Acting classes in London

Where better than our country’s capital for budding actors to pursue their dreams on the stage and screen? The pavements of London are certainly no strangers to the red carpet!

Maybe it’s the 40-odd theatres of the West End (AKA Theatreland) with their packed programme of musicals, comedies and classic plays that motivated you to learn to act in London. Perhaps you couldn’t resist the pull of some of the UK’s finest and most historical film studios (Warner Bros Studios, Pinewood Studios and 3 Mills Studios to name a few). Or are you hoping to apply for some of the most prestigious acting schools in the country? London is certainly home to more than its fair share including RADA, LAMDA and Guildhall.

Beyond the famed institutions and establishments, London is brimming with opportunities to take to the stage, such as poetry readings, small drama groups and community performances. Whatever led you to study acting in the UK’s capital, you’ve come to the right place!

Why study acting in London?

You may well have a good idea of your motivations for studying acting or pursuing an acting career. It might be the adrenaline of the live performance, the connection you forge with an audience, the ability to take ownership over a character, the opportunities for artistic expression or the new friendships you forge when rehearsing a production.

Whatever your motivation, you’ll be pleased to learn that acting studies help you build upon your transferable skills too.

Many students find that acting studies help them develop a higher emotional maturity, enabling them to access their own emotions and reflect upon their experiences. It’s hard to deny that, through exploring characterisation and connecting with an audience, you’ll gain a better understanding what makes you who you are.

Actors are required to see the world from different perspectives. You’ll observe your peers’ creative processes and come to see many interpretations of a text, character or scenario. As well as expanding your horizons, makes will help you become more empathetic and gives you a stronger appreciation for how others see the world.

Performing in front of an audience not only builds your confidence and self-esteem but will get you in the habit of planning and preparing so that you’re stage ready. You’ll also learn more about movement and expression – such as how you can change your voice and posture to affect how you feel and how you’re perceived by others.

Acting is not all about the powerful monologues, it’s about collaboration, working with others, and being prepared to take risks free from judgement. Your teamwork skills will flourish in your acting classes, and through team building games and exercises you’ll get better at listening and responding to what others have to say.

Feedback isn’t always so easy to stomach. Your acting lessons will help you to use feedback to your advantage and help you to critique your own performance. You’ll learn to ask questions like ‘what worked’ and ‘what could be improved next time’. Most importantly, you’ll come to welcome constructive feedback and use it to your advantage!

Through studying acting, you’ll learn to think. Think creatively, think differently, think imaginatively, think critically, think differently and think outside of the. This will help you to develop and express your own ideas:  you won’t be afraid to question the status quo or go against the grain.

One of the most rewarding aspects of acting is establishing a connection with your audience: making them laugh, sparking an emotional reaction or giving them something to think about. Through acting studies you’ll learn how to forge, nurture and use this connection.

Contrary to popular assumption, the study of acting doesn’t only lead to the theatre stage. Acting skills will serve you well the film industry, media and communications and marketing too.

The best thing about studying acting? It’s an education that knows no end. Your style, understanding and relationship with acting will evolve throughout your career as you take on different characters – it’s an exciting and enriching journey!

Where to study acting in London

London boasts more than its fair share of the UK’s most prestigious acting schools, many of which have a highly competitive admissions process. Having submitted your application, you might be required to attend as many as three auditions or readings before winning a place in the school. The following are considered to be some of the UK’s best acting schools:

• Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) - Bloomsbury,
• London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) - Hammersmith,
• Guildhall School of Music and Drama
• Drama Centre London - Kings Cross,
• Sylvia Young Theatre School – Marylebone,
• Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts – Peckham,
• Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts – Barbican,
• Central School of Speech and Drama.

Attending one of these acting schools not only puts amongst some of UK’s great actors but will ensure that all bases in your classical acting education are covered. You’ll cover the fundamentals and the theory of acting, study the classics, master the language of Shakespeare, develop your monologues and hone your audition technique. 

Acting school is a place where you can take risks, make mistakes and – above all – learn from them. In an industry as competitive as the stage and screen getting things wrong is not always an option, the opportunity to experiment, push the boundaries and break the rules in acting school is incredibly valuable.

How to get into acting school

The admissions process for London’s best acting schools is rigorous – each establishment can only accept a handful of applicants. So how do you give yourself the best chance of success?

• Act! Get involved in local amateur productions, do acting exercises on a daily basis, and get as much real acting experience as possible. Practise with friends and other actors if possible.
• Study different acting techniques (Method acting, Meisner Technique, Lee Strasberg’s Method).
• Treat your failures as practice runs and use them for reflection: what could you have done better? What worked well? Failure and reflection are all part of the process.
• Choose a monologue that showcases your ability. If you want to improve a style that you’re unfamiliar with, your acting school audition is probably not the time or place.
• Read the whole play, not just the excerpt you’re performing.
• Do something creative with your performance so that you stand out from the crowd.
• Follow the application instructions carefully (and have someone check your application first). Admissions officers are just looking for reasons to rule out applicants, don’t hand them that reason on a plate!
• Learn about the industry, including different roles within a theatre company.
• Research each drama school – in particular, what they look for in candidates.
• Attend as many auditions as possible, auditioning is a skill in itself.
• Budget accordingly – applying to acting school is not cheap!

Many aspiring actors work with a personal acting coach to give themselves the best chance of succeeding in the acting world, whether they’re auditioning for a place in RADA or a role in a West End show.

Study with a private acting coach in London

Acting coaches support aspiring and established actors in the competitive and demanding world of the stage and screen.

Your coach’s approach will depend on your personal and professional goals, but you might think of an acting coach as a guide to your exploration of the craft. If you aren’t quite sure what your goals are yet, an acting coach might even help you to establish them.

Unlike group evening classes, private acting lessons fit into your schedule and can be tailored to you, making them one of the most efficient ways to learn.

Every coach is different, but sessions are often structured to suit your needs. If you’re working on a monologue your coach might encourage you experiment and get things wrong, providing constructive feedback and tips for improvement. If the language of Shakespeare eludes you, your tutor might help deepen your understanding so that you can take ownerships of your character and represent them in your own way. If getting through your LAMDA or RADA audition is your priority, your acting coach will help you perfect your application, polish your performance and manage your nerves.

Private acting coaches often have years of professional acting experience behind them, enabling them to provide invaluable insight into the acting world and moral support in what can be an emotionally demanding industry.

Finding a private acting coach

Type ‘private acting coach UK’ into a search engine, and you’ll get reams of results with questionable credibility. How can you be sure that they’re the right choice for you?

This is where Superprof comes in. We have a pool of around 500 acting and performing arts tutors operating in and around London. These tutors set their rates according to location, demand, professional experience and ability taught, so there are prices to fit every budget. Filter the database according to your ability level, budget and location before browsing through the search results.

All our tutors are dedicated and passionate about sharing their knowledge, this can make it difficult to decide which acting coach to choose. Every single tutor profile on Superprof follows the same format, making it easy for you to compare their methodologies, experience, backgrounds, specialisms and recommendations from former and current students.

Most tutors offer a free consultation lesson where you can get an idea of their style and whether or not they are a good fit for you. Kick start your journey to the West End today!