SUMMER SCHOOL | Copper Studios

A FULL SCALE MUSICAL - IN A WEEK.

Our annual Summer School is BACK for 2026!

With our professional creative team by your side, you'll have the opportunity to work on a complete show in just one week.

Leave your expectations at the castle gates and head straight to the swamp for Shrek Jr., a bold, brilliant fairytale with a twist, brought to life by a dedicated cast of young performers who have rehearsed this larger-than-life production in just under a week.

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, Shrek Jr. features music by Jeanine Tesori and a book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. When Lord Farquaad banishes a host of fairytale misfits to Shrek’s swamp, our unlikely green hero is forced out of his comfort zone and into a quest he never asked for. Joined by a fiercely loyal (and relentlessly chatty) Donkey, Shrek sets off to rescue Princess Fiona, discovering along the way that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and that ogres, like onions, have layers.

Bursting with sharp humour, toe-tapping songs, and a parade of familiar fairytale faces, from the Three Little Pigs to the Gingerbread Man. Shrek Jr is a celebration of individuality, friendship, and embracing what makes you wonderfully different.

This amateur production is performed in arrangement with Musical Theatre International and is brought to you in collaboration with Copper Studios and Squire Performing Arts Centre.

FULL SCALE MUSICAL

IN A PROFESSIONAL THEATRE

FREE PRODUCTION T-SHIRT AND SCRIPT HIRE

FIVE DAYS OF REHEARSAL WITH TALENTED CREATIVES

COSTUMES | LIGHTING | SOUND | SCENERY

HOW DOES IT WORK?

1ST MARCH 2026 - ENROLMENT OPEN

28TH JUNE 2026 - AUDITION WORKSHOP (SCRIPTS RECEIVED) 10AM-1PM

27TH - 31ST JULY 2026 - REHEARSAL WEEK 9 AM - 4 PM

6TH AUGUST 2026 - DRESS REHEARSAL 11AM-9PM

7TH & 8TH AUGUST 2026 - PERFORMANCES 6PM - 9.30PM + SAT MATINEE

This is a performance-based Summer School therefore demands a huge commitment and full attendance for every date listed above.

Anyone aged 12-18 with an interest in Musical Theatre can enroll for this project, you do not have to be a current member of Copper Studios

Once you've enrolled the project begins with an audition workshop on Sunday 28th June where performers will be led in a variety of singing, movement, and acting activities to give creatives a picture of who will be a part of our incredible ensemble and who will play what role in the show. Performers will be given the full show script and be expected to learn the material before arriving at the rehearsal week on the 27th July. Based on this workshop our creatives will cast the production and keep all those involved updated via email before arriving for the intense week of rehearsals.

Rehearsals will take place at Copper Studios, 62 Arnold Road, Old Basford, Nottingham, NG6 0DZ

During the rehearsal week performers must bring their own lunch, drinks, and snacks as well as be dressed appropriately for a long day of singing, acting, and dancing.

This results in three performances at a Professional Theatre on 7th - 8th August including a matinee on Saturday to audiences of up to 150 per show. Tickets will be made available to the public once the show is cast.

Participation Fee: £240 per performer.

*The participation fee does not include meals, costume or transportation, which remain the responsibility of parents/guardians.

There are two payment schedule options:

Option 1 - Full payment of (£240) the participation fee to be made on booking.

Option 2 - Four instalments of £60 spread across using ClearPay

Our summer school is staffed by experienced professional teaching and creative staff - with a team of a Director, Choreographer, and Musical Director, working alongside safeguarding trained support staff to ensure the wellbeing of every child is front and center.

We’re committed to casting characters as closely as possible to their descriptions, particularly with regard to race, ethnicity, and religious identity. We want to showcase a diverse cast reflecting the wonderful people of Nottinghamshire and encourage applications from those who identify as part of the Global Majority, LGBTQIA+ community, and lower socio-economic backgrounds.