Yes! Acting For Screen includes the very basics of screen craft, encouraging young people to get comfortable and confident in front of the lens. Sometimes starting with a clean slate can be advantageous.

Absolutely, the training will really stretch members and is an opportunity to develop existing skills with consistent practice and guidance in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere.

In essence good acting is ‘good acting’ but an actor needs to have a practical understanding of the challenges of playing to a completely different audience, because in screen acting the camera is your audience and it sees every detail. The scale of the performance is the biggest difference, but this goes beyond merely ‘doing less’ for screen work, a rather misleading phrase. Screen acting requires a shift in focus and an ability to be completely comfortable and confident in front of the lens, in a similar way that one must become comfortable in front of a live audience. If actors are looking to develop their screen craft, the only way to do so is to get regular experience in front of the lens – the learning is in the doing.

We will be exploring a vast array of different techniques from various practitioners including Meisner, Stanislavsky and Strasberg. We are aiming to develop our character work, our ability to listen and react, our vocal ability. We will explore how to use the lens to our advantage and how to train ourselves to scale performances without losing detail and specificity.

All work is practical. Starting with a warm up and relaxation exercise to ground us, we will work our way through various activities to develop our skills before applying them to script work or improvisation, depending on the needs of the session. The nature of the training means that the work and activities will always be varied and evolving – but we’ll be working with the camera present every step of the way.

Yes, due to the nature of screen acting, reading scripts will be part of what we do. However, the focus is not on your reading ability and we will help to develop your script-reading skills.

Depending on the nature of the session, members may be asked to learn small amounts of dialogue for following workshop. If homework is set, it’s vital that it’s completed!

Yes, the more you attend the more experience you get and as the saying goes, ‘practice makes you pretty good!’ In addition, strength of group dynamics is crucial and it is important to have consistency and develop a good working relationship with your directors and your group.

Liam Bessell heads up Acting For Screen, having trained at LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art). Liam has spent many years working with actors both in front and behind the camera. He has vast experience as an actor, director and photographer and is perfectly placed to bring his knowledge to young actors at Playbox Theatre.

It really will. The course will enable you to attend screen auditions with calm, confidence and experience. The team will be happy to help you prepare for specific auditions and will equip you with a range of skills and exercises to support you through the casting process.

You should always wear comfortable, practical clothing that will not restrict your movement in any way.

There will be a maximum of 12 young people in the Acting For Screen workshops, enabling everyone to have maximum opportunity to work in front of the camera, and with the director.

No – you would need to additionally be a member of Playbox’s Theatre Training (javascript:void(0))workshops, in order to audition for the company’s productions. We offer good discounts for young people attending multiple workshops, so do ask us for more information about these.

The seasonal fee is £155. Payments are made three times per year, as our seasons run in conjunction with the school terms. There are discounts for people attending multiple workshops with Playbox Theatre – please ask us for more information.

Please apply online,(javascript:void(0)) we’ll then contact you as soon as a place is available and will look forward to welcoming you to the team!