series of classes and workshops typical of the training at NTS. It is led by NTS faculty members and professional artists. You must attend the final callback workshop in person.
NEED ANY HELP?
Read the Frequently Asked Questions
CONTACT OUR ADMISSIONS OFFICE
514-842-7954, ext. 163
