for young people in 18-21

18-25 Drama

PACE’s 18–25 Drama group is a welcoming space for anyone aged 18–25 who wants to explore the world of theatre – no matter your background or level of experience. Whether you’re stepping into acting for the first time or looking to build on existing skills, you’ll find an encouraging environment where you can grow your craft, develop ideas, and collaborate with like-minded people. Through weekly practical workshops, you’ll explore a wide range of theatre and performance techniques. Sessions will include improvisation skills, acting techniques, character work and voice and movement. You’ll work across a variety of performance styles — from naturalistic acting to physical and devised theatre. You’ll have opportunities to create both as an individual performer and as part of a group, experimenting with different styles and approaches to storytelling. Sessions are shaped by participants, giving you the opportunity to explore material, texts and themes that inspire you and ensures that the work is always engaging, relevant, and creatively fulfilling. Alongside developing technical performance skills, you’ll also build confidence, improve communication, and expand your creative toolkit — all while forming connections with other young performers. Whether your aim is to pursue a career in the performing arts, to challenge yourself in a new way, or simply to enjoy the thrill of performing, PACE 18–25 Drama offers the space, support, and inspiration to help you achieve it.

18–25 Drama is open to all — no previous experience required.

Key skills covered

Developing creativity, voice, the language of movement, acting, character study, improvisation, mastering emotions, theatre styles, critical analysis, presentation skills, text interpretation, audience communication, delivering a performance, discussion and debate. Confidence, self-expression, collaboration, ensemble building, listening, leading, concentration and focus.

USEFUL LINKS

Group Times

Choose one group.  Groups take place weekly during PACE term dates.

Wednesday

Group Name Place Starts Ends Drama Worker
18-25 Drama Spires Studio 1 18:30 20:30 Iona Ramsay

frequently asked questions

Paisley workshops take place on a Saturday, Sunday and also several mid-week evenings. Workshops take place during school term time. With four terms in the Youth Theatre year, there are roughly 34 workshops per year in total. Workshops currently take place in our base at Spires Drama Studios, and at the Art Department in the Paisley Centre.

Our Core Workshops mostly follow in line with school year groups. Our Accelerate and Young Company programmes are for members who have shown particular skill and ability in core classes and entry is by tutor/director recommendation or audition, but these are also divided according to age.

All of our groups are run by our trained staff, with the resources of a company that has specialised in working with children since 1988. All PACE staff are PVG checked.

PACE Youth Theatre workshops are all based on our unique syllabus devised to increase confidence, self-expression, communication and performance skills. They are also great fun and a great way to meet new friends. Workshops are at the core of PACE Youth Theatre and a lot of time and effort is spent ensuring our workshops are fun, educational, well targeted and of the highest standard.

You can find out more about the content and structure of workshops on the page for each group level.

Although PACE is a workshop based youth theatre, members often have the opportunity to participate in shows, be they large scale, devised or scripted. Members get advance notice and discounts on our Fest! Performing Arts Festivals events and performances. PACE mount over 70 Fest! performances every year during the school holidays, giving everyone lots of opportunites to get on stage! These day and week long activities concentrate on drama, dance and music for both members and non-members and are always extremely popular. 

We also have a festival of youth theatre performances every year for older groups as well as presentations and open workshops for parents to attend.

PACE Youth Theatre members are in constant demand from TV and film produstion companies, both nationally and internationally. PACE Casting was set up to represent our members to interested companies and provide a comprehensive chaperoning and licensing service. All this is provided to our members for no additional charge or agency fee. PACE members have appeared in hundreds of films, commercials and TV productions over the years both in the UK and abroad. Established members also have the opportunity to appear in the Young Person’s Casting Directory, the largest directory of young actors in Scotland, distributed annually to hundreds of production companies.

PACE is a self-sufficient, non-profit making company and registered charity so all of our membership charges go towards improving the quality of service we provide to young people.

Membership of PACE Youth Theatre is paid over 10 months with discounts available for families with more than one member living at the same address. Full details can be found here.

Members joining mid-term will have their first term payment adjusted accordingly.

Bursary and concessionary places are available for families on low incomes.  You can find out more about our bursary fund here.

Please wear casual, comfortable clothes and appropriate footwear to workshops. PACE t-shirts are recommended but not compulsory. Please do not wear non-essential jewellery. Mobiles phones are not permitted to be used during workshops or rehearsals.

Please do not bring expensive clothing or other items to PACE. We cannot accept responsibility for any items lost, stolen or damaged.

Please inform us of any medical condition or access requirements when booking. All information will be treated in confidence.

PACE aims to make our workshops as inclusive as possible and will try and make appropriate  adjustments for young people with additional needs, within the confines of our resources. If your child has any additional support needs please talk to us about it in advance.

See our access page for more details. 

PACE has worked with tens of thousands of young people, who have used the key skills they have learnt form PACE in all walks of life. Many of these have gone on to work in all aspects of the performing arts. PACE alumni have included singer Paolo Nutini and actors James McAvoy (X-Men), Richard Madden (Bodyguard, Cinderella), James McArdle (Mary Queen of Scots),  Amy Conachan (Hollyoaks), Mark Rowley (The Last Kingdom) and many more.

Find out more

18-25 Drama

PACE Youth Theatre Core Membership Fees
£ 43
20
Monthly
  • 10 monthly payments (Sept - June) - cancel anytime
  • Fees pro-rated when joining mid-term.
    Family discounts, bursary and concessionary places available.
Apply Here
PACE is a non-profit making company and registered charity.

family discounts

Discounts on core membership fees are available for families with more than one member.
   2 in family      15% off
   3 in family      33% off

Fees Example
A family with one member in Leap and one in Tots would pay £53.89 per month.
i.e. £37.80 + £27.80 = £65.60
– 15% = £55.76 
SAVING £98.40 PER YEAR

Learn more about membership fees

Learn more about our bursary and concessionary places