Acting Shakespeare Summer Course

This intensive summer course is ideal for participants wanting to explore the texts of Shakespeare.

Short Courses - Summer Schools 2024 - Speaking Shakespeare - Participant with script (Paul Cochrane)

Key information:

Course dates:: Mon 27 – Fri 31 Jul 2026
Course times:: 10am–5pm
Age:: 16+
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+) | Short Courses & Summer Schools, Workshops & Saturday Centres (under 18)
Mode of study:: In-person
Venue:: Guildhall School of Music & Drama
When:: Summer Schools (July–August)
Contact details:: shortcourses@gsmd.ac.uk; +44 (0)20 7382 2310

There are limited spaces remaining on this course. Please join our Waiting List and we will contact you if a place is available.

Read our terms and conditions
Please note: accommodation is not provided

Ages 16+

Course Dates & Times

Monday 27 July – Friday 31 July 2026
10am–5pm

About Acting Shakespeare Summer Course

This intensive summer course is ideal for participants wanting to explore the texts of Shakespeare.

The course will provide a toolkit in speaking and delivering Shakespeare monologues.

Who is the course for?

Anyone aged 16 and over interested in deepening their understanding of Shakespeare and/or thinking about applying to drama school or university.

What can I expect?

A fun, interactive, one-to-one and group exploration of how to deliver classical monologues.

You will learn about:

Unlocking Shakespeare’s verse
Movement
Voice
Audition technique

Do I need anything for the course?

A two-minute classical monologue learnt by heart
Lose fitting clothing and a water bottle
Notebook and pen
An openness and generosity of spirit

'I loved every minute of this course. I learnt so much from the teacher and from the ensemble, within which was such a beautiful connection.'

– Emma, Acting Shakespeare Summer Course, Summer 2025

Course Fee

£675

There are limited spaces remaining on this course. Please join our Waiting List and we will contact you if a place is available.

Read our terms and conditions
Please note: accommodation is not provided

Eligibility

We welcome participants from all ages 16 and over
Participants must have sufficient English language skills in order to fully engage with the course

About the Course Tutor

This course is taught by Amber James.

Amber James trained at Guildhall. Graduating in 2015, she has since built up a hugely impressive cv across theatre and television. Amber has played multiple leading roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company, including Cressida (Troilus and Cressida) and Imogen (Cymbeline), for the latter of which she was a recipient of the prestigious Ian Charleston Award: an award celebrating the best classical performances from actors under 30.

Other theatre work includes Titania & Hippolyta in A Midsummer Nights Dream (Regents Park Open Air) and Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire (ETT), as well as roles at the Almedia Theatre, Park Theatre, Kiln Theatre, RSC and Shakespeare’s Globe. Most recently she played Celia in As You Like It opposite Harriet Walter, directed by the Oscar nominated Ralph Fiennes.

On screen, Amber was recently a series regular on new series The Game (Channel 5). Other screen work includes Heartstopper (Netflix), Dodger (BBC), Vera (ITV), Grace (ITV).

Amber regularly teaches on Guildhall short courses and for Guildhall Young Artists online. She is also a panellist for the BA Acting auditions.