In Singapore’s vibrant cultural landscape, finding the right drama class can ignite a lifelong passion for the performing arts while nurturing essential skills like communication, confidence, and creativity
For many parents in Singapore, you might be looking for ways for your child to explore a more holistic and well-rounded form of education. That might take shape in the form of letting your child explore their more creative and imaginative side. What better way to do so than with drama classes?
By enrolling your child in drama classes, you not only find an educational and meaningful way for them to spend their time outside of school but also potentially nurture a hobby or passion for your child that might lead to greater things.
Finding the “best” drama classes can depend on various factors such as location, teaching style, curriculum, and personal preferences. It is important for you and your child to “shop around” these various schools and find a place that makes you both feel welcome and ready to learn.
After all, hobbies and passions, although they require some hard work at times, are meant to be enjoyable and stimulating for the mind and body.
From renowned theatre institutions to innovative youth programs, the city-state boasts a myriad of options. In this article, we delve into a curated selection of the best drama classes tailored specifically for primary school students, each offering a unique blend of theatrical education and artistic exploration.
Act 3 Theatrics:
Act 3 offers drama classes for children of different age groups, including primary school students. They focus on creative expression, storytelling, and confidence-building through drama.
One of the oldest drama schools in Singapore, Act 3 Theatrics has been bringing drama education to students all around Singapore since 1984.
If this name still sounds familiar to you, this is because they often liaise with a wide range of primary and secondary schools, offering their services as CCA programmes for your children.
For parents with children of different abilities, they do offer programmes to SPED schools and organisations as well. If you are an individual parent looking to place your differently abled child, they have an inclusive programme called ‘Very Special Theatrics’, offering performance opportunities for children of all abilities.
As for their curriculum and programmes, they aim to provide all their students with language, theatrical and critical thinking skills through a wide range of mediums.
Not only do they offer specialised technique-focused classes for their young students, but they also provide children with the opportunity to experience what it would be like to be involved in a staged production of their own.
For those who would like to explore the world of drama from home, Act 3 Theatrics also provides a range of digital classes that can be enjoyed by both parent and child either in a small group setting or one on one.
Centre Stage School of the Arts:
Centre Stage provides a range of performing arts classes, including drama, for children of all ages. Their programs aim to develop creativity, communication skills, and self-confidence.
At Centre Stage, they offer a wide range of courses for children as young as toddler age, all the way to adult classes! If Mom or Dad want to pick up a course or two with your children, this is the perfect one-stop centre to do so.
Here, they are more geared towards getting your child performance-ready. Classes take place in rehearsal style, which is a great way for children to work towards the greater goal at large.
If you have a little one who is struggling with stage fright, this might be the push they might need.
Aside from drama classes and performance-based learning spaces, they also offer a range of dance classes over different genres like ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop and tap. While encouraging your child’s love for drama, you might want to look into signing them up for a dance class or two, as it can help with their motor skills and body awareness.
STC Young Company:
Formerly known as the Singapore Repertory Theatre, the Singapore Theatre Company is not just famous for staging a wide range of local and international plays.
They also have a wing dedicated to educating the future performers of tomorrow, across a wide range of ages and abilities.
STC has a programme for older children of differing abilities, called the Inclusive Young Company, which helps to impart those who are differently abled with performance skills that boost their creativity and confidence.
Singapore Theatre Company’s Young Company offers drama classes and workshops for young people, including primary school students. While the Young Company is for children aged 16 and up, there are a wide range of programmes centred around the younger crowd that focus on developing acting skills, stage presence, and teamwork.
For example, if you are looking for something to do during the holidays, STC has a stage camp for children aged 7 to 12 that is hosted in both English and Mandarin.
Not only will your child foster a love for drama, but hopefully bilingualism as well!
Bud’s Theatre Company:
Bud’s Theatre conducts drama workshops and classes for children, including primary school students, aiming to nurture their imagination, expression, and teamwork through theatre.
What is unique about this theatre company is that it is a “not-for-profit enterprise that aims to bridge cultural gaps within the region, uniting ties for future progression in the arts.”
Most of their courses are geared towards eventually staging a show for parents, friends and family to watch the hard work that their students have put into creating a theatre show.
Most of their works centre around social issues that concern the youth of today, pushing your child out of their comfort zone to explore how the arts can affect change in the world around them.
If you want your child to develop a curious and critical mind, this might be the best place for you and your little creative thinker.
In their youth theatre programme, students will get to explore what it means to stage a production, going through all the aspects of a production, from conception all the way to staging.
In Singapore, drama classes aren’t just about memorizing lines or striking poses—they’re about helping our kids grow in cool ways.
From navigating our diverse cultures to learning different languages, drama teaches them how to think quickly, express themselves well, and see things from new angles.
It’s not just about making future actors; it’s about building confident kids who can handle anything life throws at them. Whether they’re finding their voice or just having a blast with friends, drama classes give Singaporean kids a stage to be themselves and shine bright.