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
- Acting: scenework
Course start date: Thu 22 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura BaggaleyContinue your development as you explore a range of acting exercises that will illuminate and bring to life a variety of scripts and scenes. Consolidate skills and techniques, and deepen your understanding in a safe and supportive atmosphere. We will focus on ensemble and group scenes this term.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00 - Improve your speaking voiceCourse start date: Thu 15 May 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lloyd WyldeCome and improve your vocal skills through voice production and speech exercises. Learn about self presentation, develop spontaneity and gain greater confidence in your communication skills. This is a practical course based in the college.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £104.00 - Acting for radio: Theatre CompanyCourse start date: Thu 19 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David GoodersonBecome part of a radio repertory company and take part in creating and recording for broadcast a performance of a radio play. This term the play will be You Never Can Tell by George Bernard Shaw. This advanced course is for those with previous experience in acting and radio, either through courses or industry. Please click on Start Your Interview to apply; the Drama Department will contact you to progress your application.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Narration for podcast and documentaryCourse start date: Thu 26 Jun 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David SpencerA fun and intensive course about the incredible world of narration. This enormous and lucrative area of the voiceover world includes podcasts, e-learning, documentaries, audio books, medical/technical narration, explainer videos and more. You’ll learn how to deliver great reads from the inside out. It’s not just about the sound of your voice! The course will be delivered in the media studio.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Acting: improvers Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean CroftContinue your development as you explore a range of exercises and acting techniques that will illuminate and enliven a variety of scripts and scenes. Consolidate techniques and deepen your understanding in a safe and supportive atmosphere.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00 - Music, sound, and the moving image Course start date: Thu 17 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckThis course explores key ideas about music for the screen, covering a broad range of examples, techniques, and ideas.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £62.00 - Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular musicCourse start date: Sat 19 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David HarrisonStudy how to improvise in popular music. These two practical sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonics, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Sing musical theatre workshop Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katherine StrohmaierThis popular course explores musical theatre singing. Grow your knowledge of the repertoire. Suitable for singers and actors wanting to improve their singing and acting through song technique. Be guided through the basics to find the right singing qualities for this repertoire.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £299.00 Concession £209.00 - Great composers: Louise Farrenc Course start date: Thu 24 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Trish ShawDiscover the musical life and work of Louise Farrenc (1804–1875), the celebrated French pianist, composer, teacher and scholar. Learn about her delightful chamber music, her important piano etudes, and her impact on French music and culture in the 19th century.Full fee £39.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £39.00 - Opera appreciation: an introductionCourse start date: Thu 24 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneWhat is opera? And how do you approach watching and listening to it? Explore the ostentatious, sometimes overwhelming, world of opera through study of two major works and styles.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00 - Piano: advanced performance workshop Course start date: Thu 31 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Maria RazumovskayaWelcome to the Summer School edition of Piano: advanced performance workshop! The advanced performance workshop is for pianists playing at Grade 8 standard and above, comprising two three-hour sessions. This insightful class will address issues of interpretation and style as well as dealing with aspects of technique and performance practice.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £99.00 - Tap dance: improversCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jacqueline PertPractice and improve your basic Tap skills and increase your vocabulary of steps and sequences. Gain a greater understanding of rhythm, tempo and syncopation. Suitable for students of all ages with good general fitness. Tap shoes are essential.Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £132.00 - Piano/keyboards 4ACourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonFor pianists with around three years' experience. Improve your finger technique, coordination, phrasing, music
reading, and your confidence.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - Piano: workshop 8 Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gisela MeyerIf you play piano at around grade 8 standard, join one of these workshops to develop your playing by studying a wide repertoire, learning to make your own stylistic and interpretive decision under your tutor's guidance. Break week 28th October 2024. - Piano: advanced workshop Course start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Petros MoschosCity Lit's most advanced, regular classes are for advanced pianists, whether performers or specialist teachers. This course is designed to continue to develop your technique, broaden your repertoire and increase your understanding of piano playing to the highest level.
Entry to this course is subject to audition with the Head of piano. If you are interested in joining this class, please apply using the pink button; someone will be in touch with you to arrange an audition.
Break week 29th October 2025.Full fee £379.00 Senior fee £379.00 Concession £265.00
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