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
- Drama therapy: intermediateCourse start date: Sat 10 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dan SkiliInvestigate the role and function of drama therapy as a working model on this interactive course. Looking at a range of drama tools that can be used in therapeutic settings, you will explore aspects of Playback Theatre and Forum Theatre as methods for engaging with others. Fun, insightful and packed with tools you can use, this is a great introduction to applying theatrical processes to therapy.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Storytelling: tell your personal storyCourse start date: Sun 11 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John EastmanTell your own personal story to others, and in so doing gain some perspective on how past events have shaped your life and how they will affect your future, while at the same time inspiring and informing others about life choices. The course will take place in a safe environment in the college.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Core energeticsCourse start date: Sun 11 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate MontagueCore Energetics is a body-mind practice designed to enhance your self-awareness, aliveness, creativity and focus, and a means to opening up physically, helping you to become aware of your energy flow.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £48.00 - Shakespeare and the bodyCourse start date: Sun 11 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean CroftUnlock Shakespeares hidden physical language through the work of Lecoq, Meisner, Michel Chekhov and Grotowski as we discover a deeper, more physically rooted and emotionally driven connection with Shakespeares work. No experience is needed for this short intensive course however an openness to explore and to develop text and physical performance simultaneously is necessary.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Acting for radio and podcast dramas: advanced workshopCourse start date: Sun 11 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David GoodersonFine-tune your audio skills by performing in a BBC radio drama on this weekend workshop in the media studio. For those with lots of previous experience, either through courses or industry. - Jazz vocal samba and bossa novaCourse start date: Sat 24 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Clare FosterFor vocalists with a sound technique and experience of singing jazz standards who have an interest in Brazilian music.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Mask technique and the physical body (level 1)Course start date: Sun 1 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean CroftThis playful and creative mask course, suitable for students at any level, introduces you to the mask. You will be carefully guided to explore the principals and techniques required to bring a character to life, to create speech with the body and without the voice. Masks will be provided but why not bring along some different style outfits and a variety of hats with you, then you’ll have more to play with on the day.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £48.00 - 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 - Afrocentric drummingCourse start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul ChiversExplore your enthusiasm for drumming with African rhythms and their variations. Develop individual and group playing skills and learn how to apply a variety of percussive instruments to any musical style or setting.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £99.00 - Character voices (intensive)Course start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah English, Bryan RomaineCharacter voices aren’t just for cartoons. Learn the tools and techniques you need to create new and unique character voices or to accurately imitate a historical or contemporary voice for animation, stage and screen. This course will be delivered in the media studio.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £125.00 - Charleston: general levelCourse start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosaria SativaThe Charleston is a fun, easy and uplifting dance and this solo dancing course will have you moving with speed, vitality, and expression. With toe tapping Jazz music from the 1920s and beyond you will learn original Charleston dance steps and moves, improve your musicality and improvisation. A great way to get fit whilst learning a unique and impressive new skill.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Contemporary African danceCourse start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Francis AngolA dynamic and vibrant class that combines West African dance and music with some Contemporary dance influences. The movements, energy and music will leave you energised and rejuvenated.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Drama therapyCourse start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dan SkiliInvestigate the role and function of Dramatherapy as a working model on this introductory course. Looking at a range of drama tools that can be used in therapeutic settings, you will develop some of the essential skills and use a range of methods to engage with others. Fun and insightful and packed with tools you can use, this is a great introduction to applying theatrical processes to therapy.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Acting Shakespeare (intensive)Course start date: Sun 29 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura BaggaleyA one-day workshop exploring scenes from two Shakespeare comedies, Twelfth Night and Two Gentlemen of Verona. Broaden and develop your acting skills in an intensive encounter with Shakespeare! - Narration for podcast and documentary (intensive)Course start date: Sat 5 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David SpencerA fun and intensive workshop all 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!Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00
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