youth theatre

why?

At PACE we believe that creativity matters. Youth theatre boosts confidence, self-expression, and communication skills as well as encouraging collaboration, empathy, team-work and leadership.

It’s also a great way to learn a whole variety of theatre and performance skills, to make life-long friends in a supportive and welcoming environment.

what?

Each workshop is geared towards the particular ages and requirements of the group and the individuals in it.

when?

Core PACE workshops take place once a week during during school term-time. There are normally several group time options at each level.

join us

Anyone aged 3-21 can join PACE – no auditions or experience required.

core memberships

our regular weekly youth theatre workshops for young people aged 3-21

for ages 3-5 (independently)
For young people in P1
for young people in P2-P3
for young people in P4-P5
For young people aged 5-12 with additional needs
for young people in P6-P7
for young people in S1-S2
for young people in S3-S4
for young people in S5-21
for young people in P6-21
for young people in S1-21

optional extras

additional specialist weekly workshops

for ages S3-21
PACE Writers Room 2024/25

3 places left

Turning ideas into words and words into performances.
for P6 - S1
Musical Theatre Skills (P6-S1) 2024/25

Places available

Develop your knowledge and experience in all three disciplines of musical theatre: song, dance and performance.
for S2 - 21
Musical Theatre Skills (S2+) 2024/25

Currently Full (Waitlist Open)

Develop advanced knowledge and experience in all three disciplines of musical theatre: song, dance and performance.
for P2 - P5
Musical Theatre Skills (P2-P5) 2024/25

Places available

Develop your song, dance and performance skills for musical theatre.
..the size, skill & enthusiasm of this company is overwhelming. I want to run away to Paisley and join them.
Tom Hughes
National Theatre
My son has been attending PACE for the past year and it is the first class I haven't had to 'drag' him too!! He absolutely loves it and it has really boosted his confidence.
Suzy Scott
PACE Parent
She has met so many good friends along the way. Her confidence has grown because of PACE and now she is aiming to go further. I would highly recommend PACE.
Naomi McKay,
PACE parent
I used to attend Pace for many years. As I got older I realised how much I benefited from the workshops and holiday fest. I feel now that Pace was a start in my life as I decided I wanted to do drama as a Career.❤️
Chloe Morrison
via Facebook
Brilliant place to make loads of friends, build your confidence and develop your acting skills.
Lana, 15
PACE must be about the best, most dynamic, innovative, original and inclusive youth theatre group in Scotland. A real credit to all past and present who work so hard to create the magic. Thank you!
Archie Dempster
Audience Member
#TakeYourTot to PACE Tots! My 3 yr old has been going for over a month & loves it, he comes home each week telling us all about his fun adventures with his class.
@renfrewshiretots
via Twitter
Having the opportunity to assist with younger groups is an amazing experience. Watching younger kids grow as people and performers is really beneficial.
Max, 16

PACE Youth Theatre Alumni

Over 30,000 young people have been members of PACE. While many former members of PACE make use of the transferable skills they learn while with us in whatever they go on to do in their future careers, hundreds also go on to work in theatre, music, film and TV as drama practitioners, directors, technical staff, performers and actors.  Hundreds of former and current PACE members have also appeared in film, TV and advertising as part of PACE Casting. 

Join our waiting list and be the first
to find out when places are available.

To apply for a place in PACE Youth Theatre just fill out the form below and we will add you to the waiting list for the appropriate group(s) for your age.  As places are offered at the start of each term, waiting time is usually no more than 3 months and often just a few days, depending on when you apply. 

NEW TERM WILL BEGIN JANUARY 2025 - APPLY NOW

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 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

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.