Teen Group (Ages 14-18)
Exceptional training for motivated students
Our Teenage Classes provide young performers who have the drive and determination to learn their craft with unparalleled professional training. Taking the drama colleges as our model, we have developed and continue to refine a unique programme which helps our students acquire the skills they need to work in the industry.
Sunday sessions (3.00 to 6.00pm) start with a physical and vocal warm-up followed by group exercises to hone focus, imagination and spontaneity.
Our students then work with our teachers on specific areas of focus, ranging from Meisner to Shakespeare, physical theatre to screen acting and much more.
Alumni - Maia Tamrakar (Mountview) and Noah Marullo (Guildhall) as teenagers.
Both are now forging successful careers in the industry.
At The Actors’ Workshop, we are committed to providing professional training to those with the talent and drive to succeed in the profession.
If you successfully audition for our Teen Group but demonstrably cannot afford the fees, we can offer full or partial bursaries to help you.
Core Skills
Understanding Relationships and Objectives
Living the character and telling the story whilst being present in the moment. This is approached using a wide variety of techniques. Students are also introduced to the ideas of key practitioners in the field, from Ute Haagen to Meisner and more.
Screen Acting
With the explosion in online providers such as Netflix and Amazon, there is huge and ever-increasing demand for highly-trained performers who also understand the parameters of acting for film and tv. Screen acting is therefore a key component of or training.
Shakespeare
How to understand and speak Shakespeare’s verse; how to relate to Shakespeare’s characters and bring them to life. Our teachers combine a thorough understanding and deep working knowledge of Shakespeare with personal experience performing and/or directing the plays.
Voice and Movement
All students learn the basics of physiologically correct voice production for speaking and singing. In addition we have regular musical theatre sessions, learning to integrate voice and action to tell a story in song. Movement work is integrated into every session.
Contemporary Theatre
Brecht, Stoppard, Ayckbourn, Willy Russell, John Godber, Dennis Kelly and exciting newcomers like Laura Wade, Ella Hickson and Nell Leyshon are just some of the playwrights whose work we have looked at in the past year or so.
Making Theatre
What makes a good script and how do we bring it to life? Building on our scripted work, students become extraordinarily adept at creating their own scenes under expert guidance. Our small groups foster an atmosphere of safety and support, where students are unafraid to push their boundaries and take a risk.
Performance Opportunities
Our Spring Showcase (carefully timed to minimise impact on exams) is a polished and professional event for the public and invited industry insiders.
Showcases are an eclectic and thematically coherent medley of scenes and songs from Shakespeare and Chekhov to cutting edge modern drama and musical theatre. This format is fantastic because, like the drama college graduation shows, it guarantees each performer appropriate stage time.
Book an Audition
In order to maintain our standards, keep our classes small and make sure that students work well together, we audition all applicants for places in our Teen Group.
We are not necessarily looking for lots of experience: aptitude, a passion for acting and the willingness to give it your all are the essential qualities for success.
SUNDAY Teenage Classes
Classes are held on Sunday afternoons from 3.00 - 6.00pm at our studio on Chatterton Street, BS1 6PR
Cost is £200 per 3-month term/£600 per academic year.
We will always offer you an audition if there is space in the group and operate a waiting list when the group is full.
Arts Award
Stretch your talent, show that you're serious about your art and demonstrate that you've got both creativity and determination by undertaking an Arts Award with The Actors’ Workshop.
Run by Trinity College London in partnership with Arts Council England, Arts Award offers nationally recognised qualifications and, depending on the level, UCAS points.
The unique framework of Arts Award helps young people to develop as artists and arts leaders. The programme works very well alongside our training at The Actors’ Workshop, deepening students’ understanding of their chosen art form and developing skills for success in 21st century life including creativity, leadership, reflective thinking and communication skills. For this reason, The Actors’ Workshop has chosen to register as an Arts Award Centre.
You can do an Arts Award in any area of the arts, from fashion and film to dancing, singing, writing and acting.
This is what you do to get an Arts Award:
· take part in different arts activities (can be online!)
· be inspired by artists and arts organisations
· experience arts events (again - can be digital)
· share your arts skills with others
· put together a portfolio or arts log in your own choice of format
· set yourself arts challenges
· organise your own projects
· research arts careers and the arts sector
Arts Award is open to anyone aged 25 and under and embraces all interests and backgrounds. Through Arts Award young people learn to work independently (with our expert guidance) helping them to prepare for further education and employment.
There are three levels of Arts Award: Bronze, Silver and Gold – with the Gold Award carrying 16 UCAS points. Given the high ability of our students at The Actors’ Workshop, we will be offering Silver and Gold levels.
Since the Arts Award requires independent investigation and performance in conjunction with mentoring, feedback and assessment, it is easily adapted to online/digital formats whilst we are all in isolation.
For more information: www.artsaward.org.uk
We will be offering Arts Award as an extra programme this term, in the form of ten weekly sessions on Mondays from 5.00 to 6.00pm, starting on Monday 27th April. Cost is £100 based on a group of 10 students.
This course will be led by certified Arts Award Advisor, Tom Sherman.
Please contact us to register your interest.