Join us for a one-day immersive workshop experience exploring the artistry behind The Barden Party’s unique musical adaptations of Shakespeare. Featuring Shakespeare text work with Director Laura Irish, vocal trouble-shooting with guest tutor Charlotte West, a live ensemble music workshop led by Musical Director Ollie Howlett, and a panel with industry professionals, this event offers a rare behind-the-scenes look into our creative process. All proceeds will support The Barden Party’s 2026 Edinburgh Fringe season as they take both 'Macbeth: Blood & Bluegrass' and 'Heracles: Of Men & Beasts' from their 2021 beginnings in a small backyard in Nelson to the biggest stage in the world: The Edinburgh Fringe Festival! 

WORKSHOP 1  •  SHAKESPEARE'S TOOLKIT
 Think Shakespeare is intimidating? Think again. Join expert Laura Irish and unlock the simple secrets to playing and performing the text with total confidence. Demystify the bard and relish in the language and characters that actors have been exploring for hundreds of years. Navigate iambic pentameter with ease, use the language to find your character, and get genuinely excited about bringing these stories to life. Laura will give you the tools to decipher the text like a detective so you can step onto the stage with clarity and joy!

WORKSHOP 2  •  VOCAL TROUBLE-SHOOTING
Got vocal questions? Bring them. This hands-on session is built around real answers for anyone wanting to grow their understanding and control of their voice. Working with experienced professional vocal coach Charlotte West, we will discuss common challenges that hold voices back from developing, fix technical roadblocks, and cover practical tools you can use right away. Come with your questions, your frustrations, your “why does this keep happening” moments. Leave with answers, strategies, and a voice that is on the road to feeling freer.

WORKSHOP 3  •  MONOLOGUE MASTERCLASS
 Join award-winning director, actor, improviser, and educator Laura Irish for a dynamic
Shakespeare and Performance Masterclass that will see individual actors bring characters to life in their own unique way, and help you discover why Shakespeare's work has endured for over 400 years and why you should be a part of it. This is a chance to practically apply things learned in Workshop 1.

Please note: The masterclass sessions will be in front of an audience and will cost
extra (first-come, first-served booking basis). If you are not performing, this is an excellent way to learn by observation. Please come with bravery and a Shakespeare monologue memorised. All experience levels welcome.

WORKSHOP 4 • THE MUSIC OF THE BARDEN PARTY
Step inside the musical world of The Barden Party with award-winning musician, composer,  and musical director, Ollie Howlett. In this interactive masterclass, Ollie will explore how modern music is woven into The Barden Party's Shakespearean productions, and how he went about creating the score and music for Heracles, which he plays live on his own for each performance, using a four-track loop pedal. We will end this workshop by teaching the participants one of the company's signature songs.

WORKSHOP 5 • PRODUCING, TOURING & DIRECTING PANEL
Want to start your own company, produce your own show, and stop waiting for permission or auditions to perform, direct or tour? Join Laura & Penny for a Q&A panel about all things creating your own work and touring work in New Zealand and overseas.

Date: June 27th 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location: St Cuthberts College, Auckland 

Cost: $100 per person (workshops only) or $150 per person (workshops+masterclass spot) 

Age minimum: 17

MEET THE TUTORS

LAURA IRISH
Laura Irish is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Barden Party and has taught acting, Shakespeare, and performance skills internationally for nearly 20 years. Trained at NYC’s Stella Adler Studio, Laura has performed iconic Shakespearean roles globally, including Puck, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth - and directed/adapted The Barden Party’s award-winning productions of Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, and the original musical Heracles. Known for her energetic, empathetic, and practical teaching style, Laura specialises in making classical texts accessible and exciting. Whether working with beginners or professionals, she equips students with the confidence, tools, and joy to bring stories to life.

OLLIE HOWLETT
Ollie Howlett is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, educator, and the Musical Director for The Barden Party. He is the creative force behind the company’s signature sound, composing and arranging for Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, and the original musical Heracles. A prolific artist, Ollie released his debut folk EP FAIRFIELD in 2025 and is set to debut new music with his band SingleTerm. Alongside performing, he teaches at Guitar City and Elliette's Music Academy. Ollie’s welcoming workshops offer musicians and actors alike the tools to explore performance techniques and experience the joy of collective music-making.

CHARLOTTE WEST
With a passion for empowering vocalists and a wealth of experience in vocal coaching, Charlotte West is a sought-after expert in her field. A graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts
(NASDA), Charlotte further honed her performance skills with Estill Voice Training and the Meisner Technique. She provides comprehensive guidance to her students in her specialist topic of musical theatre and contemporary voice, with a truly equal focus on storytelling and vocals.
Charlotte feels her job is to assist each person's work to realise their goals, not tell them what those goals should be. She is motivated to empower vocalists to own their vocal identity fully and to build strong skills for their vocal growth and artistic expression.

PENNY ASHTON
PennyAshton has been touring the world for over 20 years, and in that time has performed over 1000 solo shows. She has sold out from Edinburgh to Edmonton to Mosgiel, and has represented NZ both in
Theatresports and Slam Poetry. She has performed at numerous international festivals, including Glastonbury, The Bath Jane Austen Festival and in NYC’s Bowery Poetry Club. Her award-winning solo musicals, Promise and Promiscuity (Austen-inspired) and Olive Copperbottom (Dickens-inspired) have gathered sparkling reviews and happy fans as they go. She is also an improviser, performance poet, voice-over artist, social commentator (including on RNZ’s The Panel),
Wedding Celebrant, menopause podcaster with Showy Ovaries, and all round jazz hand enthusiast.