Come together with others to explore the work of different playwrights, share the spoken word and gain insight into different plays. These fun and friendly sessions are for people who would like to read and discuss plays under the guidance of a theatre professional. Working in a supportive atmosphere you will read out loud and discuss the main themes of a range of both contemporary and classic texts.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
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These play reading sessions are an inspiring way to gain a deeper feel and understanding of texts that you may be familiar with or are exploring for the first time. Plays are meant to spoken aloud and not read by oneself and reading can be enormous fun and this is a great opportunity to bring the plays to life. The sessions will appeal to anyone with an interest in the theatre, reading for pleasure or simply wanting to meet other members of the City lit community. Any acting students will also benefit from these classes as it is a fabulous opportunity to enter and inhabit the world of the play. You will look at themes, stories, writing styles and the historical context of the plays in a positive and enjoyable atmosphere. We will explore two plays during the course.
What will we cover?
• Sessions will begin with a very gentle and relaxing vocal warm up • Reading of the texts • Group discussions on particular topics • Themes • Writing styles • Historical context.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Discuss the texts with confidence Specify the main themes, historical contexts and characteristics of the set texts Approach other play texts with greater confidence.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is open to all. The ability to listen and to learn from other students is important. In order to get the most from the course you will be able to: • Listen actively and communicate • Read and analyse scripts to find meaning and clarity.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Tutor instruction and explanation, group reading, discussion, question and answer. To get the most from the course, you will need to be able to: • listen actively and communicate clearly • give and receive constructive feedback.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will be able to access the plays via Nick Hern Books collection on DramaOnline via the City Lit library e-resources page. You can log in using your City Lit account. Further details will be posted in the Google Classroom. You may prefer to purchase your own hard copies.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Enrol onto the next Play-reading course where you will have the opportunity to explore further texts. You may also be interested in Reading English literature aloud, Speaking Shakepeare, Acting: theatre history, practical Acting classes, Voice classes such as Accents, Character voice, Audio books etc. Contact the Drama department for further advice.
Simon Bowen’s credits as a professional actor include appearances at The National Theatre, Hampstead Theatre and Bristol Old Vic, as well as dramas for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. He wrote ‘Free’ for the National Theatre, ‘From London With Love’ for BBC Radio 4, and ‘Whitebaby’ and ‘Waterloo’ for Paines Plough. He has also been a writer on attachment at Soho Theatre and the National Theatre Studio. Simon has directed plays and development workshops in a wide variety of settings including Soho Theatre, The Arcola, The Park Theatre, Theatre 503 and The Bunker Theatre. At City Lit, Simon currently teaches theatre-directing and play-reading.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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Working in a supportive atmosphere you will read out loud and discuss the main themes of a range of both contemporary and classic texts.003033997Play-reading179179https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/p/l/play-ready-drm140-_drm142-1024_24.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-11-03T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allNov 2026Performing artsDRM140179179Play-reading179125179Simon Bowenplay-reading/drm140-2627Come together with others to explore the work of different playwrights, share the spoken word and gain insight into different plays. These fun and friendly sessions are for people who would like to read and discuss plays under the guidance of a theatre professional. Working in a supportive atmosphere you will read out loud and discuss the main themes of a range of both contemporary and classic texts.0000-Available|2026-11-03 00:00:00These play reading sessions are an inspiring way to gain a deeper feel and understanding of texts that you may be familiar with or are exploring for the first time. Plays are meant to spoken aloud and not read by oneself and reading can be enormous fun and this is a great opportunity to bring the plays to life. The sessions will appeal to anyone with an interest in the theatre, reading for pleasure or simply wanting to meet other members of the City lit community. Any acting students will also benefit from these classes as it is a fabulous opportunity to enter and inhabit the world of the play. You will look at themes, stories, writing styles and the historical context of the plays in a positive and enjoyable atmosphere. We will explore two plays during the course.Come together with others to explore the work of different playwrights, share the spoken word and gain insight into different plays. These fun and friendly sessions are for people who would like to read and discuss plays under the guidance of a theatre professional. Working in a supportive atmosphere you will read out loud and discuss the main themes of a range of both contemporary and classic texts.• Sessions will begin with a very gentle and relaxing vocal warm up<br>• Reading of the texts<br>• Group discussions on particular topics<br>• Themes<br>• Writing styles<br>• Historical context.Discuss the texts with confidence<br>Specify the main themes, historical contexts and characteristics of the set texts<br>Approach other play texts with greater confidence.This course is open to all. The ability to listen and to learn from other students is important. In order to get the most from the course you will be able to:<br> • Listen actively and communicate<br> • Read and analyse scripts to find meaning and clarity.Tutor instruction and explanation, group reading, discussion, question and answer. To get the most from the course, you will need to be able to: <br> • listen actively and communicate clearly<br> • give and receive constructive feedback.You will be able to access the plays via Nick Hern Books collection on DramaOnline via the City Lit library e-resources page. You can log in using your City Lit account. Further details will be posted in the Google Classroom. You may prefer to purchase your own hard copies.Enrol onto the next Play-reading course where you will have the opportunity to explore further texts. You may also be interested in Reading English literature aloud, Speaking Shakepeare, Acting: theatre history, practical Acting classes, Voice classes such as Accents, Character voice, Audio books etc. Contact the Drama department for further advice.Acting and theatreActingvirtual179179125DRM140NONETue03/11/26 - 08/12/2614:30 - 16:3014:3016:306 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetSimon BowenBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-11-03T00:00:00+00:00Nov 2026Performing arts179179Play-readingplay-reading/drm140-2627Come together with others to explore the work of different playwrights, share the spoken word and gain insight into different plays. These fun and friendly sessions are for people who would like to read and discuss plays under the guidance of a theatre professional. Working in a supportive atmosphere you will read out loud and discuss the main themes of a range of both contemporary and classic texts.0000-Available|2026-11-03 00:00:00These play reading sessions are an inspiring way to gain a deeper feel and understanding of texts that you may be familiar with or are exploring for the first time. Plays are meant to spoken aloud and not read by oneself and reading can be enormous fun and this is a great opportunity to bring the plays to life. The sessions will appeal to anyone with an interest in the theatre, reading for pleasure or simply wanting to meet other members of the City lit community. Any acting students will also benefit from these classes as it is a fabulous opportunity to enter and inhabit the world of the play. You will look at themes, stories, writing styles and the historical context of the plays in a positive and enjoyable atmosphere. We will explore two plays during the course.Come together with others to explore the work of different playwrights, share the spoken word and gain insight into different plays. These fun and friendly sessions are for people who would like to read and discuss plays under the guidance of a theatre professional. Working in a supportive atmosphere you will read out loud and discuss the main themes of a range of both contemporary and classic texts.• Sessions will begin with a very gentle and relaxing vocal warm up<br>• Reading of the texts<br>• Group discussions on particular topics<br>• Themes<br>• Writing styles<br>• Historical context.Discuss the texts with confidence<br>Specify the main themes, historical contexts and characteristics of the set texts<br>Approach other play texts with greater confidence.This course is open to all. The ability to listen and to learn from other students is important. In order to get the most from the course you will be able to:<br> • Listen actively and communicate<br> • Read and analyse scripts to find meaning and clarity.Tutor instruction and explanation, group reading, discussion, question and answer. To get the most from the course, you will need to be able to: <br> • listen actively and communicate clearly<br> • give and receive constructive feedback.You will be able to access the plays via Nick Hern Books collection on DramaOnline via the City Lit library e-resources page. You can log in using your City Lit account. Further details will be posted in the Google Classroom. You may prefer to purchase your own hard copies.Enrol onto the next Play-reading course where you will have the opportunity to explore further texts. You may also be interested in Reading English literature aloud, Speaking Shakepeare, Acting: theatre history, practical Acting classes, Voice classes such as Accents, Character voice, Audio books etc. Contact the Drama department for further advice.Acting and theatreActingconfigurable
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