The Actor's Playground

This course has now started. Join our mailing list to hear about future dates and new courses.

Ages 18+

Course Dates & Times

Tuesday evenings on 23, 30 April, 7, 14, 21, 28 May, 4, 11 June 2024
7pm–9pm

About The Actor's Playground 

This new eight-week course will help you feel free, confident and empowered on stage by combining practical acting techniques with joyful clowning practice. 

Whether you are creating characters, or performing your own work, or are simply curious, you will rediscover the importance of playfulness and will engage in the techniques of actors and theatre practitioners including Michael Chekhov, Augusto Boal, Viola Spolin and Phillipe Gaulier.

By working together as a group and individually, you will write, devise and improvise new work and discover what makes you laugh in a supportive and engaging environment.

Who is the course for?

• Actors and anyone interested in expanding their creativity, learning about the art of clowning and working with joy, play and humour.
• There is no upper age limit on this course. We encourage and welcome participants from all ages 18 and over.

What can I expect?

The course will cover key skills:

• Trusting yourself and your ideas
• Becoming more aware of your physical body in a space
• Listening to others, your own instincts and your audience
• Working with eye contact and connection
• Engaging with the ensemble
• Storytelling through non-verbal and verbal scenes
• Using improvisation techniques to work with impulse and spontaneity
• Finding fun in failure through clowning
• Sharing and discussing your own writing in a creative and nurturing ensemble

You will explore and develop the following techniques:

• How to take up space
• Working and connecting with others
• Utilising your breath as a tool for performance
• Taking creative risks
• Using eye contact to create powerful relationships on stage
• Becoming comfortable with mistakes 
• Generosity for yourself and others
• Listening to your audience
• Finding what makes you uniquely funny

Do I need anything for the course?

• Comfortable clothing and a notebook

Course Fee

£355

This course has now started. Join our mailing list to hear about future dates and new courses.

Eligibility

• For everyone aged 18+. There is no upper age limit on this course. We encourage and welcome participants from all ages 18 and over.
• Participants must have sufficient English language skills to cope with course demands.

About the Course Tutor

The course is taught by Grace Andrews and Jonathan Oldfield. 

Grace Andrews teaches acting internationally at a number of international conservatoires and universities including Fontainebleau School of Acting (Fontainebleau), Ensatt National School Of Arts And Techniques Du Théatre (Lyon), Prima Del Teatro (Pisa) and National Theatre School of Greece (Athens). She reaches a wide range of students including actors, business professionals, musicians, artistic administrators and vulnerable adults in the criminal justice system. 

Her practice is influenced by Michael Chekhov and a wide range of modern acting techniques, to empower every student and build creative identity.

Jonathan Oldfield is a trilingual performer, director and comedian. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, with Antonio Fava in Commedia dell’Arte and with John Yorke in storytelling. He’s a Pleasance Theatre Associate Artist and co-creator of BBC Radio 4 comedy series Time of the Week. 

He has taught in the UK and internationally at places such as the BBC, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Stanley Arts, New Diorama Theatre Broadgate, Q Factory Amsterdam, and as a visiting professor at universities across the USA.