Performing Arts Courses & Classes in London and Online
City Lit offers performing arts courses in the heart of Covent Garden in Central London during the evening, daytime and at weekends. Explore our range of subjects including acting, (including accredited acting courses), dance, radio and screen, and voice, speech and communication as well as a full range of music courses, such as piano, singing, strings and wind instruments to jazz and pop, music technology, music theory and history
Our courses are labelled clearly for beginners or those with previous experience and you can speak to a specialist advisor to help you choose the right level. If you would you like some help or advice:
For music courses email music@citylit.ac.uk. You can also view our music auditions and advice page.
For drama, dance and speech courses email drama@citylit.ac.uk
339 courses available
City Lit gift vouchers - the perfect giftLooking for that perfect present? Treat someone to the gift of learning with a course at City Lit. Available from £10, our gift vouchers can be used to book a place on any of our courses, from London walks and food tasting to museum visits, poetry and much more. Simply purchase your voucher and the recipient can choose from thousands of courses, at a time which suits them.Full fee £10.00- Drumming with congas
A taster course suitable for this with little or no experience. This course explores the conga drum.
Keeley Street
Thu 8 Oct 2026Vee OkaforFull fee £10.00 Senior fee £10.00 Concession £10.00 - Afrocentric drumming
Explore and indulge your enthusiasm for drumming with African rhythms and their variations. Improve your individual and group playing skills and learn how to apply a variety of percussive instruments to any musical style.
Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £179.00 - Piano: return to playing
Did you once play the piano? Are you thinking of returning to playing? This short course, taught in a friendly and supportive environment, will help you refresh your skills and re-kindle your passion for piano!
Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £174.00 - Transcribe jazz solos
A study and sharing group for experienced jazz players with a good working knowledge of harmony and experience of improvising. We will focus on in-depth listening and transcription of recorded examples by jazz musicians. Sessions will include demonstration and performance opportunities. The class will meet at college on the following Sundays: October 11th, November 8th, December 6th, January 10th, February 14th, March 14th.
Keeley Street
Sun 11 Oct 2026Tim RichardsFull fee £299.00 Senior fee £299.00 Concession £209.00 - Comedy writing and performing
Explore your comedy writing and performance potential under the guidance of an Emmy-award winning comedy producer/director. Alan Nixon shares the skills behind creating powerful comedy using classic and modern techniques.
Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Acting for funAn acting class purely for the joy of it! This course is suitable for complete beginners and those with a little experience. Enjoy acting exercises and scenes, gain confidence, make friends, and develop new skills in a fun environment.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £125.00
- Presenting to camera: introduction
If you need to present to camera for business, vlogging or broadcasting, this introductory course covers how to present from home, office or TV studio. You will work with a BBC TV director with over 25 years of experience directing mainstream programmes who has extensive experience training people to present to camera in a wide variety of genres, including those who have set up their own YouTube channels.
Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £125.00 - Screen acting: auditioning and self-taping for TV and filmExpert advice and guidance on how to prepare for auditions. This practical course covering techniques and tips on how to prepare for auditions with opportunity to practice in putting those into action.Full fee £349.00 Senior fee £349.00 Concession £244.00
- City Lit Theatre Company: Cinderella
A wonderful opportunity to be part of a theatre company working with an experienced professional director to stage a full production of the pantomime Cinderella in the John Lyons Theatre. Please check all days and times below to ensure you are available for the whole course.
Keeley Street
Mon 26 Oct 2026Vernon ThompsonFull fee £399.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £399.00 - Radio and podcast presenting: beginners (online)
What makes a good radio presenter? From ad-libbing to reading scripts (including your own if you want) to interviewing and reading the news. This course will help you develop a skillset for presenting, whether it’s radio broadcasting or online podcasting. The course is supported by a media technician who will edit student recordings from each session. It is suitable for anyone wanting to kick-start a podcast or radio career, enhance presenting or performance skills or if you’re just looking to improve general confidence at the mic.
Online
Mon 26 Oct 2026Allis MossFull fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Accents: Standard EnglishDo you feel stuck in a regional or international accent? Would you like to learn how to speak Standard English? This course is not for speakers of other languages who should take English Pronunciation courses instead.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00
- Acting: beginnersExplore the fundamentals of acting on this practical course, designed for people with little or no experience of acting. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00
- The Beatles: a history through their music
The Beatles are the most culturally significant and popular pop band in history. Through analysis of their music and a history of the 1960s we will see how four lads from Liverpool came to define the sound of a decade.
Keeley Street
Tue 27 Oct 2026David HarrisonFull fee £109.00 Senior fee £87.00 Concession £76.00 - Introduction to acting
A fun encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.
Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £90.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Choosing a course
Useful links: Music
Course guides
Featured courses