An Introduction to Acting

This course covers voice, body, character and text analysis. The majority of the course will consist of practical exercises interspersed with group discussions, individual feedback and plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

You will also work on scenes from a contemporary play, learn about the essential tools of script analysis and develop an understanding of the actor’s process.

Who is this course for?

This course is for anyone with an interest in acting, performing or theatre.

You will learn

  • An understanding of basic vocal and movement techniques
  • The essential tools of script analysis for actors
  • An understanding of character transformation
  • An understanding of the actor’s process.

Meet the Tutor

Helen Tennison

An Edinburgh Fringe First Winner 2019, Helen’s directing spans new writing, classics, site-specific theatre, devised physical theatre and circus. Her directing experience includes the Arcola Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, Dubrovnik’s Midsummer Scene and Creation Theatre. In 2020, Helen will be directing for Vienna’s English Theatre and returning to her post as Artist in Residence at the University of South Florida. A former Artistic Director of the two-year Acting course at Drama Studio London, Helen has taught for The Old Vic, The Actors Centre and numerous other drama schools. She now runs professional development workshops for Theatre Foundry.

Learn more

Session by Session

Session 1 - Thursday 7 November
Introduction to basic acting techniques

Physical and vocal warm-ups, creating an ensemble, listening and presence in performance.

Session 2 - Thursday 14 November
Introduction to text

Working with a contemporary play, reading scenes and applying Stanislavski’s units, objectives and given circumstances.

Session 3 - Thursday 21 November
Character and physical theatre

Working with Jacques Lecoq’s States of Tension to create bold character transformations.

Session 4 - Thursday 28 November
The body in space

A sequence of exercises moving from a focus on the individual body, through ensemble work into group staging that relates to the world of the given text.

Session 5 - Thursday 5 December
The voice in performance

Vocal exercises for breathing, diction, projection and modulation, all applied to script work and performance.

Session 6 - Thursday 12 December
Rehearsal to performance

Bringing all the work together to rehearse scenes and present them to fellow class members.

NB The above outline is intended to give a good indication of what material students can expect to cover during the course, but the exact content of the course may differ.

Need to Know

Metadata

Time
18:30 - 20:30
Day
Thursdays
Duration
120
Tutor
Helen Tennison
No. of Sessions
6
Course Code
PA20106

Dates and Times

An Introduction to Acting

– , 8:05 - 10:05

This course has already started and can no longer take further bookings. If you would like to hear what’s happening at Bishopsgate Institute join our mailing list

An Introduction to Acting

–

Bishopsgate Choir

–

Visit the Library

Free

Weekdays 10:00-17:30