Audition Intensive

Would you like to learn more about acting?
Develop your auditioning skills?

City of Brampton's Arts and Culture team is here to get you ready!

Audition Intensive - Led by Jimish Thakkar

Snelgrove Community Centre, 11692 Hurontario Street

A masterclass in auditioning, open to everyone.

Youth ages 12-17: Tuesdays - October 21, 28, and November 4, 2025 (6:00-8:00 PM)
Adults 18+: Thursdays - October 23, 30, and November 6, 2025 (6:00-9:00 PM)

Each participant will receive a 20-minute 1:1 session, to be scheduled

Whether you are an aspiring actor, auditioning for professional work, or auditioning for university, college, or accredited conservatory-style theatre schools - this program is for you.

Led by industry professionals, this program will help you develop confidence and skills in auditioning.

You will have the opportunity to:

Learn audition technique and monologue selection
Focus on monologue and character development
Participate in a mock audition for a panel of professional theatre practitioners
Receive individual feedback on audition pieces and performance

This workshop series will leave you feeling confident and prepared to handle your upcoming auditions!

Accessibility

We are committed to offering an accessible and comfortable experience for all. Here are some accessibility features of this program:

Free for Brampton residents
Wheelchair accessible
ASL interpreters and support persons are welcome
We celebrate neurodiversity and active listeners

Who Can Apply

Brampton residents
Anyone interested in acting for theatre
Beginner to advanced levels: content is customized to help you work on your individual pieces
Youth section: ages 12-17
Adult section: ages 18+

How to Apply

All participants must complete the Application Form to register for the Audition Intensive workshop.

Commitment

We have a limited number of spaces in the program, which will register on a first-come, first-served basis.

Program Schedule

Item Status: Current

Warm-up: body, voice, and mind to prepare for physical and mental engagement
Learn a systematic method for selecting monologues, breaking down a script, understanding objectives, intentions, subtext, and making bold, specific performance choices
Participants work with their prepared monologues
Individual Q&A & feedback

Item Status: Future

Audition room etiquette - from the moment you walk in, to the moment you leave
Participants perform their prepared monologue based on workshop 1 feedback while learning how to take direction, approach cold-reads, and use audition material ("sides") from various plays

Item Status: Future

Mock audition for a panel of professional theatre artists, to simulate the experience of auditioning
A behind-the-scenes look at what goes on during the casting process
Valuable verbal and written feedback will be provided to each participant

Item Status: Future

A one-to-one session with the facilitator, 20 minutes in length, virtual. In these sessions, which will be scheduled upon program start, each participant has the opportunity to receive personalized coaching and feedback.

About the Facilitator

Jimish Thakkar

Jimish is the Actor, Director and Drama Educator of The Hive Performing Arts, an eclectic Brampton based not-for-profit performing arts company offering cross-disciplinary workshops on Drama, Communication and Theatre Productions. With a Speech and Drama Associate Degree in Performance from Trinity College of London, Jimish's teaching involves a combination of classical techniques and practical skills learnt over the span of 20 years as a community theatre actor and director. Jimish's directorial work includes Wait Until Dark, 12 Angry Jurors, Stories of Manto, Sherlock, The Miracle Worker, The Farnsworth Invention, and Yasmina Reza's Art. Identified by UAE's Masala Magazine as one of the HOT 100 Personality of the year 2017, Jimish's achievements include winning the best director award for directing The Miracle Worker and winning the best actor award for his role as Karsten Bernick in Henrik Ibsen's Pillars of Society. Jimish has acted in productions like Shakespeare's Othello, Georges Feydeau's Sauce For The Goose, Sharad Joshi's Andhon Ke Hathi, Molière's The Would Be Gentleman, Jean Anouilh's Ring Round The Moon, Agatha Christie's Mousetrap, and Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy. Recently he starred in Every Brilliant Thing directed by Steven Schipper.

Guest Audition Panelist

Jan Jennings

Jan Jennings (She/They) is a British Jamaican Ghanaian Woman, and a proud mother. Jan is an artist of many seasonings, which include: Playwright, Poet, Art Facilitator, Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Host, Dramaturg in Queerness, Grief, Trauma, and Comedian! With a degree in Gender & Women Studies from York University, Jan's activism is rooted in the protection of BIPOC Womxn, LGBTQIA+ Community, Children, and advocating for Neurodiverse support within systems. Currently, Jan is pursuing her post-graduate certificate in Publishing at Centennial College. Everything Jan does aims to celebrate individuality, and the freedom to create art that truly reflects the vibrant colorful world she lives in!

Lauren Wolanski

Lauren Wolanski (she/her) is a Dora-nominated actor, writer, theatre educator, and certified professional coach (ACC). A graduate of the University of Toronto and Sheridan College's joint Theatre and Drama Studies program, she holds both an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Drama Studies and a diploma in Acting. Lauren launched her career as an arts educator by directing youth musical theatre productions at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. After graduation, she served as Program Director at Electric Moon Theatre Company, where she designed arts education programming from the ground up and led workshops across schools in the GTA. She went on to spend seven years as a teaching artist with Young People's Theatre, inspiring students of all ages to grow in confidence, creativity, and self-expression. As a performer, Lauren's theatre credits include Anna in Vitals (nominated for Best Solo Performance by My Entertainment World) and the Queen of Hearts in the Guild Festival Theatre's production of Alice in Wonderland.

Past Participant Quotes

"I never expected it to be so exciting. I am inspired. The most valuable parts were watching the talent, followed by the redirects/modifications suggested by the mentor and the improving upon it after the feedback. A great way of trying something new that you never dreamt of before." - Aswani

"There was a lot of information that I didn't realize was important in auditioning. It definitely helped me. The most valuable parts were how to enter and exit an audition room, resumes and agencies, calming your nerves and redirections. It really opens your eyes to the audition process in the industry. It made me more aware of how I present myself." - Braya

"It was an amazing workshop. Really got to learn a lot from Leighton. All the tips and techniques taught will surely guide us in the future. The most valuable parts were the tricks to calm our nerves, the exercises suggested before any auditions, and the experience of mock audition in the end was remarkable, giving us actual exposure to perform in front of such great panelists." - Participant

"The program exceeded my expectations. It was a very well-organized intensive that brought me from a beginner to feeling confident about auditioning for a production in the future. The intensive really helped me better understand how to breakdown the monologue and perform it effectively. The most valuable parts were Leighton's coaching. He has a natural gift for giving supportive and constructive advice while maintaining a safe and comfortable environment. I also found it valuable working in a class with people performing different styles of monologues because the coaching and notes they received were beneficial to me as well. I left the intensive feeling more self-assured and confident in my newfound skillset." - Natasha

Contact Cultural Services

Brampton City Hall
2 Wellington St W
Brampton, ON
L6Y 4R2

Email Cultural Services