Our studio is fully accessible and located on the first floor of The Belfast Center. Additionally, our program offers neurodiverse students a way of learning that respects and accommodates their needs with quiet and comfortable spaces for those who require breaks or a space to regroup or reflect. Our studio offers a private, gender-neutral bathroom. If you or your student have any questions about accommodations, we would be happy to answer them via our contact page.
Fall 2025
Stage Intimacy Workshop
Instructor: Kat Alix-Gaudreau
Limit: 10 students
November 9, 2025
2 PM - 5 PM (3 hours)
Join professional Intimacy Director and Choreographer Kat Alix-Gaudreau for a safe and informative introduction to staged intimacy work. You will learn best practices, actors’ rights, and how production teams can better approach intimate moments from handholding to stage kissing and more. Perfect for actors, directors, or those who want to learn more about Stage Intimacy.
This workshop runs for 3 hours, from 2 PM-5 PM, with a 20-minute break.
This workshop is designed for ages 18+.
Winter 2026
Accessing Shakespeare
Getting comfortable with speaking the speech
Instructor: Kat Alix-Gaudreau
Limit: 10 students.
Designed for everyone ages 15-92.
January 11, 2026
2 PM - 5 PM
No experience necessary!
This is an introduction to Shakespeare’s words, for anyone ages 15-92. For one afternoon, come to the Studio and you will learn the basics of understanding and speaking Will’s works. Together, we will demystify Shakespeare’s text!
Whether you’ve never read a line of Shakespeare, or he’s one of your favorite playwrights, we invite you to come get better acquainted!
We’ll cover:
Shakespeare basics - how his plays and characters are constructed using the text and how he wrote both for his actors and for everyday audience members.
Text analysis - breaking down the text so that we all understand it, the difference between prose and verse, what’s with all the rhyming, and more.
Speaking the Speech - reading and hearing the text aloud helps us unlock its secrets. Plus, it’s fun!
Performing Shakespeare
Learn to embody Shakespeare’s characters.
Instructor: Kat Alix-Gaudreau
Limit: 10 students.
Designed for everyone ages 15-92.
January 25, 2026
2 PM - 5 PM
No experience necessary!
This is an introduction to performing Shakespeare, for anyone ages 15-92. For one afternoon, come to the Studio and you will learn the basics of speaking the speech, using your body to engage with Shakespeare’s characters, and becoming comfortable with performing Will’s works.
Whether you’ve never spoken a line of Shakespeare, or you’ve performed in his plays before, we invite you to join us!
We’ll cover:
Text work - how to dig into his characters and become a text detective.
Speaking the Speech - embracing the rhythm and rhyme Shakespeare provides.
Scene work - getting on your feet and using your body and breath to bring a character to life.
Stage Combat Workshop
February 8, 2025
2 PM - 5 PM (3 hours)
Come join the fun! In this one-day workshop we’ll be learning the basics of hand-to-hand stage combat, how to safely fall, and how to combine basic moves into an exciting performance!
This workshop runs for 3 hours, from 2 PM-5 PM, with a 20-minute break.
This workshop is designed for everyone ages 12 and up.
Come wearing comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes or sneakers.
Coming Soon…
Auditioning
(for Shakespeare and beyond)
Date and Time: TBA
Are you interested in auditioning for a theater show, be it Shakespeare or something else?
This is a fun, hands-on, low-stress opportunity to learn auditioning techniques, get comfortable with putting yourself out there, and practice auditioning.
For one weekend, come to the Studio and you will learn how to prepare for and engage with the audition process. We will work together as a group in a wholly non-competitive and fully supportive environment. And, we’ll have fun - promise!
"MidCoast Shakes is cool and the team is awesome. After learning how to analyze the text in Henry V, I now feel more confident when I start reading a Shakespearean play–not only Shakespeare, but any literature."
— Gus, 13yo