As an actor I also run variety of drama classes for overseas students. These classes are a great opportunity for young people to improve and enjoy their knowledge of the English language through theatre & drama!  These lessons enable students to gain confidence through acting and use this confidence for future activities such as presentations at school, university or in the workplace.

Classes include:

• Introduction to Shakespeare
• Acting Techniques
• The West End Musical
• Improvisation
• Choose a Drama Class (See below)

Introduction To Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest playwright of all time, yet often many people find his work daunting, terrifying or even....boring!  This class aims to introduce students to Shakespeare's plays using a series of fun and interesting set of exercises which give students the confidence to watch and study his great body of work in the future.

In the first half of the lesson we will learn about the bard himself and what it was like to live in 16th century London with its many hardships.  How was a young man able to flourish during this period?   Yet, this is also known as The Golden Age where trade, science and culture triumphed under the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I.

Many people dismiss his plays as irrelevant to modern life yet his universal themes of love, power, relationships and ambition are still as important today as they ever were and during the second half of the class students will participate in a number of exercises designed to improve their understanding of Shakespeare's rhythm and language.

The play's the thing....

Following on, students then have a chance to bring some of his most famous scenes to life!  This is great fun as well as being educational and a useful introduction to his plays.  Scenes include:  Romeo & Juliet, Othello, Julius Caesar, Macbeth and Hamlet.  At the end of the class the students discover that Shakespeare isn't so difficult after all and view his work with a new found confidence!

Acting Technique

Maybe you want to be the next Al Pacino or Judi Dench?    Perhaps you just want to gain a little more confidence on stage, or in life.  If you answer yes to any of these questions then a class in acting technique is for you!

During the class students will discover how an actor prepares for a role on stage using a series of warm up exercises in movement, voice and relaxation.  We will also participate in some useful trust exercises.  These are all designed to improve a student's confidence and are a lot of fun too!

Then it's time to put this into practice and perform some simple improvisations before your friends.  The last section of the class will give the students an opportunity to perform a favourite scene from a play/film.

The aim of this class is to give students a chance to speak/perform in front of others and therefore gain confidence in public speaking, a useful tool for the future when they may have to give a presentation in school, university or work, .......as well as enjoy the fun & craft that is drama!

The West End Musical

No visit to London would be complete without a seeing a musical in the West End!  These shows are world famous and range from The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables & The Lion King to Billy Elliott, Grease & Mamma Mia!  This class is an enjoyable introduction to the history and success of the West End Musical.

During the class we will explore the beginnings of musical theatre and listen to some of the songs that have made them so famous the world over.  For some students it's a complete eye-opener, and for others it's a discovery of an exciting form of theatre previously only witnessed in a movie.

In the second half of the class the students will participate in the story of one particular musical through a series of fun and exciting exercises which demonstrate how a musical is staged.  Don't worry there is no singing or dancing involved (unless you want to!)

There is a choice of musicals available to study:

• Les Miserables - the longest running musical in the West End (& the world).....23 years!  It's based on Victor Hugo's classic novel.
• Oliver! - Lionel Bart's hugely successful show based on the Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist.
• The Lion King - Loosely based on Hamlet, this animated film comes to life on stage with masks, puppetry and the music of Elton John!

All of these musicals are very popular with the students as they recognise the story and many of the songs contained in the shows.  They leave the class eager to see the show they have worked on and the many more that the West End has to offer!

Improvisation

This class is fun, fun, fun!!!  If you want the opportunity to practice what you've been taught in a safe and supportive class then this is definitely the class for you!

The class begins with a series of warm up exercises in movement, voice and relaxation;  then the FUN begins as students participate in group as well as individual improvisations which may have hilarious consequences.

However there is an important educational message too as improvisation provides the students with a confidence to use English in an imaginative way as they embark on scenes that range from the comic to the tragic.

It also introduces them to the art of acting and releases some tremendous talent.  Even the quietest in the class are gently encouraged to join in and often reveal an ability that they didn't know they possessed.

This class builds confidence which is important for young people finding their way in the world as they interact with their classmates in an enjoyable environment that changes with every new scene.

Drama Courses

If you require a longer drama course, you may wish to consider a more comprehensive series of classes over a longer period which could cover all the classes above and addtional classes on the following topics below:

• Voice and Movement
• Behind the Scenes
• Warm up Exercises
• Film and TV
• Set Design
• Masks and Mime
• Oscar Wilde
• Sherlock Holmes
• Harry Potter
• An intensive class on one Shakespeare play

The time and cost of classes depend on the number of students participating.  Please see the About Me section on the menu for my details and if you have any questions or wish to book a class please email me at davinci.gawwy@hotmail.co.uk