YOUTH ACTING: AGES 14 - 17 +
YOUTH PROGRAM
The Youth Acting Program is a four term training program. (Ages 14 - 17)
At 16th Street, we believe that storytellers are vital. We are proud to encourage emerging young actors to develop their artistic and technical skills and craft stories they are passionate about telling. The Youth Acting Program is a four-term training program for teenage actors, we have two ensembles for ages 14 to 15 and the second ensemble for ages 16 to 17, however class placement will be at the discretion of the studio.
Young actors train in technique and apply it to a wide range of theatre (plays) and film and television scripts. Throughout the program, they also develop the skills to create and perform their own original material. 16th Street prepares young people with the necessary craft to pursue a professional acting career and live with confidence and self-belief. 16th Street is committed to fostering the unique talents of young creatives by introducing them to dynamic industry professionals who are skilled communicators in their areas of expertise.
YEARLY BREAKDOWN
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Movement & Play
We kick off the year by getting out of our heads and into our bodies. Through physical theatre, clowning, buffon, and mask work, students discover freedom, presence, and connection - learning to express with the whole body and find truth in play. It’s about building confidence, spontaneity, and ensemble energy.
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Acting for Camera
The focus shifts on-screen. Students explore the craft of acting for camera - finding truth in smaller moments, hitting marks without losing connection, and understanding how film performance differs from stage work. This term introduces practical on-set skills and the subtlety of screen presence.
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Scene Work
Students apply their growing skills to specific scene work - exploring text, relationships, and emotional truth. They learn to prepare like professionals, analyse scripts, and bring characters fully to life in rehearsal and performance.
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Industry & Showcase
The year culminates in a creative mini-showcase and draws on the full range of skills they’ve developed across the year. Including physical expression in scene work, discipline in performance and bringing work to an audience -celebrating how far they’ve come and where they’re heading next.
Meet one of our Youth Program teachers, Emmanuelle Mattana.
EMMANUELLE MATTANA
Emmanuelle Mattana (she/they) is an actor, writer - and former child-performer - passionate about empowering young artists with the skills and confidence to authentically and bravely express themselves. As a teacher of the Youth Ensemble she champions collaboration, creative risk taking, performing contemporary writing that centres young people, using the arts as a social/political tool and getting way more comfortable with failure!
Her debut play 'Trophy Boys’, which she wrote and leads, recently closed its twice-extended Off-Broadway premiere, directed by Tony Award Winner Danya Taymor, and a third consecutive Australian national tour. It has received sold out audiences, critical acclaim and award recognition; Sydney Theatre Award's Best New Australian Work, BroadwayWorld Australia's Best New Play in Melbourne and Best Performance for VCE Theatre Studies Students after its inclusion on the Victorian high school curriculum. She is currently adapting Oscar winner Jane Campion's film 'Bright Star' for the stage, and is on commission for original plays with the Soho Theatre, London and Red Stitch Actors Theatre.
As a performer she is best known for leading three seasons of the International Emmy Kids® nominated tween series ‘Mustangs FC’ (ABCMe) and ‘Videoland’ (Netflix) which was awarded Best Comedy at Seriesmania. Indie feature film 'Fwends', which she leads and co-wrote was AACTA nominated for Best Indie Film and was awarded the Caligari Prize at the 75th Berlinale (2025), the first ever Australian film to receive the prestigious award which honours a stylistically and thematically innovative film. Other performance credits include The Messenger (ABC); Surviving Summer and Clickbait (Netflix), and Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries (Acorn TV).
Georgie Stone is an Australian actress, writer, and a Youth Program Graduate.
“I was excited to meet other people my age who had the same passions as I did. The 16th Street Youth Program really was looking at what we are actually doing, what this profession is and why so many people are absolutely in love with it.” - Georgie Stone, Actor (Neighbours)
DETAILS
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2026
Term 1: February 1st - March 22nd
Term 2: April 26th - June 14th
Term 3: July 19th - September 6th
Term 4: October 11th - November 29th
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Sundays; 10am - 1pm or 2pm - 5pm
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$2972 incl GST (term 1-4) ($743 per term)
Or
4 x instalments of $793 incl GST ($3172 total) -
Application Process:
16th Street invites young actors and their parents or caregivers to submit an online application.
We meet with every young actor we take onto the program to introduce them to the studio. We ask them to prepare a very short scene that we provide to give us a sense of where they are at, so we can best support them in the program.
We encourage both emerging and experienced young actors to apply.
Class placement will be at the discretion of the 16th Street faculty and may include a transition to the teen program.
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