Acting in an Accent: Standard Southern British English
This new five-day course will introduce you to the foundations and principles of working in an accent other than your own, focusing on Standard Southern British English.
Key information:
- Course dates:
- Mon 3 – Fri 7 Aug 2026
- Course times:
- 10am–5pm
- Age:
- 18+
- Art form:
- Drama
- Fees:
- £675
- Deadline:
- Bookings will close at 5pm on Friday 3 July 2026 or when the course reaches full capacity
- Level of study:
- Short Courses & Summer Schools (ages 18+)
- Mode of study:
- In-person
- Venue:
- Guildhall School of Music & Drama
- When:
- Summer Schools (July–August)
Course info
Public booking opens at 11am, Monday 1 December. Join our mailing list before Friday 28 November to receive priority booking.
Ages 18+
Course Dates & Times
Monday 3 – Friday 7 August 2026
10am–5pm
About Acting in an Accent: Standard Southern British English
This new five-day course will introduce you to the foundations and principles of working in an accent other than your own.
Using practical exercises led by a professional dialect coach, you will learn the foundations of accent analysis and application, with a focus on a contemporary Standard Southern British sound whilst building awareness of the range of speech systems in that area. You will also be coached to apply these new skills to texts drawn from contemporary British plays.
Who is the course for?
Anyone aged 18 and over interested in learning about, and working on, accents with a specific focus on Standard Southern British English (SSBE).
What can I expect?
The course will explore varied approaches to accent learning, the challenges of working in a second sound and applying them to monologues and scene study. You will be provided with a professional dialect breakdown sheet, sample recordings and appropriate texts.
By the end of the course you will have:
- A comprehensive understanding of the principles of accent learning
- Practical experience in the significant changes from your accent to the SSBE accent.
- Transferable skills that can be applied to any other accent.
Do I need anything for the course?
-
Clothes comfortable to move in
-
Participants must have sufficient English language skills in order to fully engage with the course. We would recommend all participants have at least C1 proficiency, or IELTS level 7 and above
-
An audio recording device (most smart phones have a voice recorder app such as Voice Record Pro – available on both Apple and Android platforms).
Course Fee
£675
Public booking opens at 11am, Monday 1 December. Join our mailing list before Friday 28 November to receive priority booking.
Eligibility
- We welcome participants from all ages 18 and over
- Participants must have sufficient English language skills in order to fully engage with the course. We would recommend all participants have at least C1 proficiency, or IELTS level 7 and above.
About the Course Tutor
This course is taught by Kat Hicks.
Kat Hicks is a voice and dialect specialist with an MA in Voice Studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. In over a decade of practice, she has taught on the BA Acting Courses at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Arts Educational School (Arts Ed) and Fordham University. Her professional credits include productions for Out of Joint, Tourette’s Hero, Nottingham Playhouse, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, and Salisbury Playhouse in addition to teaching a weekly class at The Royal National Theatre for deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent actors. She also works privately with actors and non-actors, taking a playful and person-centred approach to all things voice and dialect.
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