NYDS IS MORE THAN A DRAMA SCHOOL, WE’RE YOUR CREATIVE PLACE.

World-class instruction by industry professional tutors. The freedom to be whoever you want to be. Experience the most amazing week of your life!

4-12 April 2026
HAWKE’S BAY

Advanced Acting

Circus Skills

Clowning

Dance

Directing

Drag

Improv Comedy

Musical Theatre

Playwriting

Poetry

Puppetry

Screen Acting

Shakespeare

Songwriting

Stand Up Comedy

Stage Combat

Technical

Voice & Voiceover

Advanced Acting Circus Skills Clowning Dance Directing Drag Improv Comedy Musical Theatre Playwriting Poetry Puppetry Screen Acting Shakespeare Songwriting Stand Up Comedy Stage Combat Technical Voice & Voiceover

Eight days of immersive, intensive training in the performing & CREATIVE arts.

Each year during the April school holidays, 250+ students aged 14-19 come from all over New Zealand and beyond to sunny Hawke’s Bay to experience what they often describe as “the best week of my life”.
Group of young performers on stage during a rehearsal or show, wearing casual white tops and jeans, engaging in conversation and in good spirits.

Inspiring and connecting our next generation of creative thinkers — that’s you!

Whether you plan to pursue the performing arts further, have other career goals, or aspire to be our future Prime Minister, at NYDS you’ll gain confidence and skills to set you up for life.

But don’t just take our word for it - watch our showreel and find out for yourself what makes NYDS so unique.

“I’ve never met a group of people who were so passionate about the arts.” - Victoria, Queenstown

"When I’m at NYDS, I feel like I’ve found the one place I really belong." - Brody, Hawke's Bay

"Amazing tutors with so much knowledge." - Iana, Auckland

“I’ve never met a group of people who were so passionate about the arts.” - Victoria, Queenstown "When I’m at NYDS, I feel like I’ve found the one place I really belong." - Brody, Hawke's Bay "Amazing tutors with so much knowledge." - Iana, Auckland

"My tutor’s level of expertise was fantastic." - Lilly, Hawke's Bay

"Not only did I gain an amazing skill base, but I also gained a sense of myself." - Tessa, Nelson

" I have gone from a shy kid to someone who is really outgoing, and I thank NYDS for my confidence." - Rory, Oamaru

"My tutor’s level of expertise was fantastic." - Lilly, Hawke's Bay "Not only did I gain an amazing skill base, but I also gained a sense of myself." - Tessa, Nelson " I have gone from a shy kid to someone who is really outgoing, and I thank NYDS for my confidence." - Rory, Oamaru

Our Classes

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Three women dancing on stage under purple and blue lighting, wearing black athletic outfits.
Performer in a pink, sequined, off-the-shoulder dress, with blonde curly hair, dancing on stage, surrounded by other dancers in colorful costumes.
Large group of people performing on stage with a conductor in front, with lines of light projecting bicycle symbols on the floor and purple curtains in the background.
A group of young musicians holding guitars, keyboards, and microphones in a music rehearsal room with a graffiti-style mural of faces and words like "rock" and "peace" on the wall.
People performing on stage, singing passionately, with expressive gestures and colorful costumes under stage lighting.
A group of people in a gymnasium posing and playing, with some climbing on a wooden wall and others standing or sitting in front, all smiling and having fun.