The Blackfriars Leadership Training

Hands-on Leadership Training in Staunton, Virginia

Leadership development at the American Shakespeare Center happens on a stage built for Shakespeare’s works.

Located in downtown Staunton, Virginia, the Blackfriars Playhouse offers leaders a space focused on communication, collaboration, and presence. Today’s workplaces require adaptability, clear communication, and decisive leadership, making these skills especially important.

Leadership Development for Conferences, Teams, and Organizations

The Blackfriars Leadership Training is a hands-on training program that uses Shakespeare’s theatre practices to build and expand on practical pillars of leadership, including establishing a common purpose, clear communication, critical thinking, and Relationship building for Teams.

Held in the first-ever re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre, this interactive experience invites participants to explore leadership through the same ensemble practices that shaped Shakespeare’s company.

By taking part in the activities, leaders gain skills they can use right away in meetings, presentations, & classrooms. They also get to experience the excitement of performing together in the same space and build strong teamwork skills.

Groups from universities, businesses, law, and the arts have all taken part in leadership programs at the Blackfriars Playhouse.

Leadership Training Overview

The Blackfriars Leadership Training is a Human-centered approach to leadership development.

Designed for group sizes of 20-300 and perfect for:

Conferences
Universities
Professional organizations
Legal professionals
Leadership teams seeking a more engaged

Blackfriars Leadership Training Formats

Conference Leadership Experience (60–90 minutes)
Extended Leadership Experience (Half-Day or Full-Day)
Blackfriars Leadership Institute (Multi-Day)

Location

Blackfriars Playhouse, Staunton, Virginia
(Adapted on-site training available for conferences, campuses, and workplaces)

Schedule a Leadership Training Experience

“We received resounding positivity regarding our time at Blackfriars Leadership Experience! Attendees were not quite sure what they were walking into but left pleasantly surprised by how light and comfortable they felt in the space. The concrete techniques embedded in the engaging performances were relevant and timely for these leaders who are tasked with effectively communicating to both their staff and individuals that make up their communities. Thank you again!”

Alysse Dowdy, Leadership Development Operations Coordinator, Virginia Institute of Government, 2026 VLGMA Conference

Leadership Skills You’ll Practice

K.P. Powell as Macbeth stands in front of a banquet table with the 2024 ASC Repertory Cast, while Kenn Hopkins Jr. as Banquo’s ghost looms in the background. The scene unfolds on the Blackfriars Playhouse stage, emphasizing the modern military setting of the production.
(THE CAST OF ASC’S MACBETH, 2024. PHOTO BY OCTOBER GRACE MEDIA.)

Using Shakespeare’s plays and theatre techniques, the Blackfriars Leadership Training looks at how leaders communicate, build trust, and guide teams through challenges. Participants work directly with key parts of Shakespearean performance:

Shared Light

Actors and audiences share the same space, which encourages attentiveness, quick responses, and real connection. These are important skills for leaders in any field.

Cue Scripts

Actors used partial scripts, so they had to listen carefully, adapt quickly, and make decisions on the spot. These skills of active listening, adaptability, and real-time decision-making are directly useful for leaders.

Ensemble Practice

Shakespeare’s company depended on shared responsibility, quick thinking, and mutual support, the same professional skills that teams and companies use today.

Rhetoric and Persuasion

Shakespeare’s language shows how leaders can persuade, motivate, and inspire others to act.

At the End the the Blackfriars Leadership Training, you’ll walk away with practical tools to:

communicate with clarity and confidence
navigate complex group dynamics
respond effectively in the moment
build trust and alignment within teams

What to Expect from a Blackfriars Leadership Training Session

Every leadership session is hands-on, encourages participation, and is made for immediate use.

(Photo by Lindsey Walter)

Participants can expect:

Guided exercises drawn from Shakespearean rehearsal practices
Small and large group interaction (not passive listening)
Real-time decision-making and communication challenges
Facilitated reflection connecting the work to professional contexts

Sessions mix movement, discussion, and group exploration, making the training both engaging and useful right away.

Why Leadership Training at the Blackfriars Playhouse is Different

The Blackfriars Playhouse in Downtown Staunton, VA, is the first-ever re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre and one of the most distinctive performance spaces in the world.

Here, actors and audiences share the same light, which builds awareness, quick responses, and real connection. This is something you won’t find in a regular conference room.

Hosting a leadership training experience at the Blackfriars allows participants to:

Work in the same environment where ASC actors rehearse and perform
Experience shared light, where leaders and participants occupy the same space
Engage in a theatre built for direct communication and rhetorical language
Explore leadership through ensemble-based collaboration and presence

Bring the Blackfriars Leadership Training directly to your conference, campus, or workplace. The American Shakespeare Center offers on-site adaptations designed to meet your team wherever you are.

How Shakespeare Still Teaches Leadership Today

Shakespeare’s plays endure because they illuminate the challenges leaders face every day: persuasion, conflict, ambition, loyalty, and change.

In Shakespeare’s theatre, leadership was practical. It was practiced and learned through working together, communicating, and adapting. These same qualities shape organizations today.

The Blackfriars Leadership training, grounded in these practices, helps participants:

manage change more effectively
navigate resistance within teams
communicate ideas with greater clarity
build alignment across diverse groups

By working with these stories and techniques, participants gain tools that translate immediately into their current jobs and overall professional development.

Bring This Leadership Training to Your Conference or Organization

If you’re planning a professional development conference, hosting a leadership retreat, or looking for a more engaging workshop, the Blackfriars Leadership Training is a lively and memorable way to involve your team.

Availability is limited based on ASC’s performance and production schedule.