Acting and theatre

Acting & Theatre Courses & Classes in London and Online

We offer a vibrant, vigorous, creative choice of full, part-time and short acting and theatre courses and classes that reach to all adults whatever their background, age and aspiration - from acting to technical production, musical theatre to stage combat and much more. Many of our drama tutors are professional practitioners, offering inspiration to students at all levels, from beginners to professional performers.

Hear from Jacqueline Quinn who has studied on several acting courses at City Lit and find out more about her experiences of acting, training and performing.

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

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  1. Lecoq technique: an introduction (level 1)
    Last Few Places, Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 23 Sep 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sean Croft
    Jacques Lecoq’s style of theatre training is in the body, it involves exploration of ourselves and the world we live in with a sense of curious play. Lecoq revolutionised the format of theatre craft and his style and techniques are recognised as essential tools to any professional working actor, in its most basic or grandest of themes. It is a style that hugs you warmly and sticks with you, adaptable and diverse.



    The Lecoq technique is about the performers engagement, listening physically and their connection in the space, working together as an ensemble, devising your own work and finding new ways to do it are essential.
    Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £71.00
  2. Acting: beginners
    Last Few Places, Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 24 Sep 2023 (and 11 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  James Jarrett
    Explore 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 creative environment.
    Full fee £199.00
    Rating:
    95% of 100
  3. Acting Shakespeare
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 4 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Robert Cavanah
    Rehearse scenes and speeches from various Shakespeare's plays. Create vivid performances that are both true to life and true to Shakespeare’s language.
    Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £90.00
  4. Foundation in Drama (Certificate Level 2)
    Course start date:  Fri 6 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Laura Baggaley, Vernon Thompson, Martin Wimpress
    Do you want to be an actor but find it hard to fit the training around your other commitments? This intensive and practical accredited course, running one full day each week, provides classes in the core disciplines of acting, voice and movement, and culminates in a showing of contemporary scenework to an invited audience. Successful candidates achieve the Level 2 Certificate in Performing Arts awarded by OCN London.
    Full fee £1,249.00 Senior fee £1,249.00 Concession £1,249.00
  5. Mask technique and performance (level 2)
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 8 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sean Croft
    A creative, high energy and inspiring workshop in mask characterisation and mask physicality. If you are interested in learning about performing in full mask this one day workshop will introduce techniques helping to build confidence and understanding of mask performance. Masks provided.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £41.00
  6. Comedy writing and performing: taster
    Last Few Places, Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 10 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Kean Street Wellbeing Centre

    Tutors:  Alan Nixon
    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 £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00
  7. Acting for fun
    Last Few Places
    Course start date:  Fri 13 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Laura Baggaley
    An acting class purely for the joy of it! This course is suitable for complete beginners, those with a little experience, and anyone wanting to enjoy acting exercises and scenes in a relaxed, low-pressure environment. Gain confidence, make friends, develop new skills and have fun.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £0.00
    Rating:
    97% of 100
  8. Stage management and technical theatre production
    Course start date:  Sun 22 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lucy Ellis
    Please note that applications for this course have now closed. This course is designed for students who have an interest in learning stage management and technical theatre skills. It provides an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience in our in-house theatre, supporting the CL Theatre Company's production of After Life by Jack Thorne, directed by Vernon Thompson. Suitable for beginners or those with previous experience.



    Overall course dates: 22nd October to 9th December (which includes production week)



    Session times: Four full Sundays 10:30- 17:30 (times alter depending on which Sunday) and five Fridays 18:15 - 21:15.



    Every week night in Production Week.



    Please see the full list of course dates below.







    DRA142 City Lit Theatre Company course outline on our website.
    Full fee £239.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
  9. Acting for wellbeing
    Course start date:  Tue 24 Oct 2023 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Juliet Prague
    Increase your physical and emotional wellbeing through playful and fun acting exercises. Connect, take notice, be active, learn new skills, become more present and engaged with others using tools drawn from actor training.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00
  10. Comedy: writing for radio, online and podcast
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 24 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Kean Street Wellbeing Centre

    Tutors:  Alan Nixon
    There’s an explosion in sound comedy from internet stations to multiple podcasts. Multi - award winning radio producer,Alan Nixon, demonstrates the skills behind creating comedy through sound, using classic and modern techniques. You will identify how to perform & create your comedy.
    Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £129.00
  11. Play-reading
    Course start date:  Wed 25 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Simon Bowen
    Come together with others to explore the work of different playwrights, share the spoken word and gain insight into different plays. These fun and friendly sessions are for people who would like to read and discuss plays under the guidance of a theatre professional. Working in a supportive atmosphere you will read out loud and discuss the main themes of a range of both contemporary and classic texts.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00
    Rating:
    95% of 100
  12. Acting: scenework
    Evening
    Course start date:  Fri 27 Oct 2023 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lawrence Lambert
    Consolidate your techniques as you rehearse and perform in a duologue and/or a monologue from a published play text in this intensive practical course.
    Full fee £169.00
  13. Movement for actors
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 28 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sean Croft
    An actors most important tool is their body!



    Having an awareness of space and presence and utilising the body to help carve engaging, full-born characters is vital in theatre, whether this be during improvisation, delivering a monologue or throughout the process of a performance. It's important to have the tools to do this!



    This course aims to give every member an introductory “toolkit” you can take away with you, freeing your body, exploring character technique, enhancing your improvisational and performance intuition and becoming confident in your craft.
    Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £71.00
    Rating:
    97% of 100
  14. City Lit Theatre Company
    Course start date:  Mon 30 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Vernon Thompson
    A wonderful opportunity to be part of a theatre company working alongside an experienced professional director and a team of techical theatre students to stage a play from scratch in six weeks. Use your previous practical training in acting in the context of the performance of a full production in the John Lyons Theatre at City Lit, giving four public performances. PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS PLAY.







    Please make sure you read the details below which gives days and times of rehearsals and performance week.



    This term, the play is After Life by Jack Thorne, directed by Vernon Thompson



    Auditions will take place on Sunday 15th October.
    Full fee £329.00 Senior fee £329.00 Concession £329.00
  15. Improvisation
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 30 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Mark Phoenix
    Enrich and develop your skills in this improvisation course. Working in a safe and supportive atmosphere, you will learn and practice the key techniques needed for performing effective improvisations.
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £84.00
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