Rehearse scenes and speeches from various Shakespeare's plays. Create vivid performances that are both true to life and true to Shakespeare’s language.
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This course is designed to broaden and develop your skills when working with heightened language and to provide an opportunity to develop character and scene work to a high standard. We will use a range of exercises that will explore and unlock the text as we identify and use the clues and devices that Shakespeare has built into the text to inform decisions about character and to bring a scene and/or monologue to life.
What will we cover?
• Verse and prose form • Text and scene analysis for clues to performance • A range of exercises that will explore and unlock the text • Scene rehearsal • Performance in class
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Analyse a Shakespearean monologue and or a scene for clues to your performance • Demonstrate character physically with confidence • Perform a Monologue and/ or scene from Shakespeare with confidence
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is a practical class. Commitment and focus are needed. These classes are for students who have some prior experience of acting; you should have completed at least acting Beginners and one improvers course or their equivalent elsewhere. You should be able to speak English fluently.
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. You will need to prepare work and learn lines outside of the sessions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will be provided with a copy of the scenes. You may wish to purchase a copy of the plays that we are working with, to study more extensively outside of class. Wear comfortable clothing that you can work freely in.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
A general acting class, advanced scene work, other performance skills. You may also be interested in Accredited acting courses Ask your tutor for advice about other suitable courses, or email the Drama Department.
Robert trained at Drama Centre London and is a familiar face across the UK from his work on stage, television and film. Extensive theatre credits include National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Young Vic, Traverse, and Scottish National Theatre. TV and film work includes dramas, soaps, documentary, feature films, commercials and voiceovers. Among his roles have been the title role in MacBeth, Mark Anthony (Julius Caesar), John Morrison (Men Should Weep), Nic Muscolino (Napoli, Brooklyn), Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights, ITV), Mr Carnegie (The Royal, ITV) and Tommy (Eastenders, BBC). He continues to work as an actor. As writer and director Robert has made short films, documentaries, a feature film, commercials and pop promos, and is developing further projects with a producer. As a teacher Robert has directed showcases, hosted workshops, given masterclasses and taught general acting, acting for camera, Shakespeare and text analysis at Italia Conti, Mountview, Institute for Contemporary Theatre, Rose Bruford and many more. Robert is delighted to bring his experience to City Lit to nurture and encourage the next waves of student talent and aspiration.
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.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/acting-shakespeare233388Acting Shakespearehttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/a/c/acting-shakespeare-1024.jpg199199GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Acting and theatre/Courses/Performing arts/Acting and theatre/Acting22851314131513231228513141315<p>Rehearse scenes and speeches from various Shakespeare's plays. Create vivid performances that are both true to life and true to Shakespeare’s language.</p>142989379Acting Shakespeare199199https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/a/c/acting-shakespeare-1024_15.jpgInStockEveningWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-01-14T00:00:00+00:00Some experience, AdvancedJan 2026Performing artsDRA031199199Acting Shakespeare199139199Robert Cavanahacting-shakespeare/dra031-2526<p>Rehearse scenes and speeches from various Shakespeare's plays. Create vivid performances that are both true to life and true to Shakespeare’s language.</p>0010-StartedAvailable|2026-01-14 00:00:00<p>This course is designed to broaden and develop your skills when working with heightened language and to provide an opportunity to develop character and scene work to a high standard. We will use a range of exercises that will explore and unlock the text as we identify and use the clues and devices that Shakespeare has built into the text to inform decisions about character and to bring a scene and/or monologue to life.</p><p>Rehearse scenes and speeches from various Shakespeare's plays. Create vivid performances that are both true to life and true to Shakespeare’s language.</p><p>• Verse and prose form<br/>• Text and scene analysis for clues to performance<br/>• A range of exercises that will explore and unlock the text<br/>• Scene rehearsal<br/>• Performance in class</p><p>• Analyse a Shakespearean monologue and or a scene for clues to your performance<br/>• Demonstrate character physically with confidence<br/>• Perform a Monologue and/ or scene from Shakespeare with confidence</p><p>This is a practical class. Commitment and focus are needed. These classes are for students who have some prior experience of acting; you should have completed at least acting Beginners and one improvers course or their equivalent elsewhere. You should be able to speak English fluently.<br/><br/>In order to get the most from the course you will be able to:<br/>• Listen and respond to instructions and feedback<br/>• Communicate clearly in discussion and drama practice<br/>• Read and respond to a variety of text<br/>• Give and receive constructive feedback<br/>• Take notes<br/>• Work within groups and pairs safely.</p><p>In pairs, groups and individually.<br/>You will need to prepare work and learn lines outside of the sessions.</p><p>You will be provided with a copy of the scenes. You may wish to purchase a copy of the plays that we are working with, to study more extensively outside of class. Wear comfortable clothing that you can work freely in.</p><p>A general acting class, advanced scene work, other performance skills. You may also be interested in <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/acting-and-theatre/accredited-acting-courses" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Accredited acting courses</a> Ask your tutor for advice about other suitable courses, or <a href="mailto:drama@citylit.ac.uk?Subject=Acting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">email the Drama Department</a>.</p>Acting and theatreActingvirtual2989382Acting Shakespeare199199https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/a/c/acting-shakespeare-1024_14.jpgInStockEveningWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-04-22T00:00:00+00:00Some experience, AdvancedApr 2026Performing artsDRA032199199Acting Shakespeare199139199Robert Cavanahacting-shakespeare/dra032-2526<p>Rehearse scenes and speeches from various Shakespeare's plays. Create vivid performances that are both true to life and true to Shakespeare’s language.</p>0000-Available|2026-04-22 00:00:00<p>This course is designed to broaden and develop your skills when working with heightened language and to provide an opportunity to develop character and scene work to a high standard. We will use a range of exercises that will explore and unlock the text as we identify and use the clues and devices that Shakespeare has built into the text to inform decisions about character and to bring a scene and/or monologue to life.</p><p>Rehearse scenes and speeches from various Shakespeare's plays. Create vivid performances that are both true to life and true to Shakespeare’s language.</p><p>• Verse and prose form<br/>• Text and scene analysis for clues to performance<br/>• A range of exercises that will explore and unlock the text<br/>• Scene rehearsal<br/>• Performance in class</p><p>• Analyse a Shakespearean monologue and or a scene for clues to your performance<br/>• Demonstrate character physically with confidence<br/>• Perform a Monologue and/ or scene from Shakespeare with confidence</p><p>This is a practical class. Commitment and focus are needed. These classes are for students who have some prior experience of acting; you should have completed at least acting Beginners and one improvers course or their equivalent elsewhere. You should be able to speak English fluently.<br/><br/>In order to get the most from the course you will be able to:<br/>• Listen and respond to instructions and feedback<br/>• Communicate clearly in discussion and drama practice<br/>• Read and respond to a variety of text<br/>• Give and receive constructive feedback<br/>• Take notes<br/>• Work within groups and pairs safely.</p><p>In pairs, groups and individually.<br/>You will need to prepare work and learn lines outside of the sessions.</p><p>You will be provided with a copy of the scenes. You may wish to purchase a copy of the plays that we are working with, to study more extensively outside of class. Wear comfortable clothing that you can work freely in.</p><p>A general acting class, advanced scene work, other performance skills. You may also be interested in <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/acting-and-theatre/accredited-acting-courses" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Accredited acting courses</a> Ask your tutor for advice about other suitable courses, or <a href="mailto:drama@citylit.ac.uk?Subject=Acting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">email the Drama Department</a>.</p>Acting and theatreActingvirtual199199139DRA031,DRA032NONEWed22/04/26 - 20/05/2618:15 - 21:1518:1521:155 sessions (over 5 weeks)55-10 weeksWeekdayKSKeeley StreetRobert CavanahSome experience, AdvancedAvailable courses2026-01-14T00:00:00+00:00,2026-04-22T00:00:00+00:00EveningJan 2026,Apr 2026Performing arts199199Acting Shakespeareacting-shakespeare/dra031-2526,acting-shakespeare/dra032-2526<p>Rehearse scenes and speeches from various Shakespeare's plays. Create vivid performances that are both true to life and true to Shakespeare’s language.</p>0000-Available|2026-04-22 00:00:00<p>This course is designed to broaden and develop your skills when working with heightened language and to provide an opportunity to develop character and scene work to a high standard. We will use a range of exercises that will explore and unlock the text as we identify and use the clues and devices that Shakespeare has built into the text to inform decisions about character and to bring a scene and/or monologue to life.</p><p>Rehearse scenes and speeches from various Shakespeare's plays. Create vivid performances that are both true to life and true to Shakespeare’s language.</p><p>• Verse and prose form<br/>• Text and scene analysis for clues to performance<br/>• A range of exercises that will explore and unlock the text<br/>• Scene rehearsal<br/>• Performance in class</p><p>• Analyse a Shakespearean monologue and or a scene for clues to your performance<br/>• Demonstrate character physically with confidence<br/>• Perform a Monologue and/ or scene from Shakespeare with confidence</p><p>This is a practical class. Commitment and focus are needed. These classes are for students who have some prior experience of acting; you should have completed at least acting Beginners and one improvers course or their equivalent elsewhere. You should be able to speak English fluently.<br/><br/>In order to get the most from the course you will be able to:<br/>• Listen and respond to instructions and feedback<br/>• Communicate clearly in discussion and drama practice<br/>• Read and respond to a variety of text<br/>• Give and receive constructive feedback<br/>• Take notes<br/>• Work within groups and pairs safely.</p><p>In pairs, groups and individually.<br/>You will need to prepare work and learn lines outside of the sessions.</p><p>You will be provided with a copy of the scenes. You may wish to purchase a copy of the plays that we are working with, to study more extensively outside of class. Wear comfortable clothing that you can work freely in.</p><p>A general acting class, advanced scene work, other performance skills. You may also be interested in <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/acting-and-theatre/accredited-acting-courses" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Accredited acting courses</a> Ask your tutor for advice about other suitable courses, or <a href="mailto:drama@citylit.ac.uk?Subject=Acting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">email the Drama Department</a>.</p>Acting and theatreActingconfigurable
13231315Actinghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/acting-and-theatre/acting1/2/285/1314/1315/13231/Courses/Performing arts/Acting and theatre/Acting
