Professional Actor Training Centre

Welcome to our Professional Actor Training Centre. Students come from all walks of life, many wanting to know more about acting and/or its related paths – directing, casting, producing, writing etc.

Our centre offers you a wide range of possibilities which include:

  • Solid advice about being a professional actor in Australia.
  • An intensive exploration of the craft of acting.
  • A central venue that offers a theatre space where students can perform and be seen by industry professionals.
  • A studio/film space that offers the possibility of taking part in a fully edited and produced short film.
  • Studio for show reel making.
  • The possibility of performing in a production at our theatre for the Melbourne International Fringe Festival and/or Comedy festival.
  • A place where you will meet like-minded people.
  • An understanding of how to go about mounting your own show or small company – actors in Australia need to be very proactive and our space offers you a wonderful opportunity to put energy into your career.
  • A list of contacts and recommendations of agents, casting directors etc.
  • Visiting teachers who are regularly employed as casting consultants, film and theatre directors.

Each course provides participants with the following subjects, embedded in the course in one form or another, according to its medium.

Improvisation: The core of the actor’s craft, the capacity to come up with ideas “on the spot” enables you to exercise your imagination on a regular basis.

Character: Imagination “builds the character” – from the page to the stage, the actor must imagine his/her version of character based on the realities offered from the text.

Voice: Use your voice in a fuller and deeper way.

Movement: Not dance as such, but a broad understanding of elements of movement and rhythm which dictate style and mood.

TV Film, Theatre Techniques: As applied to each course.

Methods: These courses begin to look at the various “schools” of acting and their techniques

See Philosophy for more explanation.

The Future

Our downstairs space is now a fully fledged intimate theatre, which, when not in use by the school, will be provided for professional actors and directors to work on their own projects. Students who grow into committed theatre practitioners will have access to the space for their own projects in a similar fashion. Our intention is to provide Melbourne with another alternative space for theatre practitioners to create cutting edge work. Our Performance Group performed here as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival 2008.

Also under construction is our Studio/Film space which will add another dimension to the school’s resources. We currently have film students working with us and industry professionals attend to give classes and expert advice.