Approaching Text: the Actor's Work at Home
In this six-week in-person evening course, you will learn how to effectively analyse a playwright's text from the view of an actor or a director, and build a toolkit to use for the future.
Key information:
- Course dates:
- Wednesday evenings, 26 April–31 May 2023
- Course times:
- 7–9pm
- Age:
- 18+
- Art form:
- Drama
- Fees:
- £275
- Deadline:
- 5pm, Friday 21 April 2023
- Level of study:
- Short Courses & Summer Schools (ages 18+)
- Mode of study:
- In-person
- Venue:
- Guildhall School of Music & Drama
- When:
- Evening Courses | Summer Courses (April–June)
Course info
Book Now
- Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged.
- Bookings will close at 5pm on Friday 21 April 2023 or when the course reaches full capacity.
Ages 18+
Course Dates & Times
Wednesday evenings, 26 April, 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 May 2023
7–9pm
About Approaching Text: the Actor's Work at Home
In this six-week evening course, you will learn how to effectively analyse a playwright's text from the view of an actor or a director, and build a toolkit to use for the future. You will also gain insight into the theoretical side of acting, drawing on the ideas of Stanislavski, via contemporary directors like Mike Alfreds and Katie Mitchell.
Who is the course for?
Anyone aged 18 and over, who would like to improve skills in text analysis. Some prior knowledge of approaching text (whether watching, reading or performing in plays) is recommended, but no acting experience is necessary.
What can I expect?
You can expect to explore a text together in depth, including:
- Piecing together the imagined world of the play
- Compiling clues about the characters
- Looking at the motivations behind characters' words and other sub-textual details
- Investigating how all of the above can inform the work of actors and directors
We will layer up these concepts over several weeks and apply them to Chekhov's play Three Sisters. There will be opportunities to act, but the main focus is analysing the text itself.
You will need to complete some reading and independent work each week.
Do I need anything for the course?
We will be using Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov in a version by Cordelia Lynn as a set text. You will need to source your own physical copy of the play to participate in the course.
Attendance of all six sessions is recommended to allow progression of learning and for the benefit of the group as a whole.
Course Fee
£275
Book Now
- Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged.
- Bookings will close at 5pm on Friday 21 April 2023 or when the course reaches full capacity.
Eligibility
- For everyone aged 18+.
- Participants must have sufficient English language skills to cope with course demands.
About the Course Tutor
The course is taught by Patrick Osborne.
Patrick Osborne is an actor who graduated from Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2010. His theatre work includes Much Ado About Nothing and The Tempest (Shakespeare’s Globe), Comedy of Errors (RSC and Barbican), Shakespeare in Love (West End), Peter Pan (Open Air, Regents Park), Noises Off (UK tour), All My Sons, The Cherry Orchard and Kindertransport (Nottingham Playhouse), Accolade and After October (Finborough Theatre). TV and Film credits include Their Finest and The Borgias.
He has taught on the Foundation Course at ALRA and at Guildhall on the Acting Summer School and the Preliminary Acting Course, where he also facilitates workshops for the Access and Participation Department.
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