Open Classes:
Belfast

A full day of dynamic, free workshops led by expert Hammond faculty and West End professionals, covering a wide range of disciplines.

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Quick Look Information

For Ages:

Juniors: 11 - 14

Seniors: 15 - 18

Classes:

Acting
Musical Theatre
Commercial
Jazz
Ballet

(timetables below)

When & Where:

The MAC

10 Exchange St, West, Belfast BT1 2NJ

Classes take place
between 10am - 5pm

Cost:

Free

Timetable

  • We’re thrilled to bring members of The Hammond Faculty and West End professionals to Belfast for out latest Open Classes tour.

    We know you may not want to participate in every discipline offered, so when filling out your registration form, you can customise your day to suit your interests. Whether you choose to take just one workshop or all six, the decision is entirely yours. However, we encourage you to step outside your comfort zone, explore new disciplines, and try workshops in areas where you might feel less confident.

    Our team will be there to ensure you have the best experience possible.

    Class timetables for each age group are listed below.

    If you're looking to apply for full-time training courses starting from September 2025, please note that we will also be hosting auditions for our School & College courses in Belfast on 29th March 2025. Find out more here.

    We can't wait to meet you!

  • 10:00-11:00 Acting with Lou Maddocks

    11:15-12:30 Musical Theatre with Rob Bannon & Rachel Sargent

    12:30-1:30 Lunch

    1:30-2:30 Commercial with Aaron Parker

    2:45-3:45 Jazz with Bethany Jayne Dalton

    4:00-5:00 Ballet with Wendy Lockwood

  • 10:00-11:00 Ballet with Wendy Lockwood

    11:15-12:15 Commercial with Aaron Parker

    12:15-1:15 Lunch

    1:15-2:15 Jazz with Bethany Jayne Dalton

    2:30-3:45 Musical Theatre with Rob Bannon & Rachel Sargent

    4:00-5:00 Acting with Lou Maddocks

Teaching Faculty: Belfast

  • Rob trained at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He is a professional Musical Director, pianist, accompanist, and vocal coach, and has worked in the West End and on UK and international tours.

    As well as his professional musical credits, Rob has also worked in some of the UK's top performing arts schools as a musician, musical theatre repertoire coach and senior leader. He is currently the Vice Principal and Director of Vocational Training at The Hammond and has previously worked at ArtsEd, Italia Conti, Urdang, Brit School and Bird College.

  • ames is a professional Dance and Musical Theatre teacher from London. He studied dance at The Hammond School in Chester from the age of 11-16 and continued his professional training in London at Millennium Performing Arts where he graduated in 2012. Favourite credits include Bob Enright in 9 to 5 The Musical (West End, Savoy Theatre), 42nd Street (West End, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) Mungojerrie in CATS (RCCL), Eddie in Mamma Mia! (Cyprus) and Mamma Mia! (International Tour).

    James most recently played Link Larkin in Hairspray, and is now very happy to be a permanent teacher at the Hammond.

  • Wendy Lockwood is a dedicated vocational teacher at The Hammond, specialising in ballet, tap, modern, jazz, contemporary, Pilates, and Progressing Ballet Techniques. She also teaches anatomy and serves as the RAD and ISTD examinations coordinator. With over 16 years of experience, Wendy works with students aged 10 to 21, nurturing their skills and preparing them for professional careers in dance.

  • Louise Maddocks is a director, facilitator and educator. She is the Deputy Director of Vocational Training for Acting and Musical Theatre at the Hammond and has worked as a theatrical director and facilitator across the UK and USA. Her areas of specialism are; improvisation, acting for musical theatre, Meisner technique and Practical Aesthetics. Louise has a BA (Hons) in Drama and Applied Theatre from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and an MA in Drama and Facilitation from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).

  • Aaron trained Laine Theatre Arts. Aaron has performed all around the world in film, theatre and arena’s, for audiences of 500 to 30,000 people, working along side: Meryl Streep, CHER, Dionne Warwick, Arlene Philips, Colin Firth, Ben Elton, Jenna Coleman, Brian May and many more.

    Aaron’s credits include: Mamma Mia 2!: HERE WE GO AGAIN! Featured dancer, Singin’ in the Rain (Pitlochry Festival Theatre), β€œA-Rab” in the 2016 production of West Side Story (Kilworth House Theatre). Pepper in Mamma Mia! (International Tour, including: South Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines, Dubai and Singapore.) Roger in Grease (Ljubliana Festival, Slovenia) Ensemble in We Will Rock You (World Arena Tour) Ensemble in White Christmas (Pitlochry Festival Theatre) Ensemble understudy Goody & Schlomo in FAME! (UK Tour) 

    Concerts Include: Featured Dancer/Vocalist in β€œGo Local” (Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park), A Tribute To Danny La Rue (London Palladium) and Principle Vocalist for Yamaha Orchestra (Birmingham Symphony Hall), Featured Dancer in β€œGreatest Show” N.E.C Birmingham.

    Choreography includes: Jack & the Beanstalk (UK Productions) Beauty & the Beast (UK productions, pantomime), Cinderella (UK productions, pantomime), sense of variety & SHOWMAN (Talent artistic group), Dream Bingo (Advert)  Northern Ballet school (American Musical Masters, musical) Phil Winstons, "The Works". FLASH MOB Glamour, Daegu South Korea.

    TV & Films include: Featured ensemble in Mamma Mia 2! β€œHERE WE GO AGAIN”, FREEMANS commercial (GATE Films), Simon in Coronation Street (ITV), Featured dancer with Snow Patrol (Music Video), Played β€œDave” in Made In The Eighties.

    Teaching experience; The Hammond, The Northern Ballet School, Leeds Conservatoire.

  • Rachel trained at Laine Theatre Arts and went on to perform in a variety of productions, ranging from workshop performances to hit shows in London’s West End, including Mamma Mia!, where she played Lisa, and Hairspray, where she covered the role of Tracy and played Shelly. Over the years, Rachel has become increasingly involved in the creative side of the industry, building a solid rΓ©sumΓ© in choreography and direction. Her work includes creating shows for MSC Cruises and directing all the shows for Lapland UK.

    Rachel also choreographed the award-winning film In Pieces, which later enjoyed a short run at the Turbine Theatre in London. Currently, she is the full-time Industry and Outreach Lead at The Hammond, where she uses her extensive industry knowledge and connections to help students secure agents and launch their careers in the performing arts.

Our Courses

School

Dance
(11 - 16)

Acting &
Musical Theatre
(11 - 16)

School

Acting & Performance
(Sixth Form)

College

College

Professional
Diploma: Dance

College

Professional Diploma:
Musical Theatre

Degree

BA (Hons)
Musical Theatre
Performance

Hammond Extra

Part-time training and
holiday courses

Regional Auditions

Find out more:

Contact Us.

If you have any questions regarding The Hammond’s Open Classes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Upcoming Hammond Events.