CHUBBUCK TECHNIQUE SCENE CLASS - STAGE AND SCREEN (OCTOBER) - TEENS
Over seven weeks, actors learn to apply the twelve steps of the Ivana Chubbuck Technique, drawn from the revised edition of The Power of the Actor. The term focuses on the tools that do the heavy lifting: overall objective, scene objective, obstacles, substitution, inner objects, beats and actions, moment before, place, and doings. Not reciting lines or indicating an emotion, but finding what the character needs, what stands in the way of getting it, and how to actively pursue it through the scene.
This is the process behind some of the most recognised performances on screen. Ivana Chubbuck has coached Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Sylvester Stallone, Gal Gadot, Emilia Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Simu Liu and Beyoncé, among many others. When Halle Berry won the Academy Award for Monster’s Ball, she thanked Ivana from the stage. Actors Room Byron Bay is led by Kate Jaggard, one of a small number of Australian coaches certified to teach the technique.
The work is built across both mediums. Scenes are put up on stage, the way they would be in the theatre — full bodies, full voices, an audience in the room. Then the same scenes go to camera and are put down on tape, so actors learn how the work has to change when the frame gets close and the stakes get quiet. Every actor receives their final take at the end of the seven weeks.
GUEST TEACHER: MELAINE KNIGHT
Melaine Knight joins the group across the seven weeks, working with actors on selected sessions during the term. She has spent fifteen years working across film, television and theatre, with credits including Territory and God’s Favourite Idiot (Netflix), Wolf Like Me and Eden (Stan), the feature films Dance Academy and Seriously Red, and three seasons of Mako Mermaids. Her theatre work includes costume design for Green Day’s American Idiot national production, and she has worked on wardrobe on international tours for Prince, Madonna, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Kylie Minogue.
She is also a trained actor. An ATYP alumna, Melaine trained with David Field, Zoe Carides, Bell Shakespeare’s Bill Pepper, Dean Carey at the Actors Centre, and studied acting for camera with casting agent Maura Fay. She has performed in theatre, in Home and Away, and in the feature film The Nostradamus Kid.
Actors work with Melaine on what a classroom cannot teach: how a set actually runs, who does what and when, what is expected of you between action and cut, and how to conduct yourself as a professional from the moment you arrive on the day.
WHAT YOU WILL GET
• Professionally directed showreel scenes to take home
• Practical Chubbuck Technique training tailored for young actors
• A deeper understanding of script analysis and character development
• Increased confidence in front of the camera
• Personalised coaching and feedback throughout the course
• Training from both Kate Jaggard and a special guest industry teacher
Whether you’re new to acting or already training, auditioning and building your career, this course provides practical tools, professional training and valuable footage to support your growth as an actor.
BEYOND THE TERM
Actors who continue with Actors Room Byron Bay can work one-on-one with Kate on their professional profiles and showreels, building the material that agencies look for. Kate has secured representation for teen actors from the studio.
Places are strictly limited.
COMMITMENT & EXPECTATIONS
COMMITMENT & EXPECTATIONS
This course is designed to reflect the expectations of a professional screen acting environment in a supportive and age-appropriate way.
Attend all classes wherever possible throughout the seven-week course.
Learn and rehearse assigned scenes between classes.
Be off-book (lines memorised) by the designated filming dates.
Be open to direction, feedback, and creative exploration.
Support scene partners and contribute to a positive and respectful class environment.
Arrive prepared and ready to work each week.
Commit to developing your skills both in and outside the classroom.
Parents/guardians should ensure students are available for all scheduled classes from 7 October to 18 November 2026, held each Thursday from 5:00pm to 7:30pm, 7 Weeks.
Students are encouraged to notify the teacher as early as possible if they are unable to attend a class.
Consistent attendance, preparation, and participation will help students gain the greatest benefit from the course and produce their strongest on-camera and stage work.
-
IN PERSON (WEDNESDAYS):
Weekly 5:00pm–7:30pm
Starts 7th October 2026
Ends 18th November 2026
COST:
In person: $570.00 (inc. GST)Select KLARNA at checkout for Payment Plans.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
To apply, FIRST fill out the application form and then pay in FULL.
PLEASE NOTE: the application review commences once payment has been made.
① FILL THIS IN FIRST
② THEN PAY IN FULL TO FINISH APPLICATION
ABOUT KATE JAGGARD
ACTOR & CERTIFIED CHUBBUCK TEACHER
Kate Jaggard is an Australian actor, creative producer, and officially certified Chubbuck Technique teacher, trained at the renowned Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles under the mentorship of Ivana Chubbuck — one of the most influential acting coaches in the world, whose clients include Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, Ryan Gosling, Halle Berry, Jim Carrey, and Pamela Anderson, among many of today’s most celebrated screen actors.
With over a decade of rigorous, high-level training, Kate has immersed herself in the world’s most respected acting methodologies, including Chubbuck, Meisner, Stanislavski, Adler, and the Susan Batson technique. Her work has been shaped by leading international teachers, casting directors, and filmmakers, reflecting a deep, ongoing commitment to excellence and mastery of craft.
Represented by RWA, Kate’s screen credits include the feature films Great White and Bosch & Rockit, the Stan original series Eden, and numerous national campaigns including Crown Casino, Ray White, and more. She has also performed the title role in the musical theatre production of Calamity Jane and appeared in music videos for Royel Otis.
As the founder of Actors Room Byron Bay, Kate has created a thriving creative hub that brings world-class acting training to regional Australia. Through her studio, she has produced and hosted masterclasses with globally recognised industry leaders, including Anthony Brandon Wong (Chubbuck Technique), Kim Farrant, Mark Webber, Jessica Wren, casting directors Greg Apps, Stevie Ray, and Natalie Wall, dialect coaches Kohli Calhoun (NYC) and Anna McCrossin-Owen, and leading headshot photographers Cameron Grayson, Paul Smith, and Kane Skennar, among many others.
Now teaching both in-person in Byron Bay and via Zoom, Kate’s work is grounded in the Chubbuck Technique — a powerful, results-driven approach that transforms personal obstacles into dynamic, compelling performances. Her teaching goes beyond emotional access, guiding actors to channel their experiences with clarity, purpose, and strength.
Kate is known for her intuitive, direct, and deeply supportive teaching style. She works with actors at all levels — from emerging talent to working professionals — helping them break through limitations, elevate their craft, and create real momentum in their careers.
Training with Kate offers a rare opportunity to learn a globally respected technique from a certified teacher within a focused, supportive, high-level, and creatively charged environment.
Kate Jaggard is the producing force behind bringing internationally acclaimed acting coach Ivana Chubbuck to Australia, leading the development and delivery of a high-level professional masterclass in Sydney. The four-day intensive, held 5–8 August 2026 at ATYP Theatre, is presented in collaboration with Acting Mastery Sydney and Actors Room Byron Bay.
