Upcoming courses AND auditions

AUDITION & EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The Winter’s Tale (Youth Production)

Directed by Heidi Silberman

The Mill Theatre invites expressions of interest from young performers for a 2026 youth production of The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare, directed by Heidi Silberman.

This will be The Mill’s first dedicated youth production, and as such we are approaching this as an opportunity to explore interest, capacity, and the appetite for rigorous, text-based work with young performers in the ACT. We are keen to hear from those who are curious, committed, and excited to engage with Shakespeare in a focused and supportive environment.

The Winter’s Tale is one of Shakespeare’s most dynamic and surprising works — moving from jealousy and loss to renewal, wonder and joy. This production will emphasise clarity of storytelling, ensemble work, and strong foundational acting technique, while creating space for imagination and play.

At this stage, this is an Expression of Interest process. Please read the full EOI here

In 2026, training at The Mill is changing. Instead of separating classes from productions, the work of the rehearsal room is being embedded directly into The Monday Drop-In. Each session brings together artists currently working on Mill productions with actors and creatives who wish to drop in, train, and be part of a living, working room. This is professional practice made visible. Drop-ins also replace the usual audition process. If you are interested in working at The Mill, you can audition-not-audition any Monday!

The Monday Drop-In asks big, practical questions: What are the pathways into live performance beyond traditional conservatoire training? How do directors train? How do artists move from hobby practice to paid work — and what actually changes when they do? Over ten weeks, participants can attend one session, several, or the full quarter. This program replaces Acting 201 and 301, creating a clear, transparent pipeline from training to performance. Check out dates and booking information here

In 2026, Lexi offers personalised, one-on-one training in acting, voice, or directing. Each session is tailored to your individual goals—whether you’re honing a specific technique, preparing for auditions, or exploring the craft of directing. These sessions provide a unique opportunity to work directly with an experienced professional in a focused, supportive environment.

A graduate of London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with first-class honours, Lexi has performed at the Globe, worked with Miriam Margoyles, Tamsin Greig, Jemma Redgrave, and Jason Isaacs, and collaborated with acclaimed director Justin Martin on new play developments in London and Australia. Her extensive stage credits span Shakespeare, contemporary Australian theatre, and original work, while her producing experience includes founding Canberra’s Mill Theatre at Dairy Road and Lakespeare & Co's Shakespeare by the Lakes.

Email hello@milltheatreatdairyroad.com for more information.

The Shadow–Emerge–Mentoree Program at the Mill Theatre is designed to build professional capacity within Canberra’s performing arts sector by offering structured, hands-on pathways into theatre-making.

The program recognises that artists develop at different paces and require varying levels of scaffolding to succeed. For this reason, participation can take many forms - from shadowing a professional on a single production, to assisting with defined tasks, to eventually leading a project with the continued support of a mentor. Over the years, this flexible structure has proven essential. The program’s success lies in its ability to adapt to each participant’s development stage, allowing room to fail safely and grow with confidence. Participants are encouraged to take creative risks, knowing they will be caught and supported with additional scaffolding when needed. This commitment to safe experimentation has become a defining feature of the Mill’s approach to professional learning.