Acting: Shakespeare and Greek Theatre
Summer School
Adults
This intensive ten-day summer school aims to develop acting, movement and voice skills which are required to
creatively engage with heightened classical text.
Throughout the course you will work in an immersive way to develop understanding, explore established and
innovative practice, and apply new knowledge in a practical and professional setting.
This summer school is particularly suited to students age 17 plus who are seeking a professional training
experience or are thinking about acting as a career. The short course will also be useful to experienced actors
who are keen to refresh their skills or explore new ways of working.
Who is the course for?
Entry Requirements
This open access course is suitable for training,
professional and amateur actors who wish to:
This is an open access course for anyone regardless of
prior acting experience.
• become acquainted with the essentials of textual analysis
• learn how to explore heightened text, verse-speaking and imagery
• explore techniques which can enhance character development and story-telling
• gain an understanding of how to embody the voice and explore physicality in the performance of classical text
• work on a presentation of scenes and soliloquies from works by Shakespeare and classical Greek dramatists
The course is designed so that motivated students will
benefit from the study, and our tutors are experienced in
teaching across all levels of skill and experience.
Students should be open, honest, generous, respectful,
willing to take risks, hard-working and happy to give new
things a go.
The course would particularly benefit people wishing to:
• build on or refresh previous acting experience
• explore this as a pathway towards or as an alternative to full-time training
• investigate the possibilities of pursuing a career in acting
Venue, Date, Cost
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow, G2 3DB
8 - 19 July 2013
Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm
£895 Course Outline
Throughout this intensive summer school you will be
supported by the staff who teach on the Acting degree
programmes at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
This will allow you to experience first-hand the nature of
vocational drama school training.
The course explores established and innovative
methodologies in the three main disciplines of acting,
movement and voice. This is done in relation to the
analysis, rehearsal and performance of works by
Shakespeare and ancient Greek playwrights.
These disciplines combine and focus on connecting
to the demands of working with classical text. You
will explore the energy of thought and speech using
technical breathing and physical ease. You will also take
part in workshops which explore building a character,
character relationships and journeys, and the power of
the soliloquy.
The acting teaching on this course is based on
Stanislavsky’s Method of Physical Action. It also includes
approaches based on that method by Michael Chekhov
and Uta Hagen, as well as modern theatre practitioners
such as Declan Donnellan and David Mamet.
The movement teaching is based on the teachings of
L’Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris, and the voice training
is rooted in the work of Nadine George of Voice Studio
International. The work of Nadine George is not taught
in any other British drama school and this is an excellent
opportunity to familiarise yourself with this unique and
powerful technique.
During the summer school, all the students meet to
warm up as one group for the first hour of each day.
Following this, you will split into smaller groups in which
you will explore the three disciplines in a variety of
practical workshops. Individual and pair work is often a
result of these workshops and exercises
Rehearsals for a final informal presentation of scenes and
soliloquies begin in the second week of summer school.
Though learning and teaching remains the priority
throughout, this second phase of activity allows you to
develop stagecraft skills, stamina and an understanding
of how theatre is designed and produced.
Students do not need a prior knowledge of Shakespeare’s
form and language. Syntax and structure, antithesis,
caesurae, imagery, prose, verse, meter and rhythm are all
covered within the course content. Knowledge of Greek
chorus is not necessary either.
The style of engagement within this summer school is
open, supportive and fun, yet it is also challenging and
hard work. Self-directed study will be an expectation of
your evenings and weekend. Commitment, focus, energy
and professionalism will be expected at all times by the
teaching team and your fellow students. In this respect,
the experience resembles that of the students on our BA
Acting programme and gives you a taste of what life is
like at drama school.
A presentation of work to an invited audience of family
and friends takes place on the last day of the summer
school in the Chandler Studio Theatre.
This short course provides a fun, supportive and
challenging environment in which all students can
explore and learn.
Course Leader
Ali de Souza
Ali de Souza gained an MA in Psychology at the
University of Dundee and trained as an actor at Bristol
Old Vic Theatre School. He also gained an MFA in Screen
Practice and Directing at Queen Margaret University.
Ali has worked extensively as an actor and director in
theatre and film for over twenty-five years with many
companies including theatre babel, Brunton Theatre,
Byre Theatre, Dundee Rep, Manchester Library, Perth
Rep, TAG, Traverse and Visible Fictions.
He has a particular passion for Shakespeare, comedy,
the Greeks, and acting for screen and radio. He taught
acting and directing at QMU for six years, where he was
Programme Leader for the BA Acting and Performance
course. He joined the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
in 2009.
Support Tutors
Further Training
Benedicte Fraas Seierup, Movement
Lucien Lindsay-MacDougall, Movement
BA Acting
Three years full-time
Preparing for your Course
Before you arrive
Students will be informed of required reading for the
course approximately one month before the start date.
This will consist of a Shakespeare and classical Greek
play. Students are required to buy their own copy of
these texts.
It would be useful if students have some prior knowledge
of Shakespeare’s language and classical performance but
this is by no means essential.
While attending
For the workshop programme, students should dress
appropriately in loose and comfortable clothing that
covers the body and be prepared to work without shoes
if required.
We ask all students to bring rehearsal clothes to the
summer school, i.e. clothes that are dark and neutral.
Students should bring water as workshop activities in
this short course will be physical.
Students should also bring a pad and pen to make notes
during classes.
Over the past few decades this course has helped shape
raw acting talent like David Tennant, James McAvoy
and Alan Cumming. The course is for highly motivated
students whose goal is to act professionally in theatre,
film, television and all areas of the creative industries.
Intensive classical and contemporary training, including
voice and movement practice, is underpinned by an
impressive range of professional opportunities and
partnerships, along with industry showcases in Glasgow
and London.
For more information: www.rcs.ac.uk/acting
MA Classical and Contemporary Text (Acting)
or (Directing)
One year full-time
This is a highly practical and vocational programme for
graduates and emerging artists who have professional or
theatre study experience. With a focus on Shakespeare
and new writing, students are enabled to develop
their professional practice, identify future aspirations
and establish a network of professional contacts. The
programme is taught in collaboration with Globe
Education at Shakespeare’s Globe and Playwrights’
Studio, Scotland. Our industry partners include the Tron
Theatre (Glasgow), the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh),
and the National Theatre of Scotland. During the
year, each MA student benefits from a professional
mentor and a placement, and there are performance
opportunities in London, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
For more information: www.rcs.ac.uk/cct
Get in Touch
To book a place or find out more information on this
course, please contact the Short Courses team on:
Telephone: 0141 270 8213
Email: [email protected]