Actors Training Studio

Play in a Day

Play in a Weekend
The Rep Experience
Semi-Staged Playreadings

Play Soirées

Actors Training Studio
play rehearsal workshops have been set up as a low-cost further training resource for actors.

With the UK regional repertory system seemingly in terminal decline, precious few opportunities exist for actors to gain practical experience of working on plays after leaving drama school.

Actors Training Studio’s innovative workshops offer actors a space in which to rehearse plays either with a director or in an actor-led rehearsal process emulating old-style rep.

We believe there is no better way for an actor to continue their professional development than through practical rehearsal of some of the famous roles in world theatre.

Practical work on selected scenes in the morning with a director, followed by a run of the complete play in the afternoon, script-in-hand.

An actor-led rehearsal process of a complete play, working towards a studio performance using minimal costume, furniture and props.

Work with a director, exploring selected scenes of one play, concluding with a final full run of the play, script-in-hand.

A spontaneous, script-in-hand playreading of a complete play, using simple props and furniture. A social get-together, with glass of wine and nibbles in the break and actor’s ‘pitch’.

The Rep Experience as above, culminating in a semi-staged script-in-hand playreading in front of an audience, using minimal costume, furniture, props and basic lighting.

Play Workshops

Play Soirées are also social occasions, with a free glass of wine and nibbles in the break, and a brief networking slot.

Networking ‘Pitch’
During the break, each actor is given 1 minute in which to introduce themselves, publicise upcoming shows or solicit help on a special project.

Play Soirées are first and foremost an opportunity for actors to practise their craft.

A spontaneous, script-in-hand run of a whole play, using simple staging & props, over one sociable evening!

Upcoming Play Soirées

Times: Evenings 6.30-10.30pm
Cost: £15 including wine & nibbles

Taster Session - £12

Work on selected scenes with a director, followed by a spontaneous, script-in-hand run of the whole play using simple staging.

Working in small groups, we will explore a variety of scenes from one of the great plays, using a variety of rehearsal techniques, under the guidance of a director.

In the afternoon, the director will co-ordinate a run of the whole play, guiding the blocking and offering general notes, with actors given the practical freedom to make their own creative choices

Play in a Day projects

Times: 10am - 5pm
Cost: £20 - £35 per day
(depending on director)

Using a range of rehearsal techniques, work with a director on selected scenes, culminating in a studio presentation of the whole play, script-in-hand.

Working with a director, explore a whole play over one weekend using a range of rehearsal techniques, from text analysis and character work, vocal and period style, physical theatre skills, improvisation on the text, theatre games, and scene rehearsal.

Projects include classical theatre, from the Greeks to Restoration, modern European theatre and contemporary plays up to the present day.

Play in a Weekend projects

Times: Saturday / Sunday 10am-5pm
Cost: £40 - £80 for the weekend
(depending on director)

In an echo of traditional weekly rep, which puts the actor at the heart of the experience, a whole play is rehearsed in a series of runs (script-in-hand)

Under the old-style rep system, directors (or, more accurately, producers) were relatively hands-off, guiding the staging and blocking and giving brief notes, but essentially leaving creative decisions to the performers.

Our‘Rep Experience’ workshops give actors a space in which to practise their craft without undue directorial intervention.

In this actor-led process, there are no table discussions. Actors are given the freedom to build their own characters, make bold choices, play against type, outside their age range, try new accents and experiment with style.

Rep Experience projects

Times: 10am-5pm
Cost: £20 - £30 (1 day) / £40 - 80 (weekend)
(depending on directors- see specific workshops)

Script-in-hand, rehearsed playreadings of great plays in front of an invited audience.

In this old-style process, there are no table discussions. Actors are given the freedom to bring their own talent and experience to creating characters. Directors oversee basic stagecraft, blocking and use of props, while performance decisions are left entirely to the actors, apart from brief notes following runs, in a reprise of traditional weekly-rep.

Plays are rehearsed in the actor-led ‘REP EXPERIENCE’ format.

Participation
Only actors who have already participated in a Play in a Weekend or Rep Experience workshop can apply to take part.

Upcoming Playreadings

Saturday/Sunday: 10am-5pm + Sunday evening
Cost: £40 - £80 (depending on directors)
- see specific workshops

Plays will sometimes be through-cast, sometimes divided between actors and actors may get to play multiple roles.

Scripts are emailed in advance in PDF format so that actors can gain a good working knowledge of the play beforehand. Printed scripts are provided on the day.

Exploring Plays Workshops

A range of practitioners, including London fringe theatre directors and occasional regional directors, are invited to lead play rehearsal projects.

The number of participants for any particular project is dependent upon the play length, the number of characters and size of roles. Play workshops will average 8-10 actors and rarely exceed 12.

Actors who have trained at non-accredited drama schools, taken miscellaneous acting workshops or are experienced amateur actors, who are interested in participating in a play workshop, may email us to request an auditioin for the Exploring Plays Workshops.
(No charge is made for auditions)

Bookings are processed strictly in order of application. All workshop places must be paid for in advance.

Cancellatons

If work clashes subsequently prevent your attendance, credits may be offered or actors can arrange for another actor to take their place.

www.actorstrainingstudio.co.uk

Please email your CV or Spotlight or other Casting page link or call us on 07710 172477.

Professional actors
Drama UK accredited graduates

Exploring Plays Workshops

Work with a range of practitioners,
including young upcoming directors

Rehearse famous roles & build your CV

Release your creativity and be inventive
in a safe, experimental rehearsal space!
Extend your range working on
characters against type or
outside your usual playing age,
or try out new accents & dialects

Become a confident sight-reader

Develop a knowledge of theatrical style

Discover great new audition speeches

Ambitious actors understand the importance of keeping the acting muscles supple through practice - developing technical skills, expanding character range, extending emotional range.

We believe there is no better way for an actor to continue professional development than through
practical rehearsal of some of the famous roles in world theatre.

Actors Training Studio