Welcome to 2026! Hello, and welcome to the third year of the rebooted Malthouse Drama School. We’re so thrilled that the institution set up in 1969 (!!!) has had such a positive reception from the Ōtautahi Christchurch community on it’s return. As we head into our third year of operating we’re looking at both our content and classroom culture to make sure it is aligned with both where we want to head as an organisation and is giving a classroom experience that is positive and productive for all of our students.  Term One’s content will be a great way to start the year in the world of Malthouse Drama. If your child is new to the school it’s designed to give them a great introduction to the skills and benefits of drama and not leave them behind. If they’re a returning student it’ll be a great chance to get their engine back up to speed after the summer holidays.  With a revised curriculum leaning into game-based learning and a renewed focus on classroom and school culture, we’re very excited to be kicking off 2026 as we intend to continue! Which is working hard to create great stories, fun characters, and dramatic moments! If you’re a new student, welcome, I hope this is a new tribe for you, there is so much for you to learn, and I hope you have a great time. If you are a returning student, welcome back, we’re so glad to see you again, and we have high expectations of ongoing greatness from you.  Break a leg! Dan Bain Head of School

What are THE Malthouse Drama Class options?

Currently, we are taking bookings for Term One and Two for 2026.

All classes run for an hour except for Introduction to Drama which is 50 minutes long.

They are:

INTRODUCTION TO DRAMA ONE – For children aged 5 and 6

Intro to Drama is taught by Nelly or Josiah

Runs 8 weeks. Three options available: Mon, Wed or Thurs at 4pm | Starts February 2026 | Cost $135

BOOK YOUR CHILD’S PLACE NOW 

JUNIOR DRAMA ONE – For children aged 7 to 9

Junior Drama is taught by Nelly or Josiah

Runs 8 weeks. Three options available, Mon, Wed or Thurs 5pm | Starts February 2026 | Cost $160

BOOK YOUR CHILD’S PLACE NOW 

INTERMEDIATE DRAMA ONE – For children aged 10 – 12

Students in the 10-12 class are asked to please bring a notebook or exercise book and something to write with to each class this term. 

Intermediate Drama is taught by Nelly

Runs 8 weeks: Two options available:  Wed or Thurs 6pm | Starts February 2026 | Cost $160

BOOK YOUR CHILD’S PLACE NOW

Why are DRAMA CLASSES FOR EVERYONE?

The Malthouse is a multi-purpose arts space, housing Canterbury Children’s Theatre, Malthouse Costume Hire, and drama classes at The MALTHOUSE DRAMA SCHOOL.

Drama classes are fun. That’s a given, right?

And we all have an idea of the kind of student who loves them. Big! Extroverted! Performer! Personality for days!

But drama classes aren’t just for these types of students.

And they aren’t just for people who want to pursue performance as a career.

We say drama classes are for everyone…

Because they build critical interpersonal skills that will stay with and help your child for the rest of their life. 

Skills like: 

• Communication – Stage performance requires multiple techniques in order to be clear, audible, and enjoyable to the audience. All of these skills translate into real-world applications – whether that’s presenting at a conference, having a job interview, or leading a team. The technical skills of the stage are invaluable in any context that involves communication – so… all of them!
• Empathy – Acting is understanding and becoming a person who is not you. This process moves your child away from self-absorption and towards a greater understanding of the inner life of others. Drama literally allows you to walk in another’s shoes.
• Collaboration – Theatre is the great collaborative art form. It requires all participants to work together as a team to produce the final product. Drama builds teamwork skills as a byproduct of the form. 
• Problem-solving – Drama is challenging and engages the mind to think creatively, use abstract problem-solving, and to explore outside the box. Any stage production needs constant creative solutions. Because drama is a practical skill these solutions cannot be theoretical – they must work in reality. 

The Malthouse is the home of Canterbury Children’s Theatre, a full, producing-house theatre company, who build their own props, make their own costumes, and create sound and lighting designs for their school holiday productions.

As a student of the Malthouse Drama School, your child won’t just be working on their acting and performance skills – developing all of those bonus life skills – but also being given opportunities throughout the year to experience the full range of disciplines that are required to bring a live stage show to life.

Who are the Drama TUTORs at Malthouse Drama School?

Josiah is a writer and performer based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. He is an experienced storyteller and deviser, having written five books and having acted since he was five years old. As a performer, he has worked across Aotearoa and in Australia with groups including Court Theatre Youth Company, THETA, Movement Art Practice, Tiny Fest, The X Collective, Hwyl Theatre, and more. Recently, you may have seen him in the Day One short film Wilbert Wire.    Offstage, he works in schools and alternative educational environments around Aotearoa teaching both drama and writing to people ages 5 to 65. Between 2014 and 2017, Josiah could regularly be seen onstage at The Malthouse with Canterbury Children’s Theatre. He is looking forward to exploring and playing with stories together!

Nelly is a passionate theatre-maker with a keen interest in supporting children to discover joy and confidence through drama. After years of attending drama classes in and outside of school, she trained with and performed as a member of the Court Theatre Youth Company and the Jester’s Youth Company. She is currently a member of the Court Theatre’s professional improv troupe, the Court Jesters where she performs regularly in the late night comedy improv show, Scared Scriptless, as well as in gigs providing comedic corporate entertainment. She spends much of her spare time devising an absurdist, comedic clown act as one half of the performance duo, Fight and Flight. Nelly is delighted to be teaching at Malthouse and can’t wait to help students fall in love with drama.

Lucia is a passionate student and experienced kaihaka based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. She has spent five years in senior kapa haka group Ngā Toi o te Rangi, and adores Māori performing arts and Te Reo Māori. She also comes from a strong background in youth health and climate justice advocacy, having recently been deputy co-chair for youth health advisory group Māngai Whakatipu. Currently, Lucia is also working as a youth tutor for the Collaborative Trust, where she co-facilitates and runs workshops and talks on all varieties of youth-health related issues.  Bringing together her love of working with young people, and her passion for the performing arts, she is excited to be working as a teaching assistant at Malthouse this term!

Also, our Head of School is Dan Bain.  All content and lessons for your child’s classes are co-created, overseen, and approved by veteran theatre industry professional Dan Bain (The Court Theatre, Scared Scriptless, Little Andromeda, Perfuct Storm, CCC Summertimes Outdoor Theatre, Improv Seduction, University of Canterbury Teaching Fellow, etc, etc) who makes sure that the course content isn’t just fun but also is relevant, important, and useful for both those with aspirations to join the industry and those who are just looking for a creative hobby. He can sometimes (very rarely) be convinced into teaching a class and each year writes a bespoke play exclusively for Malthouse Drama School’s mini-production. In 2024 this was Fetch Quest, in ’25 Ape Escape, and he won’t tell us what ’26 has in store.

Bookings and Enquiries