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Young Performers Academy

2026 - 2027

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Central Film School is delighted to announce the launch of the Young Performers Academy, an exciting new Saturday programme for young people aged 7–15 who are passionate about creativity, performance, storytelling, and developing confidence.

The programme is led by acclaimed performer, educator, and director Sharon Sexton, and offers a unique approach to performance that combines the development of creativity and confidence with the development of acting craft. We have designed a curriculum to help young people develop the human skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

The Central Film School campus oozes creative arts. It was once an old Victorian music hall and the former location of Italia Conti performing arts school. Now converted and repurposed to give our young students the best facilities and resources to embark on their journey in the screen industries.

Central Film School is delighted to announce the launch of the Young Performers Academy, an exciting new programme for young people aged 7–15 who are passionate about creativity, performance, storytelling, and improving their confidence.

The programme is led by acclaimed performer, educator, and director Sharon Sexton, and offers a unique approach to performance that combines the development of creativity and confidence with the teaching of acting craft. We have designed a curriculum to help young people learn the human skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

The Central Film School campus oozes creative arts. It was once an old Victorian music hall and the former location of Italia Conti performing arts school. Now converted and repurposed to give our young students the best facilities and resources to embark on their journey in the screen industries.

Get in contact with our Admissions team to learn more:

YPA Acting Masterclass Day

Sunday 15 November 2026 | 10am–4pm | Central Film School, Clapham

Four Masterclasses. One Full Day. Discover the Actor in You.

Join us for a full day of practical actor training in the inspiring surroundings of Central Film School, Clapham. Meet the YPA team, explore our studios and discover new ways to bring characters and stories to life.

Led by experienced industry professionals, our four masterclasses take young performers from creative exploration and stage performance to acting for camera and audition technique.

For ages 7–11 and 12–15, with activities and teaching tailored to each age group.

Whether you’re trying acting for the first time or already love performing and want to sharpen your acting skills.

Come ready to create, experiment and have fun. No preparation is required.

Course details:

Core Classes:

Junior Academy (Ages 7–9)
Inter Academy (Ages 10–12)
Senior Academy (Ages 13–15)

Elective Classes:

Singing
Speech & Drama

Term dates: To be confirmed soon.

Fees: To be confirmed soon.

Concessions: Sibling discount: 20% discount for each additional child from the same family.

Uniform: Our young performers will be required to purchase and wear the YPA uniform during their course of study.

Location: Central Film School, 72 Landor Road, London, SW9 9PH, United Kingdom

Nearest station: Clapham North underground (Northern Line), Clapham High Street overground (Windrush Line), and within walking distance of Stockwell (Victoria Line).

Thinking of enrolling your child?

Email YPA@centralfilmschool.com to register your interest or fill out our enquiry form.

Introductory Full-Day Masterclass Offer: £95

1. Creative Drama & Devising Masterclass

Every actor starts with imagination. In this masterclass, we explore improvisation, interactive drama games and group storytelling. Students will create their own material, solve problems together and build confidence in sharing their ideas.

2. Character & Text Masterclass

Bring the words on the page to life. Work with scenes from existing plays to explore character, relationships and what a script tells us. Students will make acting choices, develop characters and discover how those choices shape a performance.

3. Acting for Camera Masterclass

Discover the craft of screen acting. Explore how acting for camera differs from performing on stage. Through practical camera work, students will learn about framing, lighting, where to look and how to create a natural, believable performance on screen.

4. Audition Technique & Screen Scripts

Build confidence in the audition room. Learn how to approach a short audition script, make clear character choices and respond to a director’s feedback. Students will practise adapting their performances and bringing screen material to life on camera.

Core Classes

CLASS 1: CREATIVE DRAMA

This class focuses on imagination, confidence-building, teamwork, and communication in a fun, supportive environment. Each student’s voice is valued, and sessions are designed to encourage them to develop friendships, explore their critical thinking, and express themselves freely. Students will explore:

• Improvisation and devising

• Storytelling and creative thinking

• Stagecraft fundamentals

• Character exploration

• Problem-solving and collaboration

• Confidence and presentation skills

CLASS 2: Acting

The skills developed in our Creative Drama classes provide a strong foundation for life and naturally lead to a progression into acting. Through practical workshops using scenes and scripts from Shakespeare to contemporary theatre and film, students will explore the techniques that bring stories and characters to life, developing skills in:• Script analysis

• Scene study

• Acting for the camera

• Shakespeare / classical text

• Contemporary drama • Character development

• Audition technique

Sharon Sexton

The Young Performers Academy is led by Sharon Sexton, an award-winning West End performer, director, highly qualified arts educator and vocal specialist with more than 25 years’ professional experience.

Sharon holds a BA (Hons) in Speech & Drama, an MA in Theatre Directing, and an Advanced Professional Diploma in Singing Teaching, alongside specialist qualifications in vocal health and rehabilitation. Her extensive career in arts education has included positions as Head of Singing, Head of Musical Theatre, and Head of Speech & Drama, as well as establishing and leading performing arts programmes across the UK and Ireland. She is also a tutor with The Voice College London and regularly teaches at leading performing arts institutions across the UK and Europe.

Alongside her work in education, Sharon has an extensive international performance career, including Sloane in Bat Out of Hell, Donna in MAMMA MIA!, Billy Elliot, The Commitments, A Night with Janis Joplin, and The Karate Kid – The Musical.

Speech & Drama

Alongside the core programme, students may choose to enrol in optional specialist classes with limited availability.

Speech & Drama (LAMDA)

Small group classes have been designed to develop confident communication, clear and articulate speech, expressive vocal skills, and presentation techniques through engaging work with poetry, prose, storytelling, and performance. Students can work towards nationally recognised LAMDA performance examinations in:

• Verse & Prose

• Public speaking

• Acting Singing Performance

Singing

(LAMDA) Small-group singing classes

have been designed to develop healthy vocal technique, musicianship, musical interpretation, and performance skills, while preparing students for optional nationally recognised LAMDA Singing examinations.

• Musical theatre

Exams are not mandatory, and students are entered for examinations only when they are ready and at the level most appropriate to their individual abilities and experience. Examination fees are not included in term fees.

Performance Opportunities

Students will work towards two major performance events each year & one optional performance exam.

Winter Presentation
An informal in-house sharing of work at Central Film School in December.

Summer Showcase
An end-of-year performance celebrating the achievements of all students.

YPA will also host industry professional tutors to lead core classes, as well as additional
workshops & masterclasses throughout the year.

Optional LAMDA GROUP ACTING Exam
Students will have the opportunity to participate in an optional group LAMDA Performance examination in Term 2.

About Young Performers Academy

DEVELOP YOUR CRAFT. FIND YOUR VOICE. TELL YOUR STORY.

The Young Performers Academy at Central Film School offers practical acting training for young people aged 7–15. Through creative drama, character work, scripts and screen acting, students develop their acting skills while building confidence, communication and the ability to work together.

Our Masterclass Day is an opportunity to meet the team and experience our approach ahead of the planned launch of our regular programme in the new year.

YPA training covers the following areas:

Acting for Stage
Explore acting technique, script and scene work, character development, text analysis and storytelling.

Acting for Camera
Develop the specific skills required for film and television, from natural screen performance and working with scripts to taking direction and understanding the camera.

Speech & Drama
Build confident communication through prose, poetry, public speaking, performance and spoken text.

LAMDA Examinations
Students who wish to work towards recognised LAMDA qualifications will have the opportunity to prepare for examinations.

Singing & Musical Theatre
Develop vocal confidence, musical storytelling and the ability to communicate through song.

Devising, Improvisation & Creative Drama
Create original work, think on your feet, collaborate, problem-solve and develop the confidence to trust your own ideas.

Audition Technique
Learn how to approach new material, make confident choices, take direction and bring yourself to an audition — on stage or on screen.

Coming February 2027

YPA's new programme of small-group classes will launch at Central Film School in February 2027, with training for young people aged 7–15.

Rather than creating a one-size-fits-all programme, we want to understand what young performers and their families are actually looking for.

So we're inviting you to tell us.

Whether your child wants to develop their screen acting, strengthen their stagecraft, work towards LAMDA examinations, explore singing and musical theatre, or simply find a creative space where they can grow in confidence — we want to hear from you.

Tell Us What You're Interested In

Register your interest for February 2027 and tell us which areas of training would be most valuable to your young performer.