16 Week Training

COURSE STRUCTURE

The acting work of the 16 week Training is split into two main phases:

Acting phase one: (8 weeks) - Basic exercises leading to complex improvisation.

The course starts with a continuation of the basic repetition exercise experienced in the introduction week. This exercise is a simple device to get your attention off yourself and on to the other actor leaving you free to act moment by moment off the impulses that arise from the contact between you. You will be confronted by the things that ‘get in the way’ of your ability to honestly relate to yourself and others, bit by bit developing your ability to live each moment fully and truthfully without ever needing to think.

After the first few days you will be introduced to what Meisner referred to as ‘the reality of doing’ where you will develop your ability to live within a set of imaginary circumstances through the set up of practical activities and reasons to come and ‘get something’ form your partner based on at first simple, then gradually more complex relationships. As your faith in what you do builds, the depth to which you allow these imaginary circumstances to affect you behaviourally will gradually deepen.

This phase will be followed by one week's rest for all.

Acting phase two: (8 weeks) – Monologues through to scene work

The second phase of our actor training will introduce text for the first time in the form of solo work or monologues. You will be shown a simple, precise and non-intellectual way to analyse text. This will arm you with a fool proof way of approaching any text you may ever have to work with and will open you up to endless possibilities that can be experimented with through rehearsal. Your acting will not be left to chance and you will gain possession of a set of tools that will give you infinite flexibility and precision in your work.

Over the monologue weeks you will also be shown how to create the illusion of character to the audience by introducing external physical characteristics and impediments, such as playing someone of a different age to yourself.

The final 4 weeks of the training will take everything you have learned so far and apply it to playing a scene. This will include analysis of the text, improvisation, character work and finally the playing of the scene. By this stage you will have acquired a set of tools and a practical process that will allow you to get to the heart of a scene, working freely and openly moment by moment. Your teacher will begin to work with you more as a director as you start to take responsibility for your own work.

The culmination of this intense 16 week training will leave you with a real sense of faith in what you do, paving the way for you to continue broadening and deepening your experience as an actor.

Movement Work

Since one of the fundamental principles of Sanford Meisner’s acting philosophy centers around “jumping in” to any dramatic or emotional conflict rather than “backing away from it”, we felt that the best way to explore the craft of acting physically is through the study of an appropriate martial art or sport, that will expose the student to the area of ‘conflict’ in a physical situation.

We have found that the principles of Gracie Jiu Jitsu (GJJ) match almost identically to these principles of acting. As a result this is an excellent compliment to the acting our training.

Other benefits of this work are increased fitness and flexibility, the ability to defend yourselves, and most importantly, a feeling of empowerment, confidence and well-being.

Vocal work
 
In addition to the acting and movement work there will also be a series of vocal workshops. These vocal workshops will focus on strengthening and developing awareness of the voice and is an essential element to the actor's work.
 
Weekly Timetable
 
There will be two courses running concurrently: Mornings from 9.30-1.30pm and Afternoons from 1.45-5.45pm. Students will stay in the same time slot and with the same teacher for the duration of the course.
In addition to this there will be two, hour long ‘movement’ sessions and one voice class per week.
 
Class size
 
There is a maximum of 12 students per class.
 
Next available date:
  • 27th August - 21st December 2012 including one week of rest between acting phases (22nd - 26th October)
Cost
 
The cost of the full 16 week training is £5,700 with payment split into 3 instalment’s of £1,900. The first is due on acceptance on the course. The second at the start of the course and the last before the start of the second 8 week acting phase.
 
Application
 
If you would like to be considered for this course, you first need to complete an Introduction Week allowing you to meet us and experience our work first hand. Suitable students will be offered places on the 16 week course on completion of this Introduction Week and an interview. The Introduction Week (Mon-Fri) costs only £150.
 
To book your Introduction Week: call Tanja on 020 3004 4537, email her at tanja@actorstemple.com or come down to our studio theatre on Warren Street and meet her in person
 
Payment Terms and Conditions
1. All courses (apart from the 16 Week Training Course, please see point 2) must be paid for in advance on booking.
2. The 16 week Training Course must be paid in three £1900 instalments: the first on booking, the second by the first day of the course and the third at the start of the eighth week.
3. Cancellation policy: Once a payment has been made for a course it cannot be refunded under any circumstances unless:
· The Actors' Temple cancels the course.
· The Actors' Temple changes the start date of the course making it no longer possible for the individual booked to participate.
Please be aware that any change in circumstance, be it professional or personal for any individual booked on a course, will not qualify that individual for a refund on fees paid if they can no longer participate in the course on which they are booked.
4. The Actors' Temple reserves the right to make adjustments to the published weekly timetable but only where absolutely necessary. Prior warning of any changes will be given to students well in advance and any time lost by any individual will be made up for at the soonest possible opportunity.
5. The Actors' Temple reserves the right to remove, without refund, any individual from any of its courses if the teacher feels that that individual's behavior or attitude is, in the teachers opinion, negative to the course as a whole.
6. Repetition classes and other drop-ins must be paid for in cash to the teacher at the start of the class. Anyone booked on to a repetition class may cancel with 24 hours notice.  If a student cancels less than 24 hours before the start of the class they are liable to pay the full fee for the class booked. This also applies to any student who fails to cancel and fails to turn up for a class.

View timetable for next available dates

To find out more, send us a message.

To book and for more information, please email or call Tanja at the studio on 020 3004 4537.