Ashley
Ambassador
- Hourly rate £29
- Response Time 3h
- Number of students 50+
Book a class
ONLINE CLASS: Award winning writer-director with West End experience offering acting, writing and theatre lessons to all levels.
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- London
- at your home
- By webcam
Ambassador
We host the best tutors. Quality of their profile, experience in their field. Ashley will be happy to arrange your first Acting lesson.
About the lesson
I am currently working with students on the following:
Drama School Auditions
Trinity Acting Exams
Showreel Scenes: Writing and Rehearsing.
Playwriting
Post Drama School Coaching
Communication skills in corporate environment.
Achievements:
Since 2020 I have helped students successfully win places at ArtsEd, London (2 students); Mountview, London (2 students); IDSA, London (4 students); The Lir Academy, Dublin (1 student) and Drama Studio, London (1 student) (These students have also been offered places at Mountview, Guildford School of Acting and The Oxford School of Drama)
In March 2020 I began working with one student with little acting experience but a real desire to work in the industry. I suggested we create some clear goals such as auditioning for Drama School. By the end of 2021 they have gained a place at Mountview, found an agent and successfully landed their first named speaking role in a major Netflix series. They have since been cast in two more TV projects and performed in an international theatre tour.
Two of my junior students passed their Grade Four Solo Acting exams with 'Distinction' last summer and went on to pass their Grade Four Duo exams with Distinction in May. I have three students taking their first exams this month. Aged 10-13 they are all starting at Grade Four.
I worked with one student on their Drama Scholarship Auditions for four private secondary schools. As a result of our work together they have now been offered a drama scholarship at all four schools, with one school offering a double scholarship in both Acting and in Musical Theatre.
My approach is eclectic and informed by a life time of training and work in the UK and beyond. Whilst the techniques and methodologies I engage with are diverse I do essentially believe the best work is done when there is a commitment to bravery, kindness and generosity. It is my job to model these behaviours in the class and encourage them in the leaners so that they might develop quickly and confidently.
My feedback consistently speaks to my ability to create a safe, inclusive learning environment which responds to the needs of the leaners and allows them to master their inherent creativity. There has always been a synergetic relationship between my work as a writer-director and my work as a teacher. Whilst I am constantly learning new things about my craft in professional rehearsal rooms I never fully trust those lessons until I am able to articulate them to my students. This is when the almost magical must be made robustly practical. When my theories face unexpected questions, when students take ownership of my exercises in their own unique way, that is when my own craft truly evolves. Helping a student unlock their potential helps me unlock my own. Pushing them pushes me. Teaching is a vital force in my creative life and one which I take very seriously and enjoy very thoroughly.
subjects
- Acting
- Drama School Entrance
- LAMDA Exams Preparation
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+1
Playwriting
languages
- English
levels
- All Levels
About Ashley
Since completing my training on the prestigious Birkbeck Directors course in 2012 I have worked consistently as both a theatre maker and teacher. After winning the Director’s Guild Award I became an associate director at the Lyric Hammersmith, a staff director at the National Theatre and a resident director in the West End. Outside of the UK I have worked as a writer, director and teacher in Germany, Greece and Spain.
My teaching experience is extensive: As well as facilitating classes for the theatres named above I also continue to work as an acting teacher and director for The National Youth Theatre, StageBox and City Academy. I have worked at other stage schools including Estrellas del Teatro in Spain where I ensured that native and non-native english speakers passed their LAMDA exams with distinction as well as helping students get into a range of UK drama schools.
In addition to coaching students practically for the profession I enjoy working as the adjunct theatre lecturer for Lawrence University, USA (London Campus). This role ensures an ongoing engagement with theatre in a rigorously academic setting and speaks to my ability to teach theatre as practically or theoretically as desired.
Review
All of our reviews are collected by us and are 100% reliable. They correspond to a real experience lived by the students of Ashley.
5 (25 reviews)
Perfect! I highly recommend Ashley to anyone that wants to make their performance stand out! He helped me break down my monologue and get the best out of it! His approach is efficient, clear and he is a lovely person to work with!
Ashley's response
- Ashley's response : Estel is a focused and committed performer who clearly wants to push her craft further- A delight to work with.
Sebi
Perfect! Ashley is a passionate and dedicated teacher. He enjoys what he is doing; whether it is acting techniques, monologues, or essentials about the industry, you bet he has great insight. His lessons provide a safe and inclusive environment while allowing your creativity to run smoothly under safe guidance. Outside of classes, he provides resources for your personal growth both as an actor and person. Moreover, his friendly personality makes communicating easy; regardless of the issue you may face, he is willing to help. Ashley’s lessons made complicated concepts easy to understand, and he has helped me develop confidence and has taught me how to use my differences to my advantage; his lessons have been vital to my development. I wholeheartedly recommend Ashley to anyone aspiring to become an actor, regardless of their experience.
Sebi
Ashley's response
- Ashley's response : Sebi is a committed student, who is working hard in classes as well as doing extra homework and study. A joy to work with!
Perfect! We can’t recommend Ashley highly enough! He’s been instrumental in teaching our young daughter the foundations of acting through a fun and yet methodological way. She is growing in confidence after every new lesson. Great teacher!
Ashley's response
- Ashley's response : Olivia is an utter utter joy to teach. She is one of the most talented young actors I have ever worked with and I am very excited to see her unlock her full potential!
Thierry
Perfect! Ashley is truly amazing. I started lessons with him to get acting knowledge, skills and technics. Before that, I had lessons in an acting group that I didn't enjoy.
Ashley gave me exactly what I needed. We learnt through different concepts and technics that definetly made me improve.
I am now able to learn, understand and practice a monologue! I got the positive vibes that I needed to build my confidence.
Ashley is a serious and nice teacher, if you want to enjoy your lessons, learn and improve, you must work with him.Thierry
Ashley's response
- Ashley's response : I am really enjoying working with Thierry as he embraces his passion for acting. He is approaching each exercise with bravery and is really beginning to enjoy the fruits of his hard work. His commitment is wonderful and I know he will continue to make real progress!
Perfect! Ashley is an excellent teacher! He has helped me build my confidence and the essentials for acting. His lessons are well structured which allows the me to really think analytically and creatively.
Highly recommend Ashley and I look forward to continue working with him!Perfect! Really good experience working with Ashley so far.
He's always is able to give a very structured approach to learning topics that can seem hard to penetrate at the beginning.
The structure and detailed insights he is able to bring to every session ensures that you can always see how what you're learning relates to your goals.Perfect! Brilliant teacher - friendly, of course, and his lessons are always engaging, creative and unique! Ashley is a very talented and understanding teacher, and knowledgeable as well - it’s very interesting to see what exam options I have. He answers every question you ever need answering and his (very fun) teaching methods really do help with the development of your skills. 5/5, highly recommend.
Perfect! Ashley has been such a great tutor these past few weeks and has really helped me with not just my writing and acting, but with my confidence too. We have created a nice bond and i really look forward to my weekly sessions with him.
Scarlett - OxfordshireAshley's response
- Ashley's response : Scarlett is a tremendous student and is really engaging with lessons well. Can’t wait to see what she creates in the next few weeks!
Perfect! Ashley is a really supportive and inspiring teacher, who has already taught me so much and we’re only 4 lessons in! Can’t wait to work with him more:)
Ashley's response
- Ashley's response : Jasmine is clearly a hardworking and thoughtful actor. I look forward to working with her!
Perfect! Ashley is an amazing acting tutor! Rather than just teaching me what I need to pass an exam , he shows me much more interesting things about drama. 10 /10 would recommend, no matter how good you are, you will always learn something new.
Ashley's response
- Ashley's response : Ryan is a wonderful student, incredibly capable and a joy to work with!
Rebecca
Perfect! Really fantastic classes! Ashley has taught me a lot already; including some very helpful techniques for script analyses and monologue prep. He has a lovely approach to teaching, very encouraging and made jumping back into acting much easier than anticipated. Thanks so much for everything so far!
Rebecca
Ashley's response
- Ashley's response : Excellent commitment, bravery and creativity thus far. Looking forward to really tackling some monologues!
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Recommendations
Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the teacher
14
I have been taking acting lessons with Ashley for some time now and I can truly say that he is a gem of a teacher!
He is a very talented artist who has an in-depth knowledge of his craft and delivers this knowledge in a very engaging way. He has a way to bring life to the story, the character and the performance of his actors. He is top notch!
Ashley pushes you to do your best work, all with kindness and tremendous sensitivity, providing a safe place for his students to explore and grow.
I highly recommend him as I believe that he has so much to offer any actor at any level.
Ashley, I cannot thank you enough!!
Mitya
I have worked with Ashley for over a year, and he has been an incredible teacher. Ashley is a master in finding an individual approach to you, helping you find and lean into the strength unique to you as an actor and define areas of growth that you can work on together. Highly recommend both if you are just starting out or if you have specific acting goals.
Mitya
I took part in 2 online productions with Ashley during the pandemic and they really brightened up my lockdown! I looked forward to the sessions every week and always got a boost from his energy. He gave us students lots of creative freedom but was brilliant at maintaining oversight, offering suggestions and bringing the whole thing together to create something we were all really proud of.
Tarik
I started working with Ashley having already spent a few years as a working actor, and I can’t recommend him highly enough; he has a wide range of experience and his unpretentious approach often simplifies methods made more complicated by teachers who like the sound of their own voice.
I also respect the way he looks out for his students, providing opportunities through his industry connections. If you’re a professional actor looking for some private coaching between jobs you can’t go wrong with Ashley.Tarik
Melania
Ashley has been a constant throughout the pandemic and beyond. I’ve been taking lessons with him since March after a recommendation from another great tutor. His lessons have given me not only a larger insight of the craft, it helped me master my abilities and most of all boosted my confidence.
His lessons are always different, exciting and very detailed. It’s not plain acting or directing but a deeper study of characters and their needs, an ongoing exploration of every piece I’ve been given to bring me to my best performances.
He’ s also very attentive to your needs as person and not only as an actor and this is an added bonus as sometimes acting may be mentally exhausting.
We plan everything ahead, set goals but also feel free to wander and craft as much as possible and as my creativity and needs demand.
He knows what he’s doing and does it at its best.Melania
Ashley is an incredible teacher. I've had three classes with him and several drop-in sessions and I keep coming back, we all do. He is the best director I have worked with and his skill set is so diverse. He taught me how to act, how to prepare for an audition, how to write a story, a script, how to perform and most importantly how to be a polite human. I love his attitude and will definitely keep working with him again and again.
I’ve learned so much from Ashley about acting, about the industry, and simply about how to be creative. His experience is always shining true and that’s what makes you feel like whatever you work on with Ashley it’s going to be great. I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with Ashley!
I have worked with Ashley in a professional capacity for a number of years. He is a kind and generous tutor, and exceptionally knowledgeable in his craft. We have also taught at the same institution for a number of years and I can attest to his exemplary teaching style. It is accessible, flexible and understanding of an individual student's requirements, whilst challenging them to deliver to the best of their potential. Would highly recommend Ashley to anyone looking to gain skills within the theatre and arts sectors.
Ashley is a monumental figure in my life, especially in terms of my passion and my career path. I worked with Ashley as part of a theatre company under City Academy, in London, after being astray from acting for personal reasons. Ashley led the company with an inspiring level of commitment, a blatantly beating heart for theatre and writing, and a fierce passion for good work! All along, he didn’t hesitate to embrace the company as his friends and was intricately sensitive to each and every one of us as individuals. He takes the time out to check in with every individual he works with and demonstrates an honourable amount of respect for people in general! Again, he is a monumental figure in my life. I will always stand with him, and recommend to any person who wants to develop in the fields he specialises in.
Valeria
I have been taking classes with Ashley for more than 4 years now, he is the perfect tutor for whoever likes having fun while learning. His classes are engaging in many different levels and, even if you are not an actor but you come from a completely different background, you would never feel out of place with him. I highly recommend him!
Valeria
Ashley, is a most engaging as well as empathetic tutor who not only ensures his pupils in their understandings but also aids in their growth and development.
I’ve participated in a play directed by Ashley last year in which he carefully guided the group through devising the piece and putting it on stage. I say carefully, because working with 13th actors of all ages and experience requires a diplomatic, yet rigidly structured approach where creativity is encouraged so long as there is willingless to develop trust in the director/ writer. Ashley naturally makes the latter an easy task from day one in the rehearsal room.
As a writing turor he knows how to approach a one-to-one process whereby the lessons are equally enjoyable and productive. He knows how to make the use of sessions so that every minute is worth it - something crucial especially for those who take classes as extracurricular activities. Lastly, his friendly and caring personality contributes to the ease of communication and the driv to learn develop in the creative world.
Martina
Ashley is an amazing acting\creative writing teacher. He is a well-spoken individual with incredible ideas, patient and incredibly inspiring professional. The energy he has for his work is rare. I have been improving a bit more in every lesson. Highly recommended :)
Martina
Ashley has directed me in three shows. He brings a wealth of experience not only in direction and acting but also in highly inventive and creative writing. His style is inclusive. He invests time and effort to ensure every member of the company is involved. He gets to know his actors and tailors roles to ensure there is always sufficient opportunities to develop further and to be challenged.
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Rates
packages
- 5h: £145
- 10h: £290
Travel
- + ££5
webcam
- £29/h
Details
£35 an hour.
£29 an hour when you book 6 lessons in advance. (Equivalent of getting one lesson free!)
In person can be arranged.
Cancellation policy: Refund subject to 24 hours notice.
Find out more about Ashley
01
When did you start practicing? How did this passion find you?
I was probably about ten when my mum shoved me through the door of the local drama club telling me keep out of trouble and learn to 'speak nice'. I'm not sure I successfully acquiesced to either of those demands but I had a brilliant time creating stories and characters and lots of noise. I studied theatre at university and was very lucky to find professional opportunities very early on: A decade after being unceremoniously dumped at that drama club as a kid, I was a staff director at the National Theatre.
02
Which artists or works affect you the most?
Wow so many.
Ok so...
As a writer-director I geek out most about the work of other writers and directors: Caryl Churchill, Sebastian Nubling, Jasmine Lee-Jones, OIa Ince, Alice Birch, Ned Bennet, Michaela Coel, Sean Holmes, Edward Bond, Alistair McDowall, Arinze Kene, Josh Azouz, Martin McDonagh are just some of the names that come spilling out of my head as I write. As an acting coach I am always hungry to see the latest work from Rory Kinnear, Pheobe Walle-Bridge, Dev Patel, Lucian Msamati , Daniel Day-Lewis, Michaela Coel (again!) Paapa Essiedu, Mark Rylance, Harriet Walter, Sally Hawkins, Olivia Coleman, Tom Hardy and Indira Varma (again just some of the first few names that come to mind!)03
What are the qualities and skill required to succeed in this area?
Passion and self care are paramount.
04
What is the most valuable advice you can give to help someone stay focused on creative projects?
Sleep properly. Go steady on sugar and caffeine. Understand why you're doing what you're doing. If it doesn't feel essential and satisfying then don't waste time on it. Set clear achievable goals and create a detailed plan from which you can inevitably deviate. But most of all, sleep properly.
05
How would you describe your passion; how does it make you feel?
It makes 90% of life incredibly simple and gives me the bravery to confront the ineffable 10% (and "see if we may not eff it after all" as the great man said)
06
What creative achievements are you particularly proud of?
Oh great. Memory Lane. Love this.
Ok so I'll do like top 5?
The very first thing I wrote and directed at university: An adaption of Dracula with a cast of 50. Lots of ballet and blood and screaming audiences.
Everything I've done with Edward Bond, including being his assistant director on the chair plays.
All the work I've done with kids from underprivileged backgrounds.
My time as resident director on The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night Time (National Theatre and West End)
My time back packing around rehearsal rooms across Europe and writing about it for Exeunt Magazine.
Writing and directing my first Edinburgh Fringe production: Jamie Blake with a beatbox orchestra and a cast of actors that have gone on to do incredible things.
Winning best director at NSDF2010
(Ok I snuck a couple extra in there so I'll stop now before I get all dewy eyed)07
Have you ever been surprised by a student; by their ability or quick progression?
I am constantly surprised by students. Their sudden leaps forward; the unique perspectives they have; the ideas they wrestle with and the ideas they take in their stride.
As for progression: When I first started on Superprof I had quite a few students who just wanted to try acting a little during lockdown and now they're in drama schools or working on professional projects etc . When that first started happening I was a little surprised but now I realise that anyone who approaches a private tutor already has the right attitude, that desire to improve and feed their passion, armed with that, achievement becomes inevitable.08
Being a Superprof is an art! What is your secret?
I genuinely love it. Most of my teaching is through Superprof now and teaching is vital aspect of my life. When in balance with my creative work it's gives me an essential opportunity to articulate what would otherwise remain semi-conscious and unexamined experiences from the rehearsal room. It allows me to share my passion with those that are hungry for it and it's always satisfying to show off the brilliant achievements of your students.
