Drama and Acting Course

Lesson 1 • Ethics and Professionalism in Acting

Covers rehearsal etiquette, consent practices, and professional conduct. Establishes the behavioural standards expected in all course activities.

Lesson 2 • Core Dramatic Vocabulary

Introduces essential terminology: scene, beat, objective, obstacle, and action. Shared vocabulary enables precise communication throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • The Actor's Instrument

Frames the body, voice, and imagination as the actor's primary tools. Students assess their current instrument and identify areas for development.

Lesson 4 • History and Origins of Drama

Traces drama from ancient ritual through contemporary theatre forms. Establishes historical context that informs every acting style covered later.

Lesson 1 • Resonance and Projection

Explores chest, mask, and head resonators to amplify and colour the voice. Students project to large spaces without forcing or shouting.

Lesson 2 • Articulation and Diction

Trains precise consonant and vowel production for clarity at performance volume. Clear diction ensures audiences understand every word.

Lesson 3 • Pitch, Pace, and Pause

Develops expressive use of pitch variation, tempo, and strategic silence. These tools prevent monotony and communicate subtext.

Lesson 4 • Accent and Dialect Basics

Introduces phonetic tools for acquiring and releasing accents. Students learn a neutral stage dialect and one additional regional accent.

Lesson 1 • Body Alignment and Neutral Stance

Establishes skeletal alignment and a neutral physical baseline free of habitual tension. Neutral stance is the starting point for all character physicality.

Lesson 2 • Gesture and Expressive Movement

Distinguishes meaningful gesture from nervous habit and teaches intentional physical expression. Gesture must arise from inner impulse, not decoration.

Lesson 3 • Physical Character Building

Uses posture, weight, rhythm, and centre of gravity to construct distinct character physicality. Physical choices anchor character before a word is spoken.

Lesson 4 • Spatial Awareness and Stage Geography

Covers stage areas, sight lines, and the actor's relationship to space and partners. Spatial intelligence prevents blocking errors and enhances storytelling.

Lesson 1 • Character Analysis and Biography

Guides actors in building a complete character biography from textual evidence. A rich biography fuels specific, grounded choices in every scene.

Lesson 2 • Genre and Style Recognition

Distinguishes realism, expressionism, absurdism, and other major dramatic styles. Style recognition shapes vocal, physical, and emotional performance choices.

Lesson 3 • Dramatic Structure and Story Arc

Examines exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution in full-length plays. Understanding structure reveals where a character's journey peaks.

Lesson 4 • Subtext and Dramatic Irony

Trains actors to identify what characters mean beneath what they say. Playing subtext creates depth and keeps audiences engaged.

Lesson 1 • Emotional Memory and Substitution

Introduces affective memory and substitution as tools for accessing genuine emotion safely. Students learn boundaries and alternatives to protect well-being.

Lesson 2 • Given Circumstances and Magic If

Teaches actors to fully accept the fictional world and ask 'What would I do if?' Belief in given circumstances generates authentic behaviour.

Lesson 3 • Actioning the Text

Assigns a transitive verb action to every beat to make intentions concrete and playable. Actions replace vague emotional instructions with specific doing.

Lesson 4 • Objectives and Superobjective

Distinguishes scene objectives from the character's overarching superobjective. Clear objectives drive every choice and unify a performance.

Lesson 1 • Giving and Receiving Feedback

Teaches constructive feedback language and the actor's productive response to direction. Feedback fluency accelerates growth for both giver and receiver.

Lesson 2 • Scene Presentation and Critique

Prepares students to present polished scenes before an audience and engage in structured critique. Public presentation builds performance confidence and critical vocabulary.

Lesson 3 • Active Listening and Genuine Response

Trains actors to truly hear their partner and respond in the moment rather than anticipate. Genuine listening transforms scripted dialogue into live exchange.

Lesson 4 • Selecting and Preparing a Scene

Covers scene selection criteria, initial read-throughs, and table work analysis. Strong preparation prevents surface-level performance in early rehearsals.

Lesson 1 • Costume, Prop, and Environment Response

Explores how costume pieces, props, and set elements transform character behaviour. Actors learn to use physical environment as a character-building resource.

Lesson 2 • Sustaining Character Through a Full Role

Addresses consistency, arc, and renewal across a full-length production run. Sustaining character prevents performance from going stale over multiple shows.

Lesson 3 • Status, Power, and Relationship Dynamics

Trains actors to play and shift status levels within scenes and relationships. Status dynamics create tension, comedy, and dramatic interest.

Lesson 4 • Inside-Out vs. Outside-In Approaches

Compares psychological-first and physical-first character-building methods. Understanding both approaches gives actors a flexible creative toolkit.

Lesson 1 • Navigating the Acting Industry

Surveys agents, casting directors, unions, and self-submission strategies. Industry literacy helps actors make informed career decisions from day one.

Lesson 2 • Working with Directors and Designers

Defines the actor's collaborative role within the full production team. Effective collaboration with directors and designers elevates the entire production.

Lesson 3 • Rehearsal to Performance Transition

Guides actors through technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and opening night preparation. The transition from rehearsal to performance requires specific adaptive skills.

Lesson 4 • Audition Technique and Monologue Preparation

Covers monologue selection, preparation, and audition room protocol for stage and screen. A strong audition is the actor's primary professional tool.