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
- Voiceovers: beginners
Course start date: Fri 2 May 2025 (and 4 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John EastmanIn this highly popular course you will begin to explore ‘on mic’ the skills and techniques required across a range of audio/voiceover situations. The course will be delivered in our media studio.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £299.00 Concession £209.00 - Stanislavski: beginners Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Juliet PragueDiscover the system of realistic acting that most professional actors use today — the approach to training, characterisation and rehearsal technique developed by the legendary Konstantin Stanislavski. - Accents: North American standard and regionalCourse start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Deirdre Strath ClydeHow to speak with confidence and authenticity in a North American or Broadcast Standard accent as well as a couple of regional American accents as time permits; ideal for actors who wish to expand their armoury of accents. This course will be taught in the college.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £118.00 - Reading English literature aloud: early 20th centuryCourse start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vernon ThompsonCome and enjoy reading aloud passages from novels by early 20th century writers in our Wednesday reading group. Set texts will be A Handful of Dust- Evelyn Waugh, and The Birds and Other Stories- Daphne du Maurier. This unique course contains vocal warm-ups; discussion of novels, weekly prepared readings and sight reading skills. - Debating: beginnersCourse start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gavin IllsleyDebating requires the ability to speak English persuasively in public and, crucially, to respond rapidly to other people’s objections to what you say. We will cover the theory and practice of debating, and you will progress quickly in areas of content, strategy and style. A great mental workout.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £90.00 - Classical guitar 1ACourse start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tony RowdenEnjoy learning to play guitar in the classical style, and read notation, in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. This study requires you to use a nylon strung guitar.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Cello 1ACourse start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Learn the basics of playing this warm and mellow instrument in a friendly environment, using a range of fun music. For complete beginners. Continues to Cello 1B next term. Break week 29th of October 2025.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Radio and podcast presenting: beginnersCourse start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David SpencerWhat makes a good radio presenter and podcast broadcaster? From getting the script off the page and ad-libbing to music presenting and news reading, develop your own on-air identity, working as live ‘on mic’ each week. This course will be delivered in the media studio.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £174.00 - Voice technique: beginnersCourse start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate MontagueImprove the quality and clarity of your voice through posture, breath capacity and control, articulation, forward placement and pitch. For anyone who wants to make the most of their voice. This course will be taught in the college.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £125.00 - Singing 1 (contemporary)Course start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Colette MeuryStart singing and explore your voice in this confidence-building course. These live group sessions online will teach you about healthy use of your singing voice and musicianship through a selection of songs in pop, rock and jazz styles. Attention is given to vocal technique and breathing technique. - Harmonica: Blues, pop and countryCourse start date: Fri 19 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jake RodriguesLearn essential harmonica riffs and techniques on this lively course. Build musical skills and confidence in playing and improvising on popular music. This course is for players who have begun to learn the instrument, not for absolute beginners.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Folk and pop guitar 1ACourse start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tony RowdenLearn about tuning your instrument, strumming and picking, simple chords for pop songs, scales and chord symbols on this beginners' course. Any acoustic guitar will be suitable for class.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Exploring classical music 2Course start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckDo you want to know more about classical music history? Explore selected topics and key works in Baroque, Classical and early Romantic music on this highly informative 10-week course. Ideal for people with no specialist knowledge. Break week: 30 Oct 2025.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - Exploring classical music 4Course start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckThis course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. **Break week: 30th Oct 2025.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Stand-up comedy: beginners Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Kean Street Wellbeing Centre
Tutors: Robert HitchmoughExplore the main skills you need to write and perform stand-up comedy. This course is suitable for complete beginners.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £174.00
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