Our NPS Associates Programmes are designed to expand knowledge, confidence, mindset and skill set. Want to know more? Then grab a cuppa, get comfy and strap in!
Audition slots for all courses starting in September will be available to book from Friday 22nd May 2026
Auditions for all courses will be advertised on our social, website and mailing list.
The Northern Prep Squad Associates Programmes are intensive, industry-led training courses designed for young performers who are ready to elevate their skills and bridge the gap between weekly classes and the professional industry. Squad often re-audition each year, allowing them to grow with our programme that is ever evolving alongside the ever-changing demands of the industry.
Designed by our agency, led by our working industry professionals and by inviting in different guest teachers each month, these monthly sessions are created to bridge the gap between weekly training and the professional world. With two classes per age group, we can ensure a focused environment where every performer is challenged and supported to reach their full potential regardless of where they train weekly or if they are represented elsewhere.
Running once a month, our Associates Programmes offer focused, high-level sessions that allow performers time to absorb, apply, and develop techniques between sessions. This structure supports long-term growth, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the demands of Musical Theatre at a professional level.
We don’t simply teach material each week; our sessions are designed around the performer, developing strong foundational skillsets through exploration and building on them month by month. From Minis through to Seniors, we are continuously developing a toolkit for each member of our Squad, one they can confidently draw upon in auditions, exams and performances, whether professional or not.
Our focus is on creating well-rounded, informed performers. Rather than simply learning choreography, script or song, our Associates gain a deeper understanding of their craft, allowing them to adapt, respond and perform with intention. This approach mirrors post-18 drama school training, ensuring that every performer is not only progressing technically, but also growing as an artist, something that consistently supports our young performers in securing professional work and progressing onto leading drama schools.
Alongside training, mindset is a fundamental part of everything we do. The industry can often feel unpredictable, overwhelming and, at times, out of your control bringing with it comparison, pressure and dips in confidence. We actively address this at the beginning of our sessions, equipping our Squad with practical tools they can use both in their training and in everyday life.
Through open, honest conversations (we prefer transparency over surface-level reassurance), we explore topics that help our performers better understand themselves and those around them. This creates a supportive, grounded environment where they can grow not just as performers, but as people. Our aim is to develop healthy, resilient professionals. Young people who not only have the skills to succeed, but who can enjoy the journey, navigate the challenges, and build lasting careers within what can often be a short-lived industry.
Entry onto all of our Associates programmes is by audition only, ensuring a committed and like-minded group of performers who are serious about their training and progression.
Practise makes permanent not perfect. Perfect is simply an opinion which is subjective. Permanent is concrete, giving you the opportunity to grow whilst feeling confident in your ability to constantly deliver.
Our Mini Associates programme is rooted in industry-standard practice and technique, delivered through a playful and creative framework that nurtures each child’s individuality and imagination. With two groups now available, our Mini moo's and Mini Junior Prep, we are able to ensure a more focused environment where every performer is supported and challenged at the right level.
Designed for those already agency represented or showing strong potential in the arts, this course focuses on building solid foundations both in performance and mindset, preparing them for future training and, where appropriate, professional opportunities. We are passionate about nurturing potential from a young age, creating confident, well-rounded performers while keeping creativity and personality at the heart of everything they do.
Mini’s will take part in a mindset session, guided by their class mentor, before moving into their own focused training. Each session includes dedicated time across acting, singing and dance, led by our experienced team.
Mini Moos - 9am-11am (2 hours)
Junior Prep - 11:30am - 2:30pm (3 hours)
This programme is open to Mini’s 5-8yrs (Including those in Y3). The programme will run alongside our Junior & Senior Associates programmes. These courses are designed for ongoing progression, with performers invited to re-audition and continue their training.
"Since starting the associates program, I've grown in confidence and found myself constantly motivated to do better and push myself further out of my comfort zone. Jourdan and Jess have been so supportive and always go the extra mile to help us all achieve the most we can and I've made some lifelong friends! The progress I've made in the past 7 months is something that I'm so proud of"
Grace Bourke, MT - 3rd year Senior Associate
Our MT Associates Programmes at the core is to create a strong focus on storytelling, ensuring that every movement and vocal choice is rooted in intention. We place great emphasis on acting through song and dance in a truthful, detailed way, creating performances that feel honest, connected and ultimately set our performers apart.
At the core of our training is a strong focus on storytelling—ensuring that every movement and vocal choice is rooted in intention. We place great emphasis on acting through song and dance in a truthful, detailed way, creating performances that feel honest, connected and ultimately set our performers apart.
Our sessions also prioritise ensemble work, encouraging performers to bring their own imagination, ideas and opinions into the room, while developing a clear understanding of how to conduct themselves within a rehearsal and audition environment. We actively bridge the gap between disciplines, marrying acting, singing and dance to create fully realised performances, rather than treating them as separate skills.
This once-a-month intensive sees performers grow between sessions, applying what they’ve learned in their own training spaces while continuing to build confidence, push beyond their comfort zones and refine their craft.
Working with professionals from across the industry including performers, casting teams and creatives, alongside our consistent coaches our programme offers valuable insight into an exciting yet often complex industry, equipping our Associates with both the skills and understanding needed to navigate it with confidence.
Juniors - 9am-1pm (4 hours)
Seniors - 1pm - 5pm (4 hours)
We run two classes per age group to allow for tailored training, ensuring each performer is appropriately challenged and consistently pushed beyond their comfort zone. This programme is open to Junior 8-12yrs (From Y4) and Senior 12-21yrs (From Y8). These courses are designed for ongoing progression, with performers invited to re-audition and continue their training.
Our Acting Associates Programmes are designed to deliver a broad and in-depth range of training for young actors looking to expand their knowledge and skillset complementing existing weekly training or stand alone as a more focused, in-depth alternative. This programme offers concentrated sessions that allow for deeper exploration than typical shorter classes.
Our focus is rooted in preparation and understanding developing actors who can confidently approach scripts with clarity, analyse character and text with intention, and build performances that feel truthful to them. We place strong emphasis on trusting instinct which we find can be stripped from young people. Once this trust is established, they begin to settle into both scripted and improvised work with a natural ease that lends itself beautifully to screen and can be easily adapted for stage. This confidence also allows them to respond quickly and fluidly, making the ability to take direction feel instinctive, an essential skill within the industry.
Actors are guided through script and character analysis, learning how to break down material, understand people and relationships, and ultimately make informed, connected choices. Alongside this, we prepare our Associates to feel confident in all aspects of the audition process from self-tapes to in-room auditions, ensuring they understand what casting teams are looking for and how to deliver it in an honest and engaging way.
Our training also extends beyond performance, with regular opportunities to work with a wide range of industry professionals. From casting directors, directors and actors to specialists in areas such as stunt work, sound, green screen, autocue, foley and accents our Associates gain a well-rounded understanding of the industry and how it operates.
Working closely with our team and professionals across the industry, this programme offers valuable insight into a world that is both exciting and complex, equipping our actors with the tools, knowledge and mindset needed to navigate it with confidence.
Juniors - 9am-1pm (4 hours)
Seniors - 1pm - 5pm (4 hours)
This programme is open to Junior 8-12yrs (From Y4) and Senior 12-21yrs (From Y8). These courses are designed for ongoing progression, with performers invited to re-audition and continue their training.
MUSICAL THEATRE - Mini’s
MUSICAL THEATRE - Junior & Senior
ACTING - Junior & Senior
"After receiving a NPS workshop as a birthday gift from her grandma, Sofiya has only ever wanted more more more! Jourdan and Jess have completely taken her under their wing and after building up enough courage to go for an audition for the first year of Associates, she successfully gained a place and has not looked back since. Sofiya still struggles at time with confidence, something you wouldn’t expect from a performer- but it happens, and they have given her so much support and time but also attention to the things she needs in order to achieve her potential and be the best version of her. I can’t thank them enough for pulling together all of the parts of musical theatre into one place and helping not only Sofiya but the whole squad’s dreams come a little closer. We love you NPS #practisemakespermanent"
Laura Ormandy, Parent
Each Associates Programme is set to run 1 Sunday a month. Exact dates and times will be available upon audition but these are usually the last (Sunday of each month for the SHEFFIELD MT courses and the 3rd Sunday of the month for the SHEFFIELD Acting courses.
As of September 2026:
Mini Moos - 9am-11am (2 hours)
Junior Prep - 11:30am - 2:30pm (3 hours)
Juniors - 9am-1pm (4 hours)
Seniors - 1pm - 5pm (4 hours)
Please note these dates may change due to studio availability and UK Holidays. Times of current courses are only applicable to the current course and may change in September 2025
The Associates Programme is priced at a one off fee for the course.
5 month courses
Mini Moos - £125
Junior Prep - £187.50
Juniors & Senior Acting - £250
10 month courses
Juniors & Senior MT - £500
For the Junior & Senior Musical Theatre course, 50% of the full fee is due upon acceptance following a successful audition, with the remaining balance payable before the March session. The Acting & Mini's courses must be paid in full prior to the first session.
All courses are designed with progression in mind and can be repeated, as content evolves each month in response to industry demands. While our core principles remain consistent, the way we explore material varies from course to course, supported by a range of visiting industry professionals allowing our Squad to continually learn, adapt and grow within an ever-changing industry.
These prices advertised are for courses that are running as of September 2026.
"It was an absolute pleasure to work with the Associate students at Northern Prep Squad. They are a talented and committed group of young performers with a great work ethic, and a huge amount of passion for what they do. It is clear that the training they are receiving from Jourdan and Jess, is providing them with a strong grounding in the skills and disciplines they require to continue their studies in the arts."
Shaun McCourt, Industry Professional
Acceptance onto the NPS Associates Programme is by audition only. We at NPS Associates want to work with individuals who work hard, push themselves and want to better their craft. The audition is so much fun and a time to show us your potential and willingness to improve. These will take place at the studios where we hold the Associates Sessions in SHEFFIELD.
We don’t charge for auditions, as we believe the performing arts should be accessible to everyone. Whilst we invest significantly in providing the highest standard of training, working with leading teachers, industry guests, quality studios and ongoing agency-led support, we remain committed to keeping the initial opportunity open to all.
If you know or teach a young performer who would benefit from our programme but may face financial barriers, please book them a free audition and contact us directly.
You can find information on the audition process when you book through our "events" page. As advertised these will be open to book from Friday 22nd May 26.
Please keep an eye out on our events page to register your interest for next years programme.
In short yes, both courses run on different Sundays, so you are absolutely able to take part in both.
Our Mini Moos attend a 2-hour session, whereas our Mini Junior Prep stay for 3 hours. This extended time allows us to further develop skills and prepare performers for progression into the Junior groups.
Having two classes enables us to tailor training more specifically, ensuring each child is supported at the right level while still being challenged. As the course runs across 5 months, we are able to continually review and develop each performer.
Please note, when auditioning, you must be available for both time options, as placement will be decided based on what we feel best suits your child's development.
We always recommend looking at your current weekly training and identifying where the gap is.
If you are already training heavily in dance and singing, but feel you need to strengthen your acting, the Acting Associates would be a great fit.
If you have strong acting experience but want to elevate your dance and musical theatre skillset to an industry-ready level, then Musical Theatre may be more suitable however we do suggest having regular dance and singing training outside of our Associates Programme.
Ultimately, use us to enhance your overall training and if you can attend both, even better.
At present, we do not offer monthly payment plans, although this is something we are exploring for the future.
Please note that the Musical Theatre course is a full course commitment. Regardless of attendance, you are committing to the full programme fee.
We understand there are many Associate programmes available, and it's important to find the right fit for you.
What sets NPS apart is that our training is agency-led and industry-informed. Every session is designed with real industry expectations in mind not just for young performers, but for where they are heading beyond training.
We don't simply teach material, we develop skillsets, mindset, professionalism and industry awareness. Our focus is on nurturing well-rounded performers who understand how to work in a room, bring originality, and conduct themselves with confidence and professionalism.
Our training reflects a drama school-level approach, with continuous review and adaptation to ensure each member of our Squad is progressing. It's this combination of high standards, individual focus and a supportive environment that truly sets us apart.
Head to our Events page and book either an in-person audition or submit for a self-tape audition. Once booked, you will receive all the relevant information a week before the scheduled in person or 1st deadline. All info is outlined on our website.
Audition details are sent out one week prior to the in-person audition date or self-tape deadline, as outlined in the original information.
If it is not yet that time, there's no need to worry, everything will be sent to you in due course.
No problem at all. You can submit a self-tape audition, allowing you to film from home at a time that suits you. Simply select the self-tape option when booking and we will send you everything you need a week before the deadline. Take a look at what you need in order to audition when booking as there might be a few things you can pre-tape.
No, you only need to attend the Musical Theatre audition. Just make sure you select that you would like to be considered for both courses when booking your audition.
We ask that all offers are accepted by 1st of August 2026. This allows us to offer any remaining places to those on our waiting list or second round considerations in a timely and fair manner. Payment can come after this date but contracts must be signed by 1st August 2026.
Our Musical Theatre Associates sessions are planned to run on the last Sunday of each month from September 2026, with the Acting Associates taking place on the Sunday the week prior.
Please note that dates may occasionally shift due to public holidays. Full and confirmed schedules will be provided alongside your audition information.
We believe that the performing arts is for everyone. If we can help you to fully access and be included in our sessions, taking into consideration any additional needs, please let us know. Do not hesitate to get in touch via email/phone to discuss how we can support you or your young performer.
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