Acting: improvers
Time: 15:30 - 17:30
Location: Keeley Street
Choose a start date
- Course Code: DRM006
- Dates: 11/05/25 - 20/07/25
- Time: 15:30 - 17:30
- Taught: Sun, Daytime
- Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Deirdre Strath Clyde
Course Code: DRM006
Choose a start date
Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
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?
These lively practical sessions are designed for those who want to extend their abilities and skills in acting.You will work on a range of acting exercises to improve your spontaneity, presence and ability to act truthfully in the moment. You will learn the fundamentals of stage craft, how to build character and begin to explore and use solid techniques to unlock the text. Your work will culminate in the rehearsal and in class presentation of a scene 'off book' in the final session. Please note there is no class on Sunday 26 May.
What will we cover?
• Physical and vocal warmups
• Group exercises
• Character work
• Text analysis
• Scene Rehearsal and performance.
Please note that acting classes by their very nature can involve exercises and the exploration of material that some students may find challenging.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Work cooperatively with other actors
• Explore and analyse text confidently
• Develop character
• Perform in a scene from a play with confidence.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an improvers class. Perfect for anyone who has completed a beginner’s course or has suitable 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?
In pairs, groups and individually
HEALTH CHECK
You may or may not be asked to participate in rigorous activity from time to time. Please consider whether you could do this, if you are in any doubt consult a medical practitioner.
As part of the course content, your tutor may record your image for initial and ongoing assessment purposes. You are entitled to decline to participate in the recording of your image.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Comfortable clothing should be worn. Bring a pencil and a rubber with you for annotating scripts. You may need a notebook and pen in these sessions.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You could enrol onto the next improvers course or Acting Workshop. Consider Improvisation or a course in Stanislavski.
Deirdre is a supportive and dynamic acting, drama and accent tutor at Citylit. She trained in acting in NYC and at RADA , and studied Performance and Culture at Goldsmiths (MA). Her directing credits include new writing workshops of Shaken by Louise Page and staged readings of plays and musicals at RADA, a devised play The Disunderstood at CityLit; she has also directed large scale Music Hall Events for The Portico Gallery. As a writer, plays include Waking Beauty, The People Downstairs (Young Vic, Shortlisted for LWT Plays On Stage), The Lizzie Play directed by Rufus Norris (UK and international tours, Time Out & Playbill Critic's Choice) A Cautionary Tale for the National Theatre Studio, and Betty Has To Go Now, commissioned for the 2013 Solo Theatre Festival. Performance credits include Betty Has To Go Now, Adult Child/Dead Child, and What Happened to the Tyrant, Bessie in Arthur Miller's The Ride Down Mount Morgan (West End world premiere), Joanna in Home Free (directed by Kathy Burke), Jeeves and Wooster (ITV) and Simon Gray's Unnatural Pursuits (BBC TV)
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.