Acting Summer School for Ages 16–17

Book Now

• Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged
• Bookings will close at 5pm on Sunday 30 June 2024 or when the course reaches full capacity
• Please note that accommodation in Sundial Court isn't available in 2024
• For our Terms and Conditions, please click here.

Ages 16–17*

_{*Equivalent to UK school years 12 & 13. Please note we cannot accept any participants over 18 due to safeguarding. We are happy to accept participants who will be in Year 12 in September but will turn 16 in July/August.} 

Course Dates & Times

Monday 15 – Friday 26 July 2024 (excluding weekends)
9.30am–5.30pm

The course will also include some evening activities

About Acting Summer School for Ages 16–17

This two-week course offers an inspirational insight into contemporary actor training for young people aged 16-17.

Throughout the two weeks, you will work with industry professional directors on a project, as well as workshops led by theatre and screen acting practitioners. Each day will introduce you to a multitude of new skills, from voice and movement, to self-taping, classical text and improvisation.

Who is the course for?

Anyone aged 16 to 17 with a passion for acting and theatre and/or might be considering auditioning for drama school.

What can I expect?

You will work with a dedicated project director on a project built around a set text. The course will follow a split day structure, with half of the day spent exploring a rehearsal process on a chosen play, and the other half in various craft-based workshops. You will work in a group of up to 16 participants.

You can expect to:

• Apply fundamental acting techniques, such as a character’s objectives in a scene or speech
• Learn about improvisation, self-taping, voice and movement
• Expand your skillset with workshops in singing and dance
• Increase your knowledge of verse speaking and iambic pentameter
• Extract themes from a play through text analysis and learn about the importance of a scene partner
• Explore the importance of ensemble through contemporary plays
• Decode and demystify Shakespeare

Do I need anything for the course?

• A set text will be used throughout the course. Please ensure you have purchased a copy and have read and familiarised yourself with it. You will need a physical (not digital) copy of the text for ease of making notes/highlights.
• In addition to the set text, you will be required to familiarise yourself with a monologue. This can be something you've chosen or from a selection of speeches that will be provided to you. You are welcome to select a speech of any gender of your choosing. The speech will be used to explore acting technique through delivering a monologue. We suggest you choose a character that is close to your age, that you feel connected to, and a character which excites you!  There will be an invitation to deliver the speech at the end of the course as a work in progress, so it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself as much as possible with the text before you arrive. Please bring a print-out of your chosen speech to the course.
• Loose fitting clothing/practical clothes to move in
• Notebook
• Pencil/pen

Course Fee

£1,365

Book Now

• Spaces are limited so early booking is encouraged
• Bookings will close at 5pm on Sunday 30 June 2024 or when the course reaches full capacity
• Please note that accommodation in Sundial Court isn't available in 2024
• For our Terms and Conditions, please click here.

Eligibility

• For everyone aged 16–17*
• No previous experience is necessary
• Participants must have sufficient English language skills to cope with course demands

_{*Equivalent to UK school years 12 & 13. Please note we cannot accept any participants over 18 due to safeguarding. We are happy to accept participants who will be in Year 12 in September but will turn 16 in July/August.}

About the Course Tutor

The course has been developed by Aled Pedrick.

You will work with a project director and practitioners appointed by the course leader.

Aled Pedrick trained at Guildhall School of Music & Drama and is a professional actor, singer and theatre director.  As well as teaching at Guildhall School, he also lectures at Arts Ed, Drama Studio, Identity School of Acting, Florida State University, London Southbank University, University of Wales and other institutions across the UK. Aled is also Head of Acting at Guildhall Young Artists Online.

His most recent work as an actor include: BBC Radio Cymru’s Tarrytown/ Ysbrydnos, S4C’s 35 Awr and Sherman Theatre’s Woof (directed by Gethin Evans), and as director, his production of Saturday Night Forever for the Welsh National Theatre was on national tour earlier this year.

His acting credits include: Doctor Who (BBC); 35 Awr (S4C); Lewis (ITV); Parch (S4C); Woof (Sherman Theatr); Say It With Flowers (Sherman Theatre); The Nutcracker (Theatre Royal, Bath); Poking the Bear (Theatre 503).

As director he has worked at Finborough Theatre (The Doll Mender/Saer Doliau; The Welsh National Theatre (Nos Sadwrn O Hyd; Pan Oedd Y Bydd Yn Fach); Theatre Clwyd (My People); and a national tour with Invertago Theatre Company (The Tower).