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.
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.
The course is designed for those wanting to practically experience the process of acting. It is ideal for total beginners or for those returning to acting after some time away. It is an opportunity to improve your overall confidence in yourself and in performing as you explore a range of acting exercises. Learning is through fun simple exercises that begin with theatre games and build towards scene work. An opportunity to develop your creative skills in exploring character in a range of scenarios.
What will we cover?
• Drama games and group exercises • Improvisation • Scene work • Character work.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Work more openly with others Communicate more successfully Work confidently in dealing with the process of creating a character Perform a short scene with confidence.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Beginners and those returning to acting following a break.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Your tutor will use a range of practical exercises including whole group and pair work.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please wear soft shoes and comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. Bring something to write with.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Enrol onto Acting: beginners or Acting for fun. If your confidence is high or you have previous experience you could enrol onto acting improvers. So seek advice from your tutor or the drama department before enrolling onto Improvers.
Cara is multi-talented artist: a performer, writer, theatre, audio, film and TV maker, with many years experience as an Acting Coach in Adult Ed. She runs playful and engaging sessions blending voice, movement, improvisation, and text. Her unique approach draws on Stanislavski, Chekov, Hagen, LeCoq, Johnstone and Gaulier. She has a gift for running a good room, where participants feel safe, and supported, finding courage to create, collaborate and explore. In 2023/24, Cara was Artist in Residence at Morley College, where, with Sophie Trott, she developed the dressing room comedy ‘The Astonishing Adventures of Kitty and Peg’, based on rival Covent Garden actresses Kitty Clive and Peg Woffington. This played to packed houses at the Hen and Chickens Theatre in Jan 2024. They are in the process of producing a tour of the show in 2024, starting at Proteus Theatre, Basingstoke, where they will be associate artists in 2025. TV & Audio credits: 'Hendrix and Handel' (Sky Arts), 'How To Burn A Million Quid' (BBC Sounds), 'Ready Player Marx' (BBC Radio 4) Qualifications: PGCE in Drama (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama), BA HonsEnglish and Drama (U of Bristol)
Deirdre Strath ClydeSee moreSee less
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)
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.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/introduction-to-acting136726Introduction to actinghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/intro_to_acting_drf034.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Acting and theatre/Courses/Performing arts/Acting and theatre/Acting/Courses/Last available places/Courses/Taster courses/Courses/Top rated courses/Courses/vm/Creative courses/Courses/vm/Summer courses/Summer courses in performing arts22851314131513231742180316628673135661228513141315165313457<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p> <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">This is an online interactive course aimed specifically at beginners, newcomers or those returning to acting. You will build confidence and develop your creative skills in exploring character and scenes in a range of scenarios. Learning is through fun exercises that begin with theatre warm-ups and build towards text work. <br />
<br />
This is a live online course. You will need:<br />
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.<br />
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.<br />
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.<br />
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.</div>254.93033967Introduction to acting149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/intro_to_acting_drf034_81.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-29T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Performing artsDRF026149149Introduction to acting119104149Cara Jenningsintroduction-to-acting/drf026-2627<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-29 00:00:00The course is designed for those wanting to practically experience the process of acting. It is ideal for total beginners or for those returning to acting after some time away. It is an opportunity to improve your overall confidence in yourself and in performing as you explore a range of acting exercises. Learning is through fun simple exercises that begin with theatre games and build towards scene work. An opportunity to develop your creative skills in exploring character in a range of scenarios.<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>• Drama games and group exercises<br>• Improvisation<br>• Scene work<br>• Character work.Work more openly with others<br>Communicate more successfully<br>Work confidently in dealing with the process of creating a character <br>Perform a short scene with confidence.Beginners and those returning to acting following a break.Your tutor will use a range of practical exercises including whole group and pair work.Please wear soft shoes and comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. Bring something to write with.<p>Enrol onto Acting: beginners or Acting for fun. If your confidence is high or you have previous experience you could enrol onto acting improvers. So seek advice from your tutor or the drama department before enrolling onto Improvers.</p>Acting and theatreActingvirtual3033970Introduction to acting129129https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/intro_to_acting_drf034_82.jpgInStockDaytimeWedKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-10-28T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersOct 2026Performing artsDRF030129129Introduction to acting12990129Deirdre Strath Clydeintroduction-to-acting/drf030-2627<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>0000-Available|2026-10-28 00:00:00The course is designed for those wanting to practically experience the process of acting. It is ideal for total beginners or for those returning to acting after some time away. It is an opportunity to improve your overall confidence in yourself and in performing as you explore a range of acting exercises. Learning is through fun simple exercises that begin with theatre games and build towards scene work. An opportunity to develop your creative skills in exploring character in a range of scenarios.<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>• Drama games and group exercises<br>• Improvisation<br>• Scene work<br>• Character work.Work more openly with others<br>Communicate more successfully<br>Work confidently in dealing with the process of creating a character <br>Perform a short scene with confidence.Beginners and those returning to acting following a break.Your tutor will use a range of practical exercises including whole group and pair work.Please wear soft shoes and comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. Bring something to write with.<p>Enrol onto Acting: beginners or Acting for fun. If your confidence is high or you have previous experience you could enrol onto acting improvers. So seek advice from your tutor or the drama department before enrolling onto Improvers.</p>Acting and theatreActingvirtual3033973Introduction to acting129129https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/intro_to_acting_drf034_83.jpgInStockDaytimeSatKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-12-12T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersDec 2026Performing artsDRF031129129Introduction to acting12990129Cara Jenningsintroduction-to-acting/drf031-2627<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>0000-Available|2026-12-12 00:00:00The course is designed for those wanting to practically experience the process of acting. It is ideal for total beginners or for those returning to acting after some time away. It is an opportunity to improve your overall confidence in yourself and in performing as you explore a range of acting exercises. Learning is through fun simple exercises that begin with theatre games and build towards scene work. An opportunity to develop your creative skills in exploring character in a range of scenarios.<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>• Drama games and group exercises<br>• Improvisation<br>• Scene work<br>• Character work.Work more openly with others<br>Communicate more successfully<br>Work confidently in dealing with the process of creating a character <br>Perform a short scene with confidence.Beginners and those returning to acting following a break.Your tutor will use a range of practical exercises including whole group and pair work.Please wear soft shoes and comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. Bring something to write with.<p>Enrol onto Acting: beginners or Acting for fun. If your confidence is high or you have previous experience you could enrol onto acting improvers. So seek advice from your tutor or the drama department before enrolling onto Improvers.</p>Acting and theatreActingvirtual3033976Introduction to acting129129https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/intro_to_acting_drf034_84.jpgInStockDaytimeMonKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2027-02-15T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersFeb 2027Performing artsDRF032129129Introduction to acting12990129Laura Baggaleyintroduction-to-acting/drf032-2627<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>0000-Available|2027-02-15 00:00:00The course is designed for those wanting to practically experience the process of acting. It is ideal for total beginners or for those returning to acting after some time away. It is an opportunity to improve your overall confidence in yourself and in performing as you explore a range of acting exercises. Learning is through fun simple exercises that begin with theatre games and build towards scene work. An opportunity to develop your creative skills in exploring character in a range of scenarios.<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>• Drama games and group exercises<br>• Improvisation<br>• Scene work<br>• Character work.Work more openly with others<br>Communicate more successfully<br>Work confidently in dealing with the process of creating a character <br>Perform a short scene with confidence.Beginners and those returning to acting following a break.Your tutor will use a range of practical exercises including whole group and pair work.Please wear soft shoes and comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. Bring something to write with.<p>Enrol onto Acting: beginners or Acting for fun. If your confidence is high or you have previous experience you could enrol onto acting improvers.</p>Acting and theatreActingvirtual3094630Introduction to acting129129https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/i/n/intro_to_acting_drf034_85.jpgInStockDaytimeSunKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2027-03-21T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersMar 2027Performing artsDRF033129129Introduction to acting12990129Cara Jenningsintroduction-to-acting/drf033-2627<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>0000-Available|2027-03-21 00:00:00The course is designed for those wanting to practically experience the process of acting. It is ideal for total beginners or for those returning to acting after some time away. It is an opportunity to improve your overall confidence in yourself and in performing as you explore a range of acting exercises. Learning is through fun simple exercises that begin with theatre games and build towards scene work. An opportunity to develop your creative skills in exploring character in a range of scenarios.<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>• Drama games and group exercises<br>• Improvisation<br>• Scene work<br>• Character work.Work more openly with others<br>Communicate more successfully<br>Work confidently in dealing with the process of creating a character <br>Perform a short scene with confidence.Beginners and those returning to acting following a break.Your tutor will use a range of practical exercises including whole group and pair work.Please wear soft shoes and comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. Bring something to write with.<p>Enrol onto Acting: beginners or Acting for fun. If your confidence is high or you have previous experience you could enrol onto acting improvers. So seek advice from your tutor or the drama department before enrolling onto Improvers.</p>Acting and theatreActingvirtual119,129149,129104,90DRF026,DRF030,DRF031,DRF032,DRF033NONETue,Wed,Sat,Mon,Sun29/09/26 - 27/10/2615:00 - 17:0015:0017:005 sessions (over 5 weeks)55-10 weeks,One-off onlyWeekday,WeekendKSKeeley StreetCara Jennings,Deirdre Strath Clyde,Laura BaggaleyBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for all,BeginnersAvailable courses2026-09-29T00:00:00+00:00,2026-10-28T00:00:00+00:00,2026-12-12T00:00:00+00:00,2027-02-15T00:00:00+00:00,2027-03-21T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeSep 2026,Oct 2026,Dec 2026,Feb 2027,Mar 2027Performing arts129149,129Introduction to actingintroduction-to-acting/drf026-2627,introduction-to-acting/drf030-2627,introduction-to-acting/drf031-2627,introduction-to-acting/drf032-2627,introduction-to-acting/drf033-2627<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-29 00:00:00The course is designed for those wanting to practically experience the process of acting. It is ideal for total beginners or for those returning to acting after some time away. It is an opportunity to improve your overall confidence in yourself and in performing as you explore a range of acting exercises. Learning is through fun simple exercises that begin with theatre games and build towards scene work. An opportunity to develop your creative skills in exploring character in a range of scenarios.<p>A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.</p>• Drama games and group exercises<br>• Improvisation<br>• Scene work<br>• Character work.Work more openly with others<br>Communicate more successfully<br>Work confidently in dealing with the process of creating a character <br>Perform a short scene with confidence.Beginners and those returning to acting following a break.Your tutor will use a range of practical exercises including whole group and pair work.Please wear soft shoes and comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. Bring something to write with.<p>Enrol onto Acting: beginners or Acting for fun. If your confidence is high or you have previous experience&nbsp;you could enrol onto acting improvers. So seek advice from your tutor or the drama department before enrolling onto Improvers.</p>,<p>Enrol onto Acting: beginners or Acting for fun. If your confidence is high or you have previous experience you could enrol onto acting improvers.</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
