Open group
Or to develop further what you know you’ve got! If you want to have one night a week where you can dive into a different world and let all of you out… You’ve found the right place. We also have our own bar where we enjoy after rehearsal chill-outs.
We are currently in production for our Romeo & Juliet, What if…? See our cast on the bottom of this page.
From the 9th of September till the 9th of December 2026 we have our training sessions. Imagine them as extended workshops. All centered around developing your skills to become a compelling stage performer. The group consists of a variety of acting levels. Due to to small groups, the focus is growth on individual level.
Price:
Single month: € 115,-
Whole track € 280,- (Student price € 240,-)
Sign up by emailing info@parkavenuetheater.nl
During the track you’ll work on three different scenes.
You don’t get a character cast, but will be playing all the characters to explore the different challenges in both the scene and the character.
There are designated training days where we work on what.
In the sessions you will be challenged as a performer on your level. We have performers from different skills levels, and we have limited spots in ensure time for your personal growth.
Acting skills you will work on;
Vocal Control
Core control, use of resonance, vowels & consonants control, Articulation/pronunciation.
Power in Movement
Develop your stage presence, Body control
Audience connection
Learn to ‘invite’/’draw’ the audience in.
Scene/Speech interpretation
Learn to also read between the lines and find your own artistic choices adding more depth to the scene/speech.
Dynamic staging
Spacial awareness, Grid use, fysical collaboration.
Character development and much more…
The techniques you’ll learn at the training sessions are there to make the character come to life. And make if feel effortless for the viewing audience.
You will learn to connect with your fellow actor and the audience, find depth in the amazing language of Shakespeare and enjoy the exhilarating kick of finding all that you are capable of!
Everyone will be given the same three scenes (Hamlet, Othello and Merry Wives of Windsor) and can pick one of three monologues to work on. Participants of the training sessions have a guaranteed spot in the performance. You can also choose to only join the training sessions.
We hope you will join us in our own rehearsal space for the training sessions that are both fun and challenging. Together we can proudly work on your development as a performer.
Below you will find the faces of our 2025/2026 season with a personal quote about their experiences with us.
“Park Avenue Theater is not just a platform to explore Shakespeare by diving deep into the rhythm of his language, but also is a group of loving, hardworking and welcoming people with whom rehearsal time flies by incredibly quickly”
Romeo & Juliet, What if...?
Last production.
Last July we have finishes our succesful run of: Richelle II. We are now in the middle of our next production: Romeo & Juliet, What if…?
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Rehearsal are on Wednesday Nights from 19:30 till 22:00 at ‘De Roos van Dekamaweg 4’ in Amsterdam. Starting on the 11th of February 2026 till the beginning of June.
Performance dates Romeo & Juliet: 11th till the 14th of June 2026. The location will be the theater in the old convent of ‘Cometa’ in Amsterdam.
About Romeo & Juliet – What if…?
In this production of Romeo and Juliet we explore heartbreaking question: “what if…?” We all know the story, the hatred of the rivaling families, the stubborn lovers. But what happens if we look underneath the surface of these characters? And explore where the story could also have gone? Hope is human, but so often overshadowed by doubt and fear. Unwilling to be vulnerable may end up hurting the other. So.. What if..?
More information and tickets here
Meet the cast of 2026's Romeo & Juliet, what if...?
Adam
My experience at PA has been really good, I’m learning a lot.
Jo is brilliant she knows so much and every session we all learn something new. She is always nice and wants to get the best out of everyone. I can’t wait to be on stage again!
Andrew
My time here has been a joy. PA approaches productions with a love and attention that makes me feel like part of a family.
Working with Jo has been a unique and instructive experience. Rehearsals are not just a moment to run your lines, but an opportunity to learn something new about acting in general.
Aroosha
There's a real sense of care in the process here, which makes the work feel meaningful. It’s been a lot of fun and definitely a different way of working compared to other production houses I’ve been part of—more collaborative, but still just as thorough and deeply craft-driven.
Even on days when I don’t have a scene scheduled, I’m excited to try a new technique or insight Jo introduces. And the best part? She’s a total Shakespeare nerd, which makes the deep-dive into the text so much fun!
Bjorn
It's been a real eye opener - completely different from the rehearsal
processes I'm used to. Jo's rehearsals feel like workshops, where I feel
I'm learning the underlying skills just as much as I'm preparing a specific
character or scene. It challenged me to learn and grow in ways I didn't
expect.
Jo really focuses on teaching underlying skills rather than
orchestrating a specific performance, giving actors the freedom to use
those skills on stage to go for the performance that they see, rather than
her specific vision. It's a very empowering approach.
Cheryl
Park Avenue is a truly safe and welcoming space, you can take risks & find your inspiration. Even when it's not our scene, we're still part of the process - actively shaping the work or serving the other performers. Each rehearsal a workshop giving us tools to handle the unpredictability of live performance, knowing that each night on stage will bring something new.
Jo is wonderfully intuitive director and a walking book of decades of experience. She gives each actor what they need to level up and makes it fun in the process.
Daan
I love my experience at Park Avenue. There is a great atmosphere and
creativity is encouraged. I keep coming back year after year.
Jo is a very attentive, supportive, and inspiring director, fully committed to her craft. She lives and breathes Shakespeare. She cares about the group a lot, but she also asks for a level of professionalism, seamlessly adjusting her approach to make everyone equally excited and challenged at the same time.
Diego
It's a very collaborative experience. Every production and every cast is
different but they're always warm, always focused, and always working
towards making each other better performers.
Jo has a wonderful eye for seeing what an individual performer needs and
knows how to get you to experiment and free yourself up.
Francis
It's a great group of people who I really enjoy working with. Although we have different levels of acting experience, everyone is friendly and supportive. I also love the rehearsal space. It's only five minutes from home!
Jo is a calm presence who puts her actors at ease. She gives us the space and the time to explore the play and our characters at our own pace whilst pushing us out of our comfort zones. I feel like I'm getting a gold-level masterclass in acting.
Hamish
I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with Park Avenue so far. It's a friendly and welcoming environment, and the rest of the cast have been a pleasure to work with. It's also been a creatively challenging experience, and I've found it rewarding to push myself in new ways.
It's been a privilege working with Jo. She has an uncanny knowledge of Shakespeare, and she takes things in an interesting direction. Jo has a real knack for guiding actors to bring the most out of themselves, and that's helped me to grow a lot
Heather
I’ve been encouraged to unlearn some of the overly cerebral approaches I had grown attached to. I had always known Shakespeare was written to be performed, but I hadn’t
fully grasped the depth and skill that comes from learning through performance. Acting makes the work feel larger, more sudden and more human - focusing, responding, listening, speaking out - not to be right, but to be connected.
Jo demands precision and technique while insisting we respond to each moment, never relying on easy repetition or stale stereotypes.
Laura
Everyone in the group is very welcoming and collaborative. Every rehearsal is an acting workshop, with all kinds of techniques and exercises that I hadn't come across before.
Jo as the director is a great combination of patient, fun and kind, but also firm, which means we have fun exploring the plays and characters, learning how to perform Shakespearean verse, but without getting off track from rehearsing. I already learned a lot from participating in two previous plays, but am still learning more.
Leah
I’ve had a really positive experience here. I especially enjoy that rehearsals are a mix of workshopping different techniques and exploring how to present yourself on stage, alongside developing our scenes. It creates a really engaging and supportive environment where you feel like you’re constantly learning and growing as a performer.
It’s been fantastic. Jo doesn’t just focus on teaching the scenes, she really prioritizes building strong technique; Iambic pentameter, using your core in movement, and understanding the language. Her depth of knowledge, especially about Shakespeare, is incredible, and it really elevates the entire process.
Louisa
I walked through a door and discovered a world that is so vast and rich: Shakespearean theater. Each week, I keep learning and rediscovering so much, in every phrase, every verse, every single word. I genuinely look forward to Wednesdays: meeting the group, rehearsing, being
creative, and simply having fun together.
Jo gives us an incredible range of tools to work with and knows exactly how to encourage us to go beyond what we think we’re capable of. It’s been invaluable in deepening my craft. She is warm, welcoming, and a brilliant director.
Romina
Ever since the audition everyone at Park Avenue has been super warm and welcoming. Park Avenue is such a lovely creative and supportive space. I look forward to rehearsals every week.
Working with Jo is a lot of fun and challenging at the same time! The interplay between vision and freedom is really inspiring and keeps you in the present. I feel like I’m not only learning a part, I’m learning skills! Jo really knows how to get confident, creative and surprising choices out of you.
Rosan
I really appreciate Park Avenue Theater’s classical acting and theater approach. For modern actors studying the craft independently, this is a valuable opportunity to become a more well-rounded and expressive storyteller.
Jo is a fantastic teacher: experienced, knowledgeable, super patient, and skilled at adjusting to her students’ limitations. I am always, always, always learning something new from her.
Teresa
I truly
enjoy being part of this cast. The environment is creative, supportive and
welcoming. Our rehearsals are not only well-organized and efficient, but we
also focus on building a team atmosphere, part of an ensemble, Park Avenue is a
lovely place to develop as an actor and contribute to amazing, committed and
passionate theatre productions.
Working with Jo is a really encouraging and rewarding experience. She takes the
time to give us tools as actors to help us approach scenes, characters, and
text in a way that is inspiring and empowering. She is always available to talk
with us and makes sure we feel confident and comfortable with our creative
choices.
Zeynep
I sincerely enjoy working here. It feels like every rehearsal is an opportunity to grow as an actor. Nothing feels stagnant. Not only the production, but also the cast and the actors individually get better in the process. It is a safe space to try out new things and be confident in our choices.
I have never worked with someone as observant as Jo. She is incredible at looking at actors and figuring out what they need exactly on the spot. I feel scarily seen by exercises she proposes to me and her ability to give me advice that makes me think: “Maybe I should try this out in real life as well.”
