Acting: advanced
Practise and develop your acting skills by rehearsing scenes with an experienced tutor and actor. This course is suitable for students who have completed a broad range of our acting courses at beginners and improvers level or who have gained suitable experience elsewhere.
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Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 29 Oct 2025End Date: 03 Dec 2025Wed (Evening): 18:30 - 21:00In PersonFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course provides an opportunity to deepen and expand your acting skills by working scenes to performance standard. You will have the opportunity to identify and cultivate your individual strengths and improve your weaknesses, to build confidence and challenge yourself in scenes and acting exercises.
What will we cover?
• Practical text analysis
• Character work and development
• Exploratory improvisations
• Detailed scene rehearsal
•Performance to an invited audience at the end of term
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Effectively explore and analyse text
• Apply this textual analysis in practical work
• Build and sustain a given character
• Rehearse with rigour and depth
• Make brave choices as an actor and explore different tactics within a scene or speech.
• Perform a scene/(s) with confidence
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an Advanced level course for students with a good level of ability and experience.
In order to get the most from the course you will be able to:
• Listen and respond to instructions and feedback.
• Communicate clearly in discussion and drama practice.
• Read and respond to a variety of text.
• Give and receive constructive feedback.
• Take notes.
• Work within groups and pairs safely.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Your tutor will teach though a variety of techniques during this course. Depending on each different acting exercise, this may include work in pairs, small groups, individually and in whole group.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
• You will need pencil and eraser for annotating scripts. A notebook is useful.
• Comfortable clothing should be worn.
• You may be required to purchase a copy of the play that you are working from. Photocopies of individual scenes will be provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Continue on to a scene work class to build your knowledge of plays and to hone your skills. Consider auditioning for our Theatre co course DRA141, or audition for DRC101 Acting Diploma or DRC002/003 Foundation course.
Simon has worked as a professional actor since 2003. Working extensively in theatre, he has acted with companies including The Royal Shakespeare Company, Out of Joint, Paines Plough and played numerous theatres up and down the country and overseas. He is also an established voice actor, specialising in audio books and has numerous television credits to his name. Simon's specialist area is working largely in the realm of audition technique, scene study and professional practice. At City Lit he teaches Audition Ready and the the intensive Audition module on the Acting Diploma (Level 3). Simon has also directed the showcases for accredited drama students. Over the last 5 years simon has been an Acting and Professional Practice teacher/facilitator at The Arts Educational Drama School and Buckinghamshire New University.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.