About Us

About Us

Working Actors Academy is an acting school run by actors, for actors - young people aged 5 to 18. Our purpose is to elevate young actors’ dreams and ambitions through quality acting training, a safe team environment and practical on stage and on-set, on-stage or on-screen devised performances.

The principle of performance-based learning is at the core of what we do, meaning our students learn by doing. There is nothing like the amazing feeling of being part of a strong, connected group - and this is something we ensure all our students experience.

Our terms culminate with a screen-based, self-devised Zoom performance for friends and family so you can see what the kids have created!

WAA Classes are fun, full of team spirit, and with acting exercises genuinely based on the real experience of what it takes to be an engaging performer.

WAA's style of teaching is based off my experiences of the tangible tools a working actor needs to be effective and powerful in rehearsal, on stage or on set:

• being in the moment

• being connected

• the application of heart, body and mind to a scene.

Classroom Values

• Our students are free from judgement

• Our students are equals

• Our students are heard

• Our students work to make their fellow performers look good 

• Our students strive to be in the moment as much as possible

• Our students focus on the work

• Our students give themselves permission to leave the day at the door

• Our students learn there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ ways to act, just ‘interesting’ and ‘more interesting’

• Our students have fun!

Head Teacher Bio

Riley Nottingham is an actor, producer and songwriter best known for starring as Tom in four seasons of Toybox (Seven Network), Dr Langdon Marsh in Metro Sexual (Nine Network) and Constable Woods in The Gods of Wheat Street (ABC).

Riley is co-founder of production company Humdrum Comedy and has created, co-written, produced and acted in three TV series under the Humdrum banner: We are Darren and Riley (Screen QLD, ZPTV), Hitstroke FM (TVNZ, Virgin Australia) and Metro Sexual (Nine Network, Virgin Australia) and two five-star live productions His Ghostly Heart and Gilligan’s Island: The Musical.

In 2019 Riley was identified as one of Screen Producers Australia's 'Ones to Watch'. Other producer credits include Hamish & Andy's 'Perfect' Holiday, True Story with Hamish & Andy, Australian Survivor, Married at First Sight, Take Me Out, Love Island Australia, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, The Yearly with Charlie Pickering, Your Call is Important to Us and The Bus to Birra Birra.

Since 2016, Riley has taught thousands of students at various schools, aged 5 through to 18, and adult classes:

• Working Actors Academy

• APO Arts Academy (Children & Adults)

• Stage Left

• Centre Stage

• Stage School Australia (VYT, YABC & Beginners on Stage)

• Coach Music Academy (Children & Adults)