An Auckland Acting Studio Built on the Michael Chekhov Technique
Elena Stejko Actors Studio teaches acting for stage and screen in Auckland through one method, the Michael Chekhov technique. Actor and director Elena Stejko runs weekly term classes for beginners through to working actors, a class for teenagers, a daytime class and an online class for the rest of New Zealand, alongside workshops and private coaching. The same training is offered to organisations and professionals as confidence, voice and public speaking work.
- Term 5 2026Starts 19 October 2026
- 7 week termsOne class a week, at your level
- Recorded sceneWith a casting director, each term
About Elena Stejko Actors Studio
The studio, in Parnell, is the acting school of Elena Stejko, a Kyiv trained actor and director who has made her career in New Zealand on stage and screen, from the lead in the feature film Russian Snark to Auckland Theatre Company productions and the Netflix series Sweet Tooth. Every class is built on the technique of Michael Chekhov, a psycho-physical approach that the Michael Chekhov Association describes as using movement and imagination to foster transformation. Students work on their feet, on script and on camera, and each term closes with a recorded session with a casting director. Elena also takes the work outside the theatre, teaching mindset, confidence, voice and public speaking through workshops and coaching for organisations and professionals. You can read more about Elena's training, credits and awards or about how the acting school is organised.
The next term starts on 19 October 2026
Seven weeks, one class a week, at Studio 3.2, 1 Cleveland Road, Parnell or online. Choose your class and book your place on this site.
Or call 021 675 977Why Actors Train Here
Some acting classes offer a sampler: a little of one method this week, a little of another the next. This studio teaches one technique and teaches it in depth. The same tools, atmosphere, psychological gesture, qualities of movement and body centres, run from the first beginners term through to the advanced class, so what you learn in one term is what you build on in the next, and it applies equally to a theatre role and a screen audition. Our page on how the Michael Chekhov technique works explains each tool in plain words.
The teaching comes from someone who does the job. Elena Stejko works as an actor and director as well as a teacher, which keeps the classes tied to what a casting brief, a rehearsal room and a set actually ask of you. The work is practical: the aim is a deeper understanding of the script, confident choices in your preparation, and a wider range of ways to rehearse.
- One recognised method, taught from beginners to advanced.
- Taught by a working actor and director with awards for her stage work.
- A recorded session with a casting director at the end of term, and a copy of your scene to keep.
- Classes for every stage: beginners, intermediate, advanced, teenagers, daytime and online.
- Small classes: no more than 12 actors in the studio and 20 online.
- On camera work in the self tape and short film classes.
- A 10% discount for Equity New Zealand members.
I cannot recommend these classes enough. The lessons actors learn are tangible and give a strong foundation on which to build believable, complex characters and performance. These classes really are invaluable.
Acting Classes and Training
Weekly classes run in seven week terms through the year, and every one is described on our acting classes in Auckland page with the timetable and fees. Here is each class in a sentence.
Beginners acting class
A Monday evening class for adults who are new to acting, introducing the core tools of the Michael Chekhov technique through practical work.
Intermediate and advanced classes
Tuesday and Wednesday evening classes for actors with training behind them, plus a Tuesday daytime class open to any level.
Self tape and screen acting class
A Friday evening class of improvisation and on camera practice, working at pace with television commercial and drama scripts.
Short film class
A Thursday evening class in which actors shoot an original short film during the term and learn how a set works from the inside.
Acting classes for teenagers
A Thursday afternoon class for 12 to 16 year olds: acting exercises, improvisation and script work for screen and stage.
Online acting classes
A weekly two hour class by video call on Friday afternoons, built on the Michael Chekhov technique for screen and open to actors anywhere in New Zealand.
Acting workshops
Short weekend intensives on a single subject, such as audition preparation, presence or meditation for actors.
Private acting coaching
One to one coaching for an audition or a role, for actors of any age, in person in Auckland or online.
Confidence and communication workshops
Actor training applied to mindset, confidence, voice and public speaking, as workshops, classes and individual sessions for organisations and professionals.
Training outside Auckland
The ways an actor elsewhere in New Zealand can train with the studio: online classes, online coaching and visiting workshops.
Our acting school
How the studio works as a part time acting school, from the first beginners term to advanced screen work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any acting experience to join?
No. The Monday evening beginners class is for adults who are new to acting, and the Tuesday daytime class is open to any level. If you have trained before, the intermediate and advanced classes are there to move into.
How long is a term, and when does the next one start?
A term is 7 weeks, with one class a week. Term 5 2026 runs from 19 October 2026 to 4 December 2026. The full year is on the term dates and fees page.
What happens at the end of a term?
The term finishes with a recording session with a casting director. Each actor receives a copy of their scene afterwards, which is footage you can show an agent or cut into a showreel.
Can I train with the studio if I do not live in Auckland?
Yes. The Friday online class runs by video call from 4pm to 6pm, and private coaching can be done online. Our page for actors outside Auckland sets out the options.
How do I book, and how do I pay?
Choose your class or workshop on the booking page and send your details. When card payment is open for your booking you go straight on to a secure payment page; otherwise the studio confirms your place by email and sends the payment details. Fees are per term and include GST.
Contact Us
Not sure which class fits? Tell us what you have done so far and what you want to work on, and we will point you to the right one. To reserve a place straight away, use the booking page.
021 675 977