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
- Improvisation workshop
Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mark PhoenixEnrich 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. - Using your voice for audio books and talking newspapersCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David ThorpeWould you like to narrate audio books? Are you interested in community work such as talking newspapers for the blind? Explore vocal skills and techniques required in these areas and identify what style works for you. This course will be delivered in the college.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00 - Ukulele 2Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jake RodriguesIf you have already begun your ukulele career, come and learn new songs and tricks, chord theory, picking and split strokes, and apply these to popular and vintage tunes. Enjoy learning and playing in a group. Classes will include singing along!Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00 - Screen acting: beginnersCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gary GrantBuild your confidence and strengthen your camera technique to create truthful ‘on screen’ performances in this practical course.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £299.00 Concession £209.00 - The art of negotiatingCourse start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gavin IllsleyNegotiation is a communication skill essential in solving problems and reaching your goals. Learn to prepare well and to feel confident using logical and emotional tools to achieve great outcomes. The course will be taught in the college.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £90.00 - Using your voice for audio books and talking newspapers: improversCourse start date: Mon 23 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David ThorpeWould you like to narrate audio books? Are you interested in community work such as talking newspapers for the blind? This Improvers' course will explore a variety of essential voice techniques such as engaging storytelling, clear and precise articulation and subject-appropriate intonation. Additionally the course looks at how to differentiate your reading styles between audio books and talking newspapers. - Screen acting: improversCourse start date: Mon 30 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gary GrantBuild your confidence and strengthen your camera technique in this improvers class. Work towards creating more truthful screen performances.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £299.00 Concession £209.00 - Storytelling (intensive)Course start date: Mon 7 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
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 confidence and experience in storytelling on this intensive summer course. - 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 - 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 - 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 - Violin and viola 3ACourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Robert PuzeyThis course is for players who have been learning violin/viola for two to three years (playing at Grade 2-3 standard), take the next step to learn vibrato, positions above 1st, and improved bow control. This course continues with Violin and viola 3B next term. Break week 20th October 2025.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Comedy improvisationCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mark PhoenixHave fun acting, with theatre games and character exercises. Build your confidence, meet new people while you will learn and practice the key techniques needed for performing improvised comedy scenes. - Piano/keyboards 3ACourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jonathan WilsonThis fourth year of our piano programme begins with repertoire of a grade 2 standard. Improve your hand co-ordination, musical phrasing, reading and finger technique, and improve your confidence.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - 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
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