Acting in an Accent - General American

Book Now

• Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged
• Bookings will close at 5pm on Sunday 9 July 2023 or when the course reaches full capacity
• Please note that accommodation in Sundial Court isn't available in 2023

Ages 18+

Course Dates & Times

Monday 31 July-Friday 4 August 2023

10am-5pm

About Acting in an Accent - General American 

This new five-day course will introduce you to the foundations and principles of working in an accent other than your own.

This year, that accent will be a contemporary General American/Mid-Western sound. Using practical exercises led by a professional dialect coach, you will learn the foundations of accent analysis and application. You will also work with an industry professional to apply these new skills to texts drawn from contemporary American plays and/or literature.

Who is the course for?

Anyone interested in learning about and working on accents generally and General  American specifically, from participants on previous drama short courses to working professionals looking to refine existing skills.

What can I expect?

The course will explore varied approaches to accent learning, scene study, and the challenges of working in a second sound. You will be provided with a professional dialect breakdown sheet and sample recordings.

By the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the principles of accent learning and the fundamentals of the general American sound.

These skills are directly transferable to any other speech system.

Do I need anything for the course?

• Clothes comfortable to move in
• Participants must have sufficient English language skills to cope with course demands
• An audio recording device (most smart phones have a voice recorder app)

Course Fee

£625

Book Now

• Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged
• Bookings will close at 5pm on Sunday 9 July 2023 or when the course reaches full capacity
• Please note that accommodation in Sundial Court isn't available in 2023

Get a 10% discount on the Acting in an Accent course if you are booked on the Acting Summer School for Ages 18+ course. Email shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk with your name and reference number. 

Eligibility

• For everyone aged 18+
• Participants must have sufficient English language skills to cope with course demands

About the Course Tutor

This course is taught by Simon Money, Voice Tutor at Guildhall School. 

Simon trained and worked as an actor before spending two years apprenticed to Patsy Rodenburg OBE. He holds an MA in Training Actors (Voice) from Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As a dialect coach, Simon has fostered a reputation for collaboration, rigour and joyfulness. He centres play and exploration in his work, recognising that actors enjoy a variety of approaches to dialect work.

Simon spent three years working alongside Jeannette Nelson in the Voice Department at the National Theatre, London. He has worked with actors including Michael Sheen, Maxine Peake, Ciaran Hinds, Patsy Ferran, Sheila Hancock, Jenna Russell, Lucian Msamati, Roger Allam, Phil Dunster, Anjana Vasan and Ben Daniels. He also worked with directors including Ian Rickson, Lyndsey Turner, Roy Alexander Weise, Maria Aberg and Polly Findlay.

Simon has taught at many of London’s leading drama schools as well as maintaining a busy freelance diary, working with actors of international renown, small-scale charitable enterprises and leaders of FTSE 100 companies.