Casting Workshop in Sydney with David Newman of McSweeney Newman Casting
Casting Workshop
Saturday 26 September 2026
A casting workshop in Sydney with David Newman, co-founder of McSweeney Newman Casting, casting director for film and television (Blacklight, Love & Monsters, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, and Australian casting for Vikings: Valhalla and Bloodaxe). Spend the session working audition scenes in the room, with direct feedback and direction from one of the country's most sought‑after casting directors.
Places are limited. Apply now to secure your spot.
Spend a focused six‑hour intensive in the room with a working casting director. This workshop is built around what decides most auditions: the choices you make once you're on the floor, and how you take direction in the moment.
Led by David Newman of McSweeney Newman Casting, the session combines live audition and scene work with self‑tape technique. You'll see what casting directors actually look for, then put it straight into practice with feedback and direction on camera.
The more an actor comes from a position of trying to give us what they think we want, they squash the things in themselves that are special, or quirky, or funny. Everything an actor needs to stand out is already within themselves. David Newman
What to Expect
Workshop Details
Train with David Newman
David Newman is an acclaimed Australian casting director with over 30 years' experience across the entertainment industry, including more than two decades dedicated exclusively to casting. He has been a partner of Tom McSweeney at McSweeney Newman Casting for over 13 years, helping form one of Australia's most respected and consistently active casting organisations. His feature film credits include Love and Monsters, Blacklight, Australia Day, and Dora and the Lost City of Gold, alongside the television series The Family Law, Tidelands, The Bureau of Magical Things, and Australian casting for Vikings: Valhalla and Bloodaxe.
A defining chapter of David's career was his 15-month tenure as Australian Casting Associate on The Pacific (HBO), produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, personally conducting more than 3,000 auditions across the country. The Pacific went on to win the 2010 Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie, or Special. David often refers to the experience as his "degree in casting."
David served as President of the Casting Guild of Australia from 2020 to 2022, and has been recognised with multiple Casting Guild of Australia Awards, including Best Casting in a TV Comedy in 2016 & 2017 for The Family Law.
Who Is This Workshop For?
This workshop is designed for actors with some level of training or on‑set experience who are ready to deepen their work alongside a professional casting director. It is not a beginner course. If you're newer to screen acting, our On‑Camera Foundations course is the better place to start.
The workshop is best suited to actors who want honest feedback on their work, a clearer audition technique, and the chance to do focused scene work with real direction. It's about deepening the work itself, not performing for approval. The presence of a casting director is not a guarantee or promise of employment.
Places Are Limited
The day is intentionally kept small to ensure every actor gets real time on the floor working scenes with David, with meaningful feedback and direction. Places are strictly limited to 14 actors.
Complete the form below to apply for a place. While you wait to hear back, our weekly classes and other masterclasses are always running. See what's on.
Apply For A Spot
Places are strictly limited to 14 actors. Complete the form below to apply, and we'll be in touch to confirm your place.