PRIMARY ACTING CLASSES.

REGISTRATION

What happens in our Brisbane youth drama classes?

Upon arrival, your young person is able to eat their afternoon tea, listen to music, and participate in mindfulness activities including craft, board games etc. Our upper primary students often use this time to go through the lines for their scripts. Class starts at 3.30pm.

We then begin the class with a check-in to see how everyone is travelling and so we can gauge the energy levels of the individuals and the group. After this, we move on to energy, movement, and voice warm ups to connect with our senses and mobility, exploring new movements, and body awareness.

Theatre games are designed to ensure playfulness and inclusivity as the group builds trust. Failure is celebrated as it opens the space for learning and encourages vulnerability in a supportive environment. Then, we move on to improvisation, devising and script work, finishing off our sessions with some cool-down games

In terms one-two, participants work on bringing a text to life. In term three-four, participants create their own plays on wherever their imaginations take them. To cap it off, students work towards their end of semester showings in term two and term four in a local theatre venue.

Registrations are open for Term Three!

We are now accepting trial classes for Term Three, while registrations for all of our Term Two classes are now closed. Register your interest below!

REGISTRATION

CLASS TIMETABLE FOR PRIMARY DRAMA CLASSES.

TERM DATES 2026.

Term One: Week of Monday the 26th of January - Week of Monday the 23rd of March.
Term Two: Week of Monday the 20th of April - Week of Monday the 15th of June
Term Three: Week of Monday the 13th of July - Week of Monday the 7th of September
Term Four: Week of Monday the 5h of October - Week of Monday the 30th of November

If your young person’s class has a public holiday throughout the term, then we make up those lessons in week ten.

For our Paddington and Oakleigh students, our student productions are always on the Saturday of week eight or week nine of term two and four. We normally rotate the weeks with the teen acting ensemble students.

PADDINGTON STUDIO.

MONDAY: Early Primary (Prep-Grade Two), Upper Primary (Grades Three-Five)
TUESDAY: Early Primary (Prep-Grade Two), Upper Primary (Grades Three-Five). Our Tuesday Upper Primary Class has a waitlist.

WEDNESDAY: Upper Primary (Grades Four-Six). This class is full and has a waitlist.

THURSDAY: Upper Primary (Grades Three-Six)

FRIDAY: Early Primary (Prep-Grade Two), Upper Primary (Grades Three-Six) Musical Theatre Class. See Musical Theatre tab above.

WHEN: 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Doors open for student arrival at 3:00pm.
WHERE: Rosalie Baptist Church Hall. Corner of Ellena St and Fernberg Rd, Paddington.

For our Milton State School Students in our primary classes, our lead facilitator meets the students at 3pm in front of the office and they walk over together to our Paddington Studio.

COST: $330 for the nine week term, inclusive of GST.

ST PETERS LUTHERAN COLLEGE INDOOROOPILLY.

WEDNESDAY: Early Primary/Middle Primary (Grades Ones-Three-Four) There are two classes on a Wednesday.
THURSDAY: Early Primary (Grades One-Two), Upper Primary (Grades Three-Six). Our Thursday classes have a waitlist.

WHEN: 3:00pm to 4:30pm.

WHERE: Centre of Innovation and Learning (CLI Bulding, 66 Harts Road, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068.
COST: $297 for the eight week term, inclusive of GST.

OAKLEIGH STATE SCHOOL

WEDNESDAY: Upper Primary (Grades Three=Six)

FRIDAY: Early Primary (Prep-Grade Two)

WHEN: 7:30am to 8:45am. Doors open at 7:15am for student arrival.

WHERE: The Lower Library, Oakleigh State School

COST: $275 for the nine week term, inclusive of GST.

The Benefits of Drama for Kids

Drama for young people comes with a variety of educational, physical, social, and emotional benefits that they can transfer to their home and school life. As an art form that encourages self expression and collaboration, drama allows young people to find their voice and develop key skills that help them both on and off the stage.

Some of these benefits include:

  • Confidence building

  • Critical thinking

  • Ensemble awareness

  • Negotiating ideas

  • Problem solving

  • Improves focus

  • Fosters empathy

  • Promotes emotional intelligence

  • Instills discipline and resilience

  • Improves coordination and fitness

  • Builds a safe and inclusive sense of community

  • And so much more!

At Play on Stage, we seek to empower the young people of Brisbane through the arts by creating a safe and playful space for them to develop these skills. Our experienced facilitators have been trained to support our students through their creative growth, ensuring that everyone is feeling welcomed, respected, and allowed to have fun!

What People Are Saying

  • We’ve had such a wonderful experience at Play on Stage! The staff are absolutely lovely — warm, encouraging, and genuinely invested in every child’s growth. They give thoughtful, constructive feedback that helps build confidence as well as skill. My child always comes out of class smiling and excited to share what they’ve learned. Highly recommend for any young performer!

    — Ben Clayton, parent

  • My 8-year-old son has been attending Play on Stage for the past 2 terms, and I can honestly say it is the highlight of his week. From the very first lesson, he came home buzzing with excitement. The program strikes a wonderful balance between creativity, confidence-building, and just being fun for the kids. The instructors are incredibly kind, patient and engaging, creating a safe space where the kids feel seen and heard. Highly recommend this program to any parent looking to nurture their child’s confidence, creativity, and social skills in a joyful and supportive environment.

    — Shoshana Abnett, Parent

  • Wonderful children’s drama classes and productions, expertly facilitated, with children’s best interests always at heart. My kid says that this is their favourite part of their week - they won’t miss their Play on Stage classes for anything! Awesome local business.

    — Jennifer Teh, parent

Register your young person now

A woman and a girl sitting on the floor, smiling and laughing during a play or performance, with a blurry child in the foreground.
Three young girls standing in a line on a stage, with the middle girl dressed as a unicorn and the girl on the right in a dress, facing each other, while the girl on the left looks down.
Young girl in a school uniform smiling while sitting on the floor among other children.
Three young girls in blue and white striped dresses are standing in a row, singing or speaking, inside a room with brick walls and black chairs in the background.
Three children performing on stage, a girl in pajamas with Pikachu print and a hat, a boy in a black t-shirt with a skull graphic, and a girl in all black with cat ears headband. Two children sitting on the floor watching.
Four child actors in a classroom engaging in a playful game, with one girl laughing and others looking on.
Group of five young actors in a room with pink walls, four standing and one sitting on the floor. They are holding signs with names, with one woman in front gesturing with her hands and smiling.
Three young actors standing on stage with colourful posters on the wall, one boy raising his fist, a girl holding his hand, and a girl with a serious expression.
Children sitting on a wooden stage floor, some raising hands, under green stage lighting, during rehearsals for a performance..
Five young actors performing a dance on stage, wearing theatre black shirts with floral headbands, with a green curtain in the background.
Brisbane children actors performing a play on stage, with some dressed as characters in a story, including a girl wearing a jester hat and another with a captain's hat.
Four young Brisbane drama students sitting on cardboard boxes on stage, eating from bowls, engaged in a conversation during a play or performance. The stage has a green background with a simple setup.

Meet our Facilitating Team.

Monet Goode

Hi there! My name is Virag and I'm the owner and founder of Play on Stage. As a part of this role, I facilitate early and upper primary, as well as teen acting ensemble as a part of our youth drama studio.

My previous tertiary education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drama) with Distinctions in 2019 and with a Masters of Teaching (2021) from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). I’ve held a number of roles in arts education including being the Director of Room to Play Kids (2021-April, 2025), the Youth Performing Arts Workshops Coordinator for Brisbane Arts Theatre (2018-2021), as well as being a teaching artist for theatre companies such as Queensland Theatre and Grin and Tonic.

Before founding Play on Stage, I operated under my sole trader name ‘Virag Dombay Productions’ and have performed original works with young people in venues across South-East Queensland with the support of Brisbane City Council. I have worked previously as a drama and dance specialist teacher Milton State School, Oakleigh State School and Rainworth State School and have been a tutor for QUT’s Creative Industries precinct.

In April 2025, I founded ‘Play on Stage’, a youth drama studio and production company based in Brisbane that seeks to empower children and teenagers through the arts. Through our term-based classes, holiday programs, mainhouse productions, workshops, and more, we help young people find their voice and use it with confidence.

One of my teaching philosophies is that the arts provide children with the tools they need for lifelong learning as well as a means of expressing themselves in a way that can’t be achieved through traditional means of education.

Virag Dombay

Founder / Lead Facilitator for Early Primary, Upper Primary and Teen Acting Classes

Stevie Beeston

Lead Facilitator for Early and Upper Primary

Hi! I’m Stevie and I facilitate early and upper primary at Play on Stage.

I have been involved in the local arts community for almost thirty years with experience acting, directing, prop & set design, prop & set build, adapting works for stage, front of house and education.

My previous position was as a technical supervisor at AKA’s Bluey’s World, I’ve previously worked and collaborated with Brisbane Arts Theatre, Ad Astra, PIP Theatre, Act React, 4 Stage Productions and New Dream Productions.

I love working in the arts sector with all of the creative people involved. My greatest achievements are the young people who’ve taken their passion for the arts out into the world and become successful young adults still filled with the same passion.

My favourite drama games are those which are almost, but not quite, entirely unlike the games they started as, thanks to the adaptions and modifications introduced by the students.

Emmett Marsh

Hey there, I’m Jack and I have been on the Play on Stage facilitating team since 2025. My background is in Musical Theatre, having done a year of study and then completing a two year diploma course at Valmy Academy working with many incredible educators, this also being how I met Virag.

When not teaching I’m mainly found rehearsing or performing on stage. I’ve worked with a number of companies including Phoenix Ensemble and Vox Arts and have directed or been the movement director of a number of works with Play on Stage, including ‘The Playground in the Sky’, ‘The Wishing Well’ and ‘Lunchboxed In’ and most recently, Nicky Peelgrane’s ‘Bleep Quest’.

’m very eager to teach as I love working with young people and am very passionate about drama being for everybody, I think the benefits are immeasurable and I look forwardto sharing all of those with your kids.

My favourite drama game is Death In A Minute, absolute high stakes improv game which I just adore.

Jack Barrett

Head of Musical Theatre/Lead Facilitator for Upper Primary and Teen Acting Classes.

Gemma Keliher
Lead Facilitator for Early and Upper Primary

Hello! I’m Gemma and I am so excited to be joining the fun at Play on Stage. I’m very passionate about all things drama and working with young people and thrilled to embark on this journey with our students. I believe that drama is for everybody, and that the skills and tools we learn through drama are a valuable part of our growth and development.

I’ve had a versatile career in the performing arts, working across stage and film as an actress, puppeteer, and filmmaker. You’ll still find me performing, whether on stage, at Bluey’s World, or children’s events, and I look forward to bringing my experience and passion for the arts to our younger generation.

My favourite drama game is Evolution - anything that gets you up and moving with lots of energy and smiles!

Eleanor Parks