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 for radio and podcast dramas: improversCourse start date: Wed 11 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David GoodersonExplore microphone techniques and demands across different areas of acting work in radio and podcast dramas. For those who have completed a beginners’ course or have previous relevant industry experience. This course will be delivered in the media studio.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £174.00 - Use your voice assertivelyCourse start date: Tue 8 Jul 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lloyd WyldeDo you want to sound more confident, grounded, self-assured and assertive? Improve your vocal skills through a series of exercises that will support you to become more vocally confident, expressive and dynamic without appearing arrogant.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £125.00 - Exploring classical music 1Course start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Edward BreenDo you want to know more about Western classical music? Explore selected topics and key works in Medieval to (early) Baroque music on this informative 10-week course. Ideal for people with no specialist knowledge. NB: Break week: 19 Feb 2026.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Voiceovers: beginners
Course start date: Tue 13 Jan 2026 (and 4 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John EastmanExplore ‘on mic’ the skills and techniques required across a range of audio/voiceover situations, from radio commercials to talking books and beyond. This course will be delivered in our media studio
Full fee £319.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £223.00 - Debating: beginnersCourse start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026 (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. This course will be taught in the college.
Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £97.00 - Voice technique: beginnersCourse start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026 (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 £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £132.00 - Exploring classical music 2Course start date: Mon 12 Jan 2026 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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: 16 Feb 2026.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - Storytelling for business and pleasure 1Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ariella EshedAll cultures respect the world of Story. The ability to tell Stories, in a variety of settings, is a skill that has seen a strong resurgence both in the workplace and in contemporary performance. Gain greater confidence in your communication skills and apply this to your wider experience. This course will be delivered in the college.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Accents: Standard EnglishCourse start date: Tue 28 Oct 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jonathan MulquinDo 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 £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £90.00 - The essential history of jazz in 20 cutsCourse start date: Mon 12 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Albi GravenerThrough a selection of 20 iconic albums, we will study the key figures, the innovators and the star soloists of 20th century jazz, as well as some important artists you might be less familiar with. Break week: 16 Feb 2026.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Michael Tippett: an introduction to his musicCourse start date: Tue 13 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katy HamiltonMichael Tippett was a British composer like no other, with interests in everything from Purcell and Beethoven to rock music and American spirituals. Come and discover the life and works of this unusual, brilliant, witty and beautiful musician.
Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £104.00 - Listening to the 20th century 2Course start date: Tue 13 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonUsing Alex Ross’s The Rest is Noise as a guide this course investigates art music in the second half of the twentieth century. This module covers the music of the Cold War culture wars, American experimental music, Minimalism and the use of technology. Break week: 17th February 2026.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Symphonies in productionCourse start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneStudy symphonies coming up in the 2026–27 season, we will discuss their composition, context and style, and then hear a selection ofmusical examples. NB Break week: 30 May 2027.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Beethoven's ViennaCourse start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katy HamiltonLudwig van Beethoven’s music has come to stand for the greatest and best-known aspects of the Western classical tradition. But who was he? And what exactly did he do? Come and discover more about this most famous Viennese composer.
Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Exploring classical music 3Course start date: Thu 15 Jan 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckDo you want to know more about Western classical music? Explore selected topics and key works in Romantic and modern music on this informative 10-week course. Ideal for people with no specialist knowledge. NB: Break week 19 Feb 2026.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00
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