The Foundation Program

Our Foundation Program

The gateway to unleashing your acting potential. Actors Centre Australia’s Foundation Program is a premium part-time program designed and created for those serious about taking their acting aspirations to the next level.

If you are interested in studying acting in 2027, please e-mail info@actorscentreaustralia.com.au to enquire about available programs.

Be inspired by the most experienced ACA staff, and join our rich and vibrant culture, where your supported learning and performance outcomes are our sole consideration.

Are you someone looking to be accepted into a three-year degree program and want to be upskilled in all of the effective ways to have the most successful audition possible?
Are you a passionate performer in the amateur theatre or musical theatre society spaces and want to take your performance ability and confidence to an entirely new level?
Are you already working in the entertainment industry and aren’t able to engage in a full-time program but want the skills to take your onstage or onscreen skills to a sharper professional capacity?

Short, casual courses can provide an introduction to a set of skills and some understanding of them, but only a 20-week program such as the Foundation Program can deepen your skills to a level where the skills learnt become instinctive.

Take the first step towards your acting dreams by applying to ACA’s Foundation Program today – where your acting potential takes centre stage.

*This is a non-accredited course.

Duration

20 Weeks

Timetable

Mon, Tues, Wed Nights (6:30pm-10:00pm), Saturdays (9:00am-3:00pm)

Location

Actors Centre Australia, Glebe NSW

Program Fees

$5,990.00

Overview

Over 20 weeks you will be inspired by the most experienced tutors ACA has on staff. The program will only be offered to those who show the talent and aptitude, as well as the potential and promise, to take the next step in their career journey. This program will be your best next step to gain entry into a full-time course in Australia or overseas or accelerating your creative potential and abilities.

As a Foundation Program Company Member, you form a major part of the ACA family.

For every ACA internal show or event as well as for as many external events as possible, each Foundation Program Company Member will receive TWO FREE tickets to each show and event, so as to connect with the incredible performance experiences here on site.

Qualifications / Prerequisites

Students with these qualities should apply:

a passion and belief in the power of performance
a commitment to modern contemporary training
a belief in a rigorous, respectful environment
a dedication to embracing professional demands
a deep curiosity and passion about your artistic calling, and
a dedication to the industry and to creating a career of which you would be proud

Applicants need:

A high level of talent and aptitude in the performing arts
A good level of fitness
A high level of English literacy
Applicants must be 18 years or older at course commencement

Program Delivery

ACA’s Foundation Program has been meticulously designed and conceived with each actor’s most extensive learning outcomes and professional results as the prime considerations.

Three distinct elements set this course apart:

The Philosophy: ACA’s Foundation Program embraces your gifts and honours your personal and artistic journey throughout your training. You study in an adult environment – a place of mutual collaboration, respect and support. ACA’s paradigm for learning is: high challenge matched with high support produces high performance.

The Structure: We have structured a unique and flexible part-time schedule that works for you, offering:

time for reflection and digestion
time for quality research and preparation
time to work and to live

By maintaining a balanced and healthy life, you can fully embrace the quality training offered. This unique part-time structure also serves to accelerate and deepen your learning.

The Delivery: The way we learn has an effect on what we learn. Our program uses learning techniques that open up possibilities within each actor and salute the very best in each individual. Peak performance is our focus through an active, dynamic, and productive learning environment, matching rigour with achievement at every step. The course is split into 4 Stages of 5 weeks duration.

Each stage has its dedicated core subjects and performance outcomes. Creating an acting foundation with the bedrock skills required to take every aspect of acting understanding to a new level of rigorous achievement for every participant.

Culture / Commitment / Employment Outcomes

ACA’s mission statement is:

“To enliven the soul of society through the power of the performing arts.”

ACA was built upon the belief in the transformational capacity of performance, the enrichment of the human experience and of each person’s true potential realized through performing arts education.

We believe everyone has natural talent and untapped potential. To us, inspiration is the key to transformation, and we encourage everyone to go beyond their expectations and excel.

ACA provides a rigorous, vibrant, high challenge/high support environment, where everyone is encouraged class by class to support themselves and each other 100% so real achievement is possible within every opportunity.

Our Commitment:

We deliberately limit our class sizes to create a personalised, dynamic and productive environment
Our world-class tutors are as passionate about the art of teaching as they are about the art of acting. Students are encouraged, supported and challenged to continually move beyond their perceived limits.
Each of your tutors will inspire a continual sense of wonder about the power of the performing arts. Anyone looking to develop their acting, self-expression or performance skills will find ACA’s vibrant environment exciting and stimulating.

This is the time and opportunity to take you further than you might have thought possible through focused, integrated and intensive learning, matched with powerful and sustained onstage and onscreen performance experiences.

Employment Outcomes

Australia’s leading Foundation Program will take each individual to a far deeper understanding of their craft and skill-set as well as open up new possibilities within each actor so the work can speak boldly, passionately and securely through them.

You will conclude your program with more:

Creative freedom and release
Personal confidence and improved communication
Authenticity and connectivity
Live, on-stage performance experiences
Focus and drive
Rehearsal techniques
Acting experience for stage and screen
Imagination and openness

Timetables

April 2026 Intake
Mon, Tues, Weds Nights (6:30-10:00pm)
Saturday (9:00am-3:00pm)

Stage One

Subjects: Acting, Voice, Movement, Improvisation, Stage Combat

Stage Two

Subjects: Acting, Voice, Movement, Improvisation, Sonnets, Shakespeare

Presentations: Stage Combat

Stage Three

Subjects: Acting, Voice, Movement, Screen, Shakespeare, Mask, Singing, Scene Work

Presentations: Shakespeare

Stage Four

Subjects: Acting, Voice, Movement, Improvisation, Screen, Chekov, Scene Work

Presentations: Scene Work Public Performance

2026 Scholarships

Turn your passion into possibility! Actors Centre Australia will offer up to three $1,000 scholarships for students enrolling in the 2026 Foundation Program.

Deadline: 16 March 2026
Scholarship value: $1,000

To be eligible, applicants must be nominated by a teacher or mentor.

When submitting your online application, please upload a letter of recommendation from your nominator. Applications without a letter of recommendation will not be considered. Letter requirements:

Addressed to Johann Walraven, Head of Foundation Program
Include the name, email address, and phone number of the teacher or mentor
Outline why the applicant is being nominated

For questions about the scholarship process, please contact info@actorscentreaustralia.com.au.

Audition Process

Application via Digital Audition/Submission:

To apply for ACA’s Foundation Program please send or upload a filmed self-test/audition which includes:

An introduction to yourself including your name, age, and where you’re from (30 sec max)
Why you believe this program is your best next career step (30 sec max.)
A very brief introduction to your chosen piece i.e. character name, title of the play and the author.
Note: Your audition piece can be either dramatic or comic and either a Shakespearean monologue OR a modern/contemporary theatre or film monologue. The piece should be two and half minutes max and involve a role in which you could conceivably be cast.
Quality of footage simply needs clear vocals, sufficient light and shot on an iPhone or Android.

Once you’ve captured the take which best represents you, either upload it as a private and password-protected Vimeo or YouTube video using the password “Foundation” and send us the link with your application form.

We look forward to viewing your work.

Application process:

Complete the online application form. Incomplete application forms will not be accepted.
Include a digital headshot or passport photo.
Add link to your audition video.
You will be emailed an application confirmation letter within 5 working days of your submission.

Program Fees and Payment Structure

Fees: $5,990.00

Payment for the course can be made in instalments:

$1,490 deposit to be paid to accept placement.
$1,500 at the completion of stage one.
$1,500 at the completion of stage two.
$1,500 prior to the completion of stage three.