Our Workshops

Our workshops, led by some of North America’s finest backstage theatre artists, bring you behind the scenes to learn how to construct and paint impressive sets; build props ranging from faux food to flicker candles; create breath-taking masks, scenic art drops and special effects makeup—and more! These opportunities are intensive and hands-on, conducted in a working studio with one-on-one mentorship from our artist instructors.

Explore our current workshop offerings below to see what interests you!

View Workshop Listings

Workshop Listings

Summer 2026

Below, you’ll find a list of workshops we intend to offer in the summer of 2026. The dates and instructors have not yet been confirmed. We encourage you to join the waiting list for each workshop you’re interested in!

View Printable Workshop Calendar

Artistic Welding Workshop
$725.00 June 23-26, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Clarke Ellis
This workshop introduces the basic skills of artistic welding. Students leave with original metal artwork and the knowledge and confidence to expand their creativity further outside the classroom.

Space available in welding Sep 1-4 and 7-10.

Join Waitlist
Artistic Welding for High School Seniors
$550.00 June 29-July 02, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Instructor: Clarke Ellis
This creative, project-based workshop is designed for high school students 16 years and over. It introduces the basic skills of artistic welding. Students leave with original metal artwork and the knowledge and confidence to expand their creativity further outside the classroom.

Join Waitlist
Theatrical Carpentry for Beginners
Price range: $550.00 through $700.00 July 06-10, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Sam Claveau
Practice a variety of techniques used by scenic carpenters during this introductory, one-week workshop.

Join Waitlist This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Stage Makeup & Gore Galore
$350.00 July 14-15, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Georgia Steel
This intensive workshop will equip you with the skills and knowledge to create a wide range of makeup looks, from everyday stage makeup to realistic special effects such as gore and special FX techniques.

Add to cart
Specialty Makeup
$350.00 July 16-17, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Georgia Steel
Dive headfirst into the captivating world of specialty makeup! This immersive workshop offers hands-on experience with a wide range of techniques and materials, empowering you to transform any face or body into a work of art.

Add to cart
Costume Design Workshop
$700.00 July 20-24, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Michelle Bohn
Gain an understanding of the principles of design and learn how costume defines and supports character during this intensive, one-week introductory course.

Select options
Set Design Workshop
$700.00 July 27-31, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Michelle Bohn
Set Design is a practical workshop for those with limited experience in theatrical design. It is ideal for theatre directors, actors, teachers and community theatre volunteers.

Add to cart
Puppet Making
$700.00 August 3-7, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Alexa Fraser
Learn how to build an intermediate tabletop rod puppet and practice the basics of puppeteering in this five-day workshop.

Add to cart
Scenic Painting For Theatre
$700.00
August 3 to 7, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Thomas Lappano

Discover techniques and methods used by generations of theatrical scenic artists during this one-week intensive course.

Select options
Scenic Art Drops & Murals
$700.00 August 10 to 14, 2026 (9 AM - 4 PM) | Instructor: Thomas Lappano
Create a large-scale theatrical drop, taking a design image from the page to the stage – from layout to a painted drop.

Add to cart
Prop Making
$700.00 Augus 10-14, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Emily Dyck
If you have to build a prop, where do you start? Explore the creative process of taking an item from an idea on paper to a physical creation capable of withstanding whatever life may throw at it.

Add to cart
Millinery The Art of Hat Making
$725.00
August 10-14, 2026 Instructor: Monica Viani

Explore the process of analyzing, designing, patterning and building your own unique hat shape!

Select options
Mask Making
$700.00 August 17-21, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Matthew Burgess
Learn to sculpt, construct and decorate theatrical masks using a variety of materials to create fantastical stage beings.

Add to cart
Millinery The Art of Hat Making
$725.00
August 17-21, 2026 Instructor: Monica Viani

Explore the process of analyzing, designing, patterning and building your own unique hat shape!

Select options
Sculpting
$700.00 August 24-28, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Matthew Burgess
Discover the process of sculpting a figure – human or imagined — in this one-week intensive prop-related workshop.

Add to cart
Artistic Welding Workshop
$725.00 September 1 to 4, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Clarke Ellis
This is an Intro course to artistic welding. You will learn the basic skills of artistic welding, encouraging students to leave with the knowledge and confidence to expand their creativity further outside the classroom.

Add to cart
Artistic Welding Workshop
$725.00 September 7-10, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Clarke Ellis
This is an Intro course to artistic welding. You will learn the basic skills of artistic welding, encouraging students to leave with the knowledge and confidence to expand their creativity further outside the classroom.

Add to cart

Artistic Welding Workshop
$725.00 June 23-26, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Clarke Ellis
This workshop introduces the basic skills of artistic welding. Students leave with original metal artwork and the knowledge and confidence to expand their creativity further outside the classroom.

Space available in welding Sep 1-4 and 7-10.

Join Waitlist
Artistic Welding for High School Seniors
$550.00 June 29-July 02, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Instructor: Clarke Ellis
This creative, project-based workshop is designed for high school students 16 years and over. It introduces the basic skills of artistic welding. Students leave with original metal artwork and the knowledge and confidence to expand their creativity further outside the classroom.

Join Waitlist
Theatrical Carpentry for Beginners
Price range: $550.00 through $700.00 July 06-10, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Sam Claveau
Practice a variety of techniques used by scenic carpenters during this introductory, one-week workshop.

Join Waitlist This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Stage Makeup & Gore Galore
$350.00 July 14-15, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Georgia Steel
This intensive workshop will equip you with the skills and knowledge to create a wide range of makeup looks, from everyday stage makeup to realistic special effects such as gore and special FX techniques.

Add to cart
Specialty Makeup
$350.00 July 16-17, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Georgia Steel
Dive headfirst into the captivating world of specialty makeup! This immersive workshop offers hands-on experience with a wide range of techniques and materials, empowering you to transform any face or body into a work of art.

Add to cart
Costume Design Workshop
$700.00 July 20-24, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Michelle Bohn
Gain an understanding of the principles of design and learn how costume defines and supports character during this intensive, one-week introductory course.

Select options
Set Design Workshop
$700.00 July 27-31, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Michelle Bohn
Set Design is a practical workshop for those with limited experience in theatrical design. It is ideal for theatre directors, actors, teachers and community theatre volunteers.

Add to cart
Puppet Making
$700.00 August 3-7, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Alexa Fraser
Learn how to build an intermediate tabletop rod puppet and practice the basics of puppeteering in this five-day workshop.

Add to cart
Scenic Painting For Theatre
$700.00
August 3 to 7, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Thomas Lappano

Discover techniques and methods used by generations of theatrical scenic artists during this one-week intensive course.

Select options
Scenic Art Drops & Murals
$700.00 August 10 to 14, 2026 (9 AM - 4 PM) | Instructor: Thomas Lappano
Create a large-scale theatrical drop, taking a design image from the page to the stage – from layout to a painted drop.

Add to cart
Prop Making
$700.00 Augus 10-14, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Emily Dyck
If you have to build a prop, where do you start? Explore the creative process of taking an item from an idea on paper to a physical creation capable of withstanding whatever life may throw at it.

Add to cart
Millinery The Art of Hat Making
$725.00
August 10-14, 2026 Instructor: Monica Viani

Explore the process of analyzing, designing, patterning and building your own unique hat shape!

Select options
Mask Making
$700.00 August 17-21, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Matthew Burgess
Learn to sculpt, construct and decorate theatrical masks using a variety of materials to create fantastical stage beings.

Add to cart
Millinery The Art of Hat Making
$725.00
August 17-21, 2026 Instructor: Monica Viani

Explore the process of analyzing, designing, patterning and building your own unique hat shape!

Select options
Sculpting
$700.00 August 24-28, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Matthew Burgess
Discover the process of sculpting a figure – human or imagined — in this one-week intensive prop-related workshop.

Add to cart
Artistic Welding Workshop
$725.00 September 1 to 4, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Clarke Ellis
This is an Intro course to artistic welding. You will learn the basic skills of artistic welding, encouraging students to leave with the knowledge and confidence to expand their creativity further outside the classroom.

Add to cart
Artistic Welding Workshop
$725.00 September 7-10, 2026 (9am-4pm) | Instructor: Clarke Ellis
This is an Intro course to artistic welding. You will learn the basic skills of artistic welding, encouraging students to leave with the knowledge and confidence to expand their creativity further outside the classroom.

Add to cart

Join the Workshop Waitlist

If the workshop you want to take is at full capacity, don’t fret! You can join our waitlist to be the first to know if space opens up in a current workshop, as well as when new sessions are released.

Join Waitlist

Off the Wall’s Impact

I came to OTW because the theatre I volunteer at decided to send me here as kind of a thank you for the work I’ve done. Coming to OTW has been completely life-changing for me. I’m going to pursue a career in the prop-building world. I believe I’m supposed to.

MATTHEW BURGESS

Theatre Production Arts 2017; Currently Stratford Festival Prop Builder

I learned something new every year. There’s such a variety of materials and so many talented people working with you one-on-one in a small group setting that it’s impressive what you can create. Setting the Scene is unique, it’s super affordable, it’s an amazing experience.

Jennifer Brickman

Setting the Scene 2016; Currently Lead builder, Macy’s Christmas Windows USA

Last week I attended Connie’s 4-day shoe making workshop and I couldn’t have had a better time. She is such an amazing teacher and such a prolific craftsperson. Thank you for providing this course, I hope to attend many more in the future. I also walked away with a superb pair of bespoke leather Oxfords! Priceless.

Jane Graydon

Shoe Making 2021

I had a job interview yesterday to work in a scenic paint department in Burlington, and I’ve been offered the job! Thanks to my courses this summer at Off the Wall, I have been equipped with skills I could not have learned elsewhere. Off the Wall was the perfect launchpad for me to change course in my life, and I’m so grateful for the supportive artistic community I was welcomed into!

Jessica Nourse

Theatre Production Arts 2021; Currently Scenic Painter

After being apart for so long, it was exhilarating to be in a room of passionate people all talking about theatre. Lela is so knowledgeable - you can hear the passion she has for her job in every story. OTW allowed me to tap into my creativity and learn a skill I normally wouldn’t have access to. For that I’m very grateful.

Kelsey Rae

Pattern Drafting 2022; Currently Stage Manager

Off the Wall’s Impact