Become a Student

Yes, you will be working one-on-one with our artist instructors, all of whom are working theatre professionals; many have decades of professional experience.

In some courses, students work on items that are part of a partnered community project, where the work will be retained by Off the Wall or its partners. In some courses, students work on their own personal projects and may choose to take them home. Course descriptions indicate when students can work on personal projects.

Our online registration system is now open, and you can view our available courses here. To begin the registration process, make a selection on the course page and choose your preferred payment option (deposit or in full). You will need to indicate how you are paying course fees—credit/debit card or etransfer. After completing your payment, you will receive an email outlining your purchase and directing you to the online account area to review the details of your purchase. If you have chosen to pay a deposit, you will receive an invoice requesting you pay the remaining course fee no less than six (6) weeks prior to the start of the course. 

*The above information is subject to change. Please contact us if you have any questions. 

Our small student-to-teacher ratio means that instruction is always geared to your needs. Having more information about you in advance helps the artist instructor prepare for the course.

When a course is full, you have the option of putting your name on a waitlist. From time to time, students are unable to attend the course, and we will contact you if a spot becomes available. We will also ensure that you are among the first to receive our upcoming course announcements. If you are interested in being added to a waitlist for a course with closed registration, please visit this page.

Yes, for many of our courses and workshops, you can pay either a non-refundable deposit or the full course fee to confirm your registration. If you pay a deposit, the balance of the course fee must be paid six (6) weeks prior to the start of the course in order to keep your place.

Please note that there is no option to pay a deposit for some of our lower-priced courses and workshops. This reduces our costs and helps us keep the fee as low as possible.

Students at the University of Windsor may receive transfer credits for taking Off the Wall courses. Please contact your Dramatic or Visual Arts administrators. Off the Wall is open to working with other post-secondary institutions to make academic credits available to their students.

If you would like to know more about transfer credits with the School of Dramatic Arts at the University of Windsor, please contact our program advisor, Susan Starkweather, at info@stratfordoffthewall.com.

For most courses, you must be 16 years of age or older. However, for the following courses, registrants must be a minimum of 14 years of age to attend: Prop Making, Mask Making, Scenic Painting for Theatre, Makeup Intensive and Setting the Scene.

For advanced courses, experience in the area is required. This is clearly stated in the course title and description. Other than that, there are no additional prerequisites or requirements.

Yes, our small student-to-teacher ratio means our courses are always adapted to your needs, regardless of abilities or experience. A few of our courses are designed for advanced students and in these cases some experience is required. This is clearly stated in the course title and description.

For some courses, there are requirements for specific clothing and footwear for safety reasons. This is detailed in the email you will receive about the course. In general, you should wear casual, comfortable clothing appropriate for the season. You should also be aware that you may get paint, glue and other materials on your clothing during the courses, which all involve hands-on work.

Please contact us immediately using our Contact form.

No, deposits are not refundable. However, you can choose to apply your deposit to future courses until December 31 of the next year. Please contact us immediately using our Contact form.

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For courses that offer the option of making a deposit, the deposit portion of the course fee is non-refundable. Your confirmation email indicates the amount of the deposit. The remainder of the course fee is refundable if cancellation occurs 15 days before the course begins. After that, you can choose to apply your course fee (including the deposit portion) to future courses until December 31 of the next year. Please contact us immediately using our Contact form.

For some of our lower-priced courses and workshops, which do not offer the option of making a deposit, the fee is not refundable. However, you can choose to apply the fee to future courses until December 31 of the next year.

In the unlikely event that Off the Wall must cancel a course, students have the option of receiving a full refund or of having the funds applied to future courses until December 31 of the next year.

Stratford offers many accommodation options, including hotels and B&Bs. Here are some websites that can help:

• Stratford Area Bed and Breakfast Association

• Air BnB

Also, our program advisor, Susan Starkweather, can help students find accommodation. Please contact her at info@stratfordoffthewall.com for more information. 

Stratford is alive with culture and character and offers a multitude of activities. Check out Visit Stratford for more information.

Yes, Off the Wall welcomes students from all over the world. Be sure to check any special visa or entry requirements that may affect your ability to enter Canada. Go to Visit Canada for more information.

No, fees are the same for all students, regardless of where they come from.

Please note that all Off the Wall fees are quoted in Canadian dollars. Be sure to check current exchange rates. For students coming from the United States, exchange rates are beneficial and mean that the amount you pay in US dollars is less than the fees as quoted in Canadian dollars.