Our Improvisation Classes - An Introduction is a fun and super social way to spend the day.

Through a series of games and short-form improv exercises geared to spark your imagination. You’ll work on the techniques needed to explore playfulness and improvise your heart out in a supportive and open environment.

Learn to listen with intent, be a great storyteller and react to others impulsively, creating great improvised scenes.

You don’t need any previous experience in acting or performing. This improv class will get your imagination and creativity into full swing. Come to build confidence, have fun and improve your communication skills.

The progression forward from this course is: Improvisation - Level 1

Exploring a range of comic concepts, techniques and strategies, Our Comedy Acting Classes - Level 1 will see you create solo and ensemble comedy performances in a fun and supportive environment. This course is open to everyone, but if you are new to comedy acting, we recommend completing our one day comedy acting course first.

Throughout the course you will learn to create a stronger comedy connection with the audience, and you will look at heightened response, timely reactions and effective listening.

You will also be working with a variety of comedy scripts and scenarios, which you will bring to life. There will be an opportunity for some solo work, looking at comic monologues. As part of this you will develop your own comedy character, through improvisation and play.

COMEDY ACTING CLASSES - LEVEL 1 COURSE CONTENT
Over the duration of the course you will:

- Find the truth in comedy characters and situations
- Learn to channel nerves in a positive way
- Explore the ‘Rule of Three’ in physical comedy and text
- Learn the importance of rhythm in text
- Investigate and nurture the characteristics that make you funny
- Explore behaviour and characteristics of key comedy character archetypes
- Develop more freedom in your body, voice, movement and gesture
- Work on scenes and scenarios in physical comedy, sitcom and sketch
- Rehearse and perform a solo comedy performance in front of others

The Comedy Acting - An Introduction offers a practical introduction to comedy acting in a fun and supportive atmosphere.

From sitcoms to improvisation, from silent comedy to farce, the skills learned on this course are applicable to every comedy moment.

You will explore a range of comic concepts, techniques and strategies for creating solo and ensemble comedy performance. Students will looks at spontaneity, timing, physicality and keeping a straight face!

Explore what makes comedy work and how to overcome performance nerves, gain an understanding of how comedy acting differs to ‘Stand Up’ and Drama. Learn what makes you funny and begin to find your niche under the guidance of an experienced performer.

Our Acting Classes - Improvers are aimed at those who have completed a City Academy Beginners Acting course, an equivalent beginners course elsewhere, or those who have studied drama or performing arts at college level.

By consolidating skills and introducing new techniques this course is both practical and challenging. This improvers acting course focuses on continued development exploring spontaneity, impulse and play leading to a prepared showing of work in class.

ACTING CLASSES - IMPROVERS CONTENT
Exact course content may differ according to the course length. Topics covered generally include:

- Preparing and presenting improvised and scripted scenes
- Continued development of personal confidence, imagination and creativity
- Using environment, character and objectives to explore text
- Freeing your voice and body for performance
- Understanding stage craft and rehearsal techniques
You will receive friendly feedback throughout the course and all scripts are provided.

“With a developed imagination there’s no place you can’t go.” (Sanford Meisner)

Our Introduction to Meisner Technique Course is one day of intensive work, where participants are introduced to the fundamental elements of Meisner technique. This will be a stimulating and supportive session taught by a specialist tutor who will encourage you to immerse yourself in the exercises of one of actings most notable practitioners.

This transformative process is creative and fast paced. There is no limit to the depth of knowledge and self awareness you can gain from it.

The Meisner Technique class will be taught in a play ful and supportive environment. Classes are dynamic, focusing on bringing performers into the present moment and unlocking unconscious impulses.

This one day acting lesson is designed for those new to Meisner. Some acting experience is useful but not essential.

Our Method Acting Beginners Classes are designed for beginners and those with some experience of acting classes. Structured to provide you with a background to Method Acting and consolidate fundamentals of stage craft, voice, rehearsal technique and igniting the imagination.

Using your own life experiences as a tool-kit to delve into, you will learn to recall emotional and physical memories safely and re-deploy them in the context of any given scene, and to identify character objectives and relationships. As a result the work produced is without fail whole-hearted, truthful and produces performances that are compelling and deeply human.

You will learn how to observe yourself and others in greater depth which you can then bring to your performance on stage. You will develop a greater understanding of character and subtext (Magic If).

METHOD ACTING BEGINNERS CLASSES CONTENT
Exact course content may differ but topics covered generally include:

- Develop improvisation technique
- Take part in sense memory exercises
- Build confidence in voice and movement
- Learn to identify the given circumstances in any scene
- Understand how to break down a scene
- Work collaboratively and imaginatively
- Gain an insight as to how The Method can be applied
- Feel more relaxed on stage
As with all of our method acting classes, you'll receive friendly feedback throughout the course, and all scripts will be provided. Maximum capacity is 10 students to ensure students receive individual feedback on this specialised course.

Our 5 Day Singing Foundation course is an inspiring and creative experience designed for anyone who wishes to develop their vocal technique, explore their musical identity and grow in confidence

Participate in a planned progression of technique and repertoire singing lessons, masterclasses and workshops, concentrating on core vocal techniques designed to give students a foundation in singing and performance skills. Our course is formulated to give a rounded base in vocal performance and technique, building confidence and skills through a practical approach to training.

City Academy Musical Theatre Company gives you a unique opportunity to put all your hard-earned Musical Theatre techniques to the test, and show off your skills to friends and family!

This ongoing group offers an opportunity to perform twice a year: a Christmas Musical Theatre themed Pantomime and a full musical production in the summer. These are both staged in a large theatre with full technical production, giving you valuable experience of working in a professional environment with an expert creative team comprising of a Director, Musical Director and Choreographer.

This is an ongoing weekly group for which you pay a monthly membership fee which will entitle you to participate in all rehearsals, perform in top venues to a public audience, and get involved in social events.

Our Musical Theatre Classes for Beginners will introduce you to the fundamental techniques needed to perform on the West End stage, and is the perfect way to explore the magic of musicals.

We select the repertoire from the popular musical theatre canon exploring work from composers including Boublil and Schöenberg, Kander and Ebb - and many more.

Musical theatre classes are taught in a fun an d supportive environment so don’t worry if you feel a bit nervous. Most of the time you will be singing in a group, although if you do want to leap into the spotlight there's the opportunity for some solos too!

MUSICAL THEATRE CLASSES FOR BEGINNERS - COURSE CONTENT
Exact content may differ depending on students' needs and course duration, but topics generally covered include:

- Vocal and physical warm ups to work on Musical Theatre technique
- Integrate singing, dance and acting
- Introduction to fundamental techniques and application to song and dance routines
- Learn vocal and acting through song material - repertoire includes At The End of The Day, I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Stars, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables and Do You Hear the People Sing (Les Miserables) and All That - Jazz (Chicago)
- Learn dance material - repertoire includes You Can't Stop The Beat (Hairspray) and All That Jazz (Chicago)
- Solo masterclass focusing on Acting Through Song and vocal technique
- Rehearse and hone material before an informal showcase to friends and family
You'll receive friendly feedback throughout the course and will be taught by a variety of tutors from our Musical Theatre department. Any material covered within the class, will also be available online, to be accessed and practised at home during the course.

The most technical of theatre disciplines, Musical Theatre requires you to sing, dance and act all at the same time.

Our Musical Theatre - Beginners course introduces you to the fundamental techniques needed to perform on the West End stage, and is the perfect way to explore the magic of musicals.

If you love musicals and want to have a go yourself but don’t know where to begin, try our Musical Theatre Taster Classes. Under the instruction of our teachers (who are all West-End performers themselves) you’ll have the chance to belt out some classic numbers, while getting a flavour of what a City Academy Musical Theatre course can offer you.

MUSICAL THEATRE TASTER CLASS CONTENT
Class content will generally include:

Introduction to fundamental techniques via song and dance warm-up exercises
Integration of singing, dance and acting
This taster's the perfect way to make sure that Beginner’s Musical Theatre is definitely for you - and if it is, City Academy is the place to do it.