Classical acting
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- Start Date: 21 Jul 2025End Date: 25 Jul 2025Mon-Fri (Daytime): 10:30 - 13:30In PersonFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00
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What is the course about?
The course provides a practical opportunity to explore the acting demands of various classical playwrights including work from the Greeks, Shakespeare, Restoration comedy, Ibsen and Oscar Wilde. Working creatively and collaboratively you will explore scenes and/or monologues from several different writers.
What will we cover?
• Demystifying complex language;
• Working with verse;
• Exploring the differences between naturalistic and stylised performance;
• Relating to the audience in classical drama;
• Monologue/scene work.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Perform classical texts with greater confidence;
• Recognise and perform verse with greater confidence;
• Analyse text for practical performance;
• Perform confidently with and without a 'fourth wall';
• Work collaboratively to rehearse and perform a classical scene;.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Any level.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will participate in large and small group work, in pairs and have the opportunity to also work on a solo piece.
There will be some preparation outside of class, depending on the nature/demands of particular scene work.
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?
Text will be supplied. You may bring a classical monologue of your choice to explore in class if you wish. Please bring something to write with. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear for physical warm ups.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Enrol onto DS002 Acting; improvers summer school or DRA030 Acting Shakespeare in the autumn term.
Laura is an experienced theatre director, teacher and writer and has taught at City Lit since 2011. Laura has worked at a wide range of venues including the National Theatre, the Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park, Birmingham Rep, the Cambridge Arts Theatre, and Southwark Playhouse. She loves all types of plays, from new writing and devised theatre to Shakespeare and works in translation, and enjoys bringing scenes and characters to life with students in her classes. Laura studied English Literature as an undergraduate at Oxford University and went on to take an MA in Text and Performance Studies at King’s College London and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She now splits her time between teaching and writing novels for young adults.
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.