Our training offer is designed to offer continued training opportunities for professional performers and emerging artists as well as to develop those at the early stages of their career, either currently in study and training or looking to apply to Drama schools in the near future. All workshops and courses are designed to progress individuals at their current level and will be structured accordingly to ensure you gain the most from the course.
In 2021 we launched our core 'ongoing integrated actor training' courses designed to be flexible, accessible, challenging and with a varying degree of commitment from just 3 sessions to as long as you like, allowing you to continue training and developing your craft around your other life/work commitments. See our 'Acting Fundamentals' and 'Scene Study' courses below...
OCTOBER
Acting Fundamentals - Connection/Being in Relationship
Content:
A short course that investigates and practically explores the actors tool kit of the voice, body and mind and how we connect and remain in relationship to all the elements of the scene - the text, the character, yourself, the moment, the intention, the given circumstances and the fellow actors .
When:
Saturday 5/12/19/26 October - 10am-1pm (4 Sessions)
Acting Fundamentals - Presence & Imagination
Content:
Nurturing and utilising a creative and vivid imagination is one of the greatest artistic tools for an actor. This short course will explore techniques from a range of practitioners in how to embrace your imagination and remain present in believing the 'moment' of the scene.
When:
Saturday 5/12/19/26 October - 2pm-5pm (4 Sessions)
Where:
Plymouth Athenaeum
Ideal for:
Suitable for all those with a desire and hunger to explore and develop their acting craft. Whether encountering the work for the first or tenth time our integrated approach ensures you are met and challenged at your own pace.
Ages 18+ only.
Led by:
Kevin Johnson & Amanda Collins
This course has a minimum of 6 and maximum of 16 people to ensure the courses are effective and good value.
Price:
£90 each
Discount:
£80 each if booked together.
(30% off for SW Actors Network Members - £60 each or £50 each if booking both)
For more info please email info@thewheel.org.uk
or download the booking form here:
Booking now....
We are taking bookings for a number of short courses that make up the module elements of our one year part time training company. These short courses are open for others to join us to drop in for the modules you choose across the year.
They will take place on Saturday mornings and afternoons in Plymouth and will run as blocks of 4 Saturdays each.
Booking now..
Autumn Season: Acting Fundamentals Courses
(October)
Course 1 - Connection/Being in Relationship
Course 2 - Presence & Imagination
(November)
Course 3 - Character Development Techniques
Course 4 - Approaches to Text
Further details Below...
Booking from December...
Spring Season:
(February)
Course 5 - Industry/Self Tapes and Auditions
Course 6 - Screen Acting
(March)
Course 7 - Showreel Scenes
Course 8 - Mask
Course 9 - Physical approaches
Summer Season:
(May -June)
Course 10 - Production Processes - Scrapbook Production
We'll announce more details soon. If you want to express interest in courses 5-10 in advance, drop us an email.
Please note - if you haven’t worked with us before, and depending on your experience, we may ask for a brief online conversation to ensure this course is the right fit for you.
Get In Touch...
We would love to hear from people to find out more about what might be useful. If you have any thoughts or ideas of the kind of courses/workshops you would like us to run or would like to take up our open door 'Zoom' / 'Coffee House sessions' offer to discuss things further please drop us a message at info@thewheel.org.uk
What previous actors said about our Screen Acting Fundamentals Course....
"Really useful, a very methodical and 'real' approach to preparing for my next screen role, with some excellent techniques to help remain 'in the moment' when on set, Thank you!"
"A really nice 'virtual' space, where i felt relaxed enough to try things, not try to be perfect and explore at my own pace"
"Great value, i've gained loads, too much to list here and all for £25! really glad I took the course."
I bleddy loved the screen acting course. I thought it was brilliant. Kev you made it so accessible and I really feel like I can land on a set now and know what to do. Which is exactly what I needed. So bravo bravo!
"Due to Lockdown I had started to feel a little unmotivated and as if my acting skills were draining away from me when I heard about the Screen Acting Fundamentals course from The Wheel. It felt like a great way to get back in the arena and challenge myself. Kev and the other participants were supportive, engaging and made me feel comfortable enough to really progress and train. Would recommend to anyone thinking of booking on"
Ongoing Integrated Actor Training:
In 2021 we launched two complementary strands of integrated training
for actors of all levels to engage with.
The two strands are ‘Acting Fundamentals’ and ‘Scene Studies’
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Acting Fundamentals is where actors focus on their core skills and technique.
-
Scene Studies is where they use their skills and apply them to character, text and performance.
WHY?
Inspired by our first two years of delivering a variety of acting courses and training opportunities, we are now delivering a new module of ongoing integrated Actor Training, alongside our existing programme.
Coupled with our own experience and desire to develop a culture, whereby there are more access points for people to begin or continue vocational actor training, as well as ongoing development opportunities for professional actors; we have been influenced by the American Actors Studio Module of regular scene study and technique classes, and the European tradition of ensemble and company training. We hope the combination of these influences, help develop a richer, more skilled, connected and employable community of actors in the south west.
WHO IS IT FOR?
Suitable for all actors 18+, with the desire and hunger to explore the craft of the actor. Whether it is your first time encountering this work or your tenth time, these sessions are designed to build, develop and challenge your skills as an actor. Our integrated training approach ensures that we meet the work at our own pace and all learn and develop together. Our actors tend to fit into one of three camps 1) professionals that have already undertaken a full time training and are wanting to keep their skills sharp 2) actors that have decided not or are unable to commit to full time training and want to train in short courses and workshops whilst working or 3) people new to acting that have a hunger and desire to find out more about the craft and decide what their next steps are for further training. Which ever camp you fit in you'll be embraced and met at as an individual.
‘we learn and develop in cycles, not straight lines’
Taking applications and auditioning now for our One Year Part Time Training Company
ACTING FUNDAMENTALS
Acting Fundamentals is the title our ongoing core acting skills workshops, these are designed around 6 fundamental areas of what we believe make up the actor: Physicality/Presence, Voice/Text, Imagination/Creation, Connection/Ensemble, Improvisation/Play, Industry/Screen. Some courses will touch on a range of areas and others will be more focussed on one or two.
SCENE STUDIES
Scene Studies are the perfect way for actors to continually work on their craft, as they give you the opportunity to put into practice your skills, instinct and experience; as you create a character, connect to the world of a play, understand the anatomy of a scene and embody it. We will focus on one play in each block, and the workshops will involve exploring the plays demands on actors, key themes, challenges and scenes. Plays will vary in style and genre exploring, contemporary plays, exciting new writing, 20th Century canonical texts, Shakespeare, Greek Tragedy and more. Our focus is to find the plays, scenes and characters that will challenge and excite you as an actor.
Past courses have included:
Physical Theatre, Acting With Text, Audition Technique, Screen Acting, Impulse and improvisation, The Actors Body, Stanislavsky's System, Acting Fundamentals, Scene Studies, The Production Process, Text exploration in our 'Great Plays' Series, Stage Combat, Shakespeare and Singing Masterclasses.
NOVEMBER
Acting Fundamentals - Character Development Techniques
Content:
A short course that investigates and explores a range of approaches to develop and embody a layered and detailed character, through the actors voice, body and mind. You will explore techniques and approaches that help you craft and develop a full and authentic character.
When:
Saturday 9/16/23/30 November - 10am-1pm (4 Sessions)
Acting Fundamentals - Approaches to Text
Content:
We will explore and utilise a number of techniques and approaches to get underneath the text and bring it to life. This course will require a degree of commitment to reading around the scenes and learning of lines in between sessions.
When:
Saturday 9/16/23/30 November - 2pm-5pm (4 Sessions)
Where:
Plymouth Athenaeum
Ideal for:
Suitable for all those with a desire and hunger to explore and develop their acting craft. Whether encountering the work for the first or tenth time our integrated approach ensures you are met and challenged at your own pace.
Ages 18+ only.
Led by:
Kevin Johnson & Amanda Collins
This course has a minimum of 6 and maximum of 16 people to ensure the courses are effective and good value.
Price:
£90 each
Discount:
£80 each if booked together.
(30% off for SW Actors Network Members - £60 each or £50 each if booking both)
For more info please email info@thewheel.org.uk
or download the booking form here: