Course dates
Online teaching
We are now offering many of our courses online (over Zoom or similar platforms). No prior experience with these platforms is required. Continue learning with us by taking courses remotely via live distance learning.
Course overview
This course takes participants through the main principles of acting - finding ways to understand characters and stage scenes. Game-playing and role-playing are used as a springboard to learn the mechanics of theatre and build participants’ confidence on stage, and in the wider world.
This course is suitable for both beginners and returners, namely those who may have had some formal training, and are contemplating a return to acting after a break.
Participants will be able to apply the principles they learn to their work in the rehearsal studio and to future learning/performing opportunities.
The course will provide a clear foundation for text-based and non-text-based acting and the two-hour sessions will involve a combination of play, improvisation and scene study, and will be structured around the main principles of acting.
Michael Shurtleff’s twelve guideposts to acting will be used as a guide:
- Relationship
- Conflict
- The moment before…
- Humour
- Opposites
- Discoveries
- Communication and competition
- Importance
- Finding the events
- Place
- Game-playing and role-playing
- Mystery and secret
Fees
£310Booking information
Disability Support
We are committed to providing reasonable teaching adjustments for students with disabilities that may impact on their learning experience. If you require adjustments, please complete the relevant section on the booking form and also contact us at shortcourses@gold.ac.uk so we can respond to your requests as soon as possible.
Please note our short courses sell-out quickly, so early booking is advisable.
Enquiries
If you have any questions about this course please contact shortcourses (@gold.ac.uk) .
For information on our upcoming short courses please sign up to our mailing list.
Tutor information

Funlola Olufunwa
Funlola Olufunwa is an actor, acting teacher and writer. She is a graduate of the Royal Central School's MA in Actor Training and Coaching and prior to that, trained at RADA on the BA Acting course. She has taught in a variety of conservatoires, including the Royal Central School, RADA and more recently, LAMDA. She has also worked in schools and with community groups.
As a performer, Funlola last year performed in an online digital show for Creation Theatre: 'The Time Machine', and recorded a few episodes of a serial radio drama for RADA called 'This Weird Normal'. She recently directed A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream at RADA.
Course structure
- Week 1 – Relationship
- Week 2 – Conflict / The Moment Before
- Week 3 – Humour/ Opposites
- Week 4 – Discoveries/ Communication & Competition/ Importance/ Find the Events
- Week 5 – Place
- Week 6 – Game playing and role-playing / Mystery and Secret
- Week 7 – Scene study
- Week 8 – Scene study
- Week 9 – Scene study
- Week 10 – Industry tips (audition prep)
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will have a clear foundation for text-based and non-text-based acting. They will be able to apply these principles to their work in the rehearsal studio, and also translate these skills into future learning/performing opportunities.