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After-school classes at our studio

The Playing Space runs weekly after-school drama classes at our wonderful purpose-built studio in Southgate, North London.

For more information about our studio and a location map, click here.

Students are grouped into four levels, according to age:

Introductory: ages 4–6   maximum group size: 10

Foundation: ages 7–9   maximum group size: 8

Intermediate: ages 10–13   maximum group size: 6

Advanced: ages 14+   maximum group size: 4

The Playing Space matches Enfield term dates. There are no classes during half-term breaks or school holidays. However, The Playing Space also runs a range of exciting holiday workshops.

Our current timetable (Autumn 2011) is as follows:

4–5pm5.10–6.10pm6.20-7.20pm7.30–8.30pm
MondayFoundationFoundationAdvanced Public SpeakingAdvanced Acting
TuesdayFoundationPlay rehearsal (5.30–7.30pm)
WednesdayIntroductoryIntermediateIntermediate
ThursdayIntroductoryIntermediateIntermediateAdvanced Acting
FridayFoundationFoundationIntermediate

To enquire about spaces in any of our classes, please contact us.

A typical fun-filled class will consist of:

  • an opening game
  • a warm-up and a few stretches
  • a physical performance activity
  • breathing and voice exercises
  • a language skill
  • work on a key vocal or physical stage technique OR rehearsal

At higher levels, classes also have a theoretical element. Discussions and brief written exercises might cover the following areas:

  • chararacter and objective
  • context and subtext
  • style and period
  • theatre history
  • the classical canon
  • acting theory

For more information about the skills, techniques and knowledge covered at each level, please have a look at our syllabus.

Every spring The Playing Space enters students in the North London Festival of Music, Drama and Dance. Our students enter at all levels and in a wide range of categories, including verse speaking, prose reading, individual and group acting, improvisation, and sight reading. Although there is a competitive element to the festival, we emphasise the fun of taking part and the unique thrill of performing in front of an audience.

In December each of our students takes a LAMDA Exam. These examinations, awarded by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, are the speech/acting equivalent of music grades. The Playing Space operates as a private LAMDA Exams centre. This means that a LAMDA examiner spends two days at our studio.