Create Your Own Short Film & Performance
A screen-light storytelling and performance journey in acting, imagination and collaborative film-making
What happens when children are given the space to invent characters, shape stories and bring their ideas to life together?
Create Your Own Short Film & Performance is a dynamic, hands-on workshop that introduces children and young people to the foundations of acting, storytelling and film-making through imaginative, collaborative play. Sessions are intentionally screen-light, prioritising drawing, movement, improvisation, conversation and live storytelling before any optional filming takes place.
Participants explore how characters are created, how stories are structured and how scenes come alive through voice, movement and interaction. Whether they are drawn to performing, writing, directing or inventing ideas behind the scenes, each child is supported to find their place within the creative process.
Sessions are intentionally screen-light, prioritising drawing, movement, improvisation and live storytelling before any optional filming takes place. Participants explore how characters are built, how stories are structured and how scenes come alive, all within a supportive and confidence-building environment.
5 to 18 years old
3-6 sessions
Saturday
Storytelling & Acting Workshop
-
Screen-Light & Relationship-Focused
-
Identity
-
Imagination
-
Confidence Through Performance
-
Storytelling & Acting Workshop - Screen-Light & Relationship-Focused - Identity - Imagination - Confidence Through Performance -
Screen - light by design
One of the most distinctive things about this workshop is its screen-light approach.
Although film-making is part of the project, the sessions do not revolve around passive screen use or technical overload. Instead, they prioritise live creative engagement: talking, moving, drawing, rehearsing, imagining and building ideas together in real time.
This gives children something many families are looking for; an experience that feels contemporary and exciting, but still deeply rooted in human interaction. It helps participants understand that good film and performance begin long before a camera is turned on. They begin with observation, emotion, ideas and trust.
Any filming that does take place is optional and comes later, once children have already built confidence in the story and their role within it.
Storytelling & Acting Project
This project offers children and young people a wonderfully lively way to explore storytelling from the inside out.
Rather than beginning with cameras or technology, the workshop starts with the foundations that matter most: ideas, characters, imagination, movement, voice and connection. Participants play, improvise, draw, discuss and experiment, gradually discovering how stories are built and how performances are shaped.
This makes the experience feel much more human and creatively freeing. Children are not simply being asked to “perform.” They are invited to invent, collaborate and communicate, which often helps them feel more relaxed, more engaged and more confident.
For some, the joy will be in acting out a scene. For others, it may be in shaping a story, directing a moment, designing a character or imagining how a film should unfold. The project makes space for all of these strengths.
5 to 18 years
Saturday daytime sessions
3-6 (depending on complexity)
Up to 5 participants
In-person (West London homes)
Age Group:
Duration:
Sessions:
Group Size:
Format:
WHAT Participants WILL EXPLORE & LEARN
Andre’s sessions are playful yet structured, drawing from professional film and theatre practice while remaining age-appropriate, warm and supportive.
Each programme is tailored to the child’s interests, whether they gravitate more towards acting, writing, directing or visual storytelling. This means participants can engage from their natural strengths while still being encouraged to grow in new directions.
The emphasis is always on confidence, creativity and joy, helping every participant feel empowered to explore their voice and contribute meaningfully to the process.
-
Voice, movement and presence.
Character creation and physical expression.
Improvisation and spontaneous storytelling.
-
Building a narrative structure (beginning, middle, end).
Exploring themes of identity and imagination.
Writing and developing short scenes.
-
Storyboarding and scene design.
Understanding how films are structured.
Introduction to directing and creative decision-making.
-
Speaking clearly and expressively.
Collaborating with peers.
Taking creative risks in a safe environment.
PROJECT ESSENTIALS
Materials Provided
- Paper and pencils
- Worksheets (provided by artist)
- Simple props (hats, scarves, safe imaginative objects)
- Optional filming device (provided by family if desired)
Materials may be supplied by families or coordinated via MAFE
Safety & Accessibility
- Low-impact, movement-based activities
- Fully adaptable for physical accessibility needs
- No hazardous materials
- Safe, soft props only
- No latex or food-based materials
- Clear consent procedures for any filmed material
Learning Outcomes & Benefits
Participants develop:
- Confidence in communication and self-expression
- Emotional intelligence and character empathy
- Creative writing and storytelling skills
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving and structured thinking
- A foundational understanding of film and performance craft
Pricing
£65 - £85 per session depending on group size (Material costs additional if provided by MAFE)
WHY PARENTS LOVE IT
A SCREEN-LIGHT FOUNDATION IN STORYTELLING AND PERFORMANCE.
DEVELOPS CONFIDENT, ARTICULATE SELF-EXPRESSION.
STRENGTHENS PRESENCE, VOICE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.
BUILDS COMPOSURE IN FRONT OF OTHERS.
CULTIVATES LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATION AND CREATIVE THINKING.
SMALL-GROUP MENTORSHIP FROM A WORKING FILMMAKER.
Get started today
About the Project Leader
ANDRE
Actor, Filmmaker & Creative Mentor
Andre is an actor, producer and filmmaker with over a decade of professional experience across film, television and theatre. Trained at the renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School, he has worked extensively in the UK screen industry, bringing real-world creative expertise into his work with young people.
He has produced multiple award-winning short films including My Jerome (Film4 & BFI), Deleted (Apple TV/BFI Player/Amazon Prime) and Capture (Cannes Short Film Corner), as well as youth-focused films with Fully Focused. He has also worked as Assistant Producer on The Outlaws (BBC/Amazon).
Alongside his professional career, Andre is an experienced youth mentor and workshop leader specialising in storytelling, performance, confidence-building and creative development. His sessions combine industry insight with warmth, structure and playfulness, helping young people feel seen, capable and creatively empowered.
He holds an Enhanced DBS certificate and prioritises safeguarding, inclusion and emotional safety in all sessions.