Our Training
Pure contemporary professional actor training.
The Fourth Monkey Way
Our training courses have been created to provide our students with the tools required as a modern working actor and theatre maker, confident in creating their own opportunities when they step into the industry. Students on all training courses at all levels of study “learn through doing” and our core training is delivered through a variety of different methods, including practitioner-led studio work, collaborative research-led projects, masterclasses, seminars, rehearsals, performances, showcases, films, feedback tutorials and self-guided learning to provide students with opportunities for self-reflection throughout their training journey.
Our training courses are designed to develop fearless, versatile actors and theatre makers, who are invested in the collaborative environment, capable of using connections within their body, breath and voice to embody honest characters and connect with their fellow ensemble members. Alongside our core training in various acting and performance disciplines, there are also enhancement opportunities for students, designed to physically and mentally prepare them for the term and tasks ahead, encourage multi-disciplinary exploration and build on their engagement with and awareness of the creative industries.
We cover a range of core theatrical practices, with Meisner Technique at the heart of our actor training ethos and Corporeal Mime and Grotowski at the heart of our physical training and practice. Training is delivered in small teaching groups of students. Ongoing individual holistic and developmental support is also provided for all students to ensure they receive opportunities for self-reflection and self-care alongside constructive feedback and pastoral support throughout their training.
Fourth Monkey’s pioneering BA (Hons) Acting accelerated degree is intensive, contemporary professional training which aims to create employable, industry-ready creatives in two years, ahead of their contemporaries and providing more contact hours than traditional three-year programmes.
BA (Hons) Acting students work in repertory alongside established industry professionals to become imaginative, bold and connected actors. Our students’ unique creative voice as theatre makers will also evolve throughout the course as they explore world-renowned interdisciplinary theatrical practices to produce original creative theatre.
Working alongside national and international theatre practitioners and companies, students on Fourth Monkey’s MA Collaborative Theatre create and strategically develop their own theatre company, becoming artistic directors and professional creative theatre makers in the process.
The unique and creative ensemble training approach on this course encourages students to explore entrepreneurial and interdisciplinary collaborative practices to devise and produce intelligent and brave professional theatre from creative conception through to final delivery.
Fourth Monkey’s CertHE in Acting & Theatre Making celebrates each students’ unique creative identity as an actor and theatre maker. Students are encouraged to be bold and play with a variety of industry-led acting, performing, creative and theatre making skills.
Our friendly and creative ensemble training environment encourages embodied and collaborative play, giving every student on this foundation-level vocational actor training course a vital springboard for their onward training journey in preparation for their career as an actor and theatre maker.
Designed for those embarking on their acting journey, returning to the industry or indeed those embracing a new challenge and changing career, the Year of the Monkey programme creates a diverse, collaborative environment in which to explore this unique, intensive movement-based actor training programme, and as such, the teaching delivery is designed to allow students to work and train at the same time to better facilitate accessibility to those transitioning from another career or educational setting. Upon completion of the programme, graduates are well-positioned to take their next steps within the arts, whether that be further training or returning to the industry as an actor or theatre maker.
Our Pillars of Training
ACT
Fusing acting and vocal technique in pursuit of dynamic performance excellence
MAKE
Creating the next generation of pioneering theatre makers & creatives
MOVE
Synthesising technique and physical practice toward total embodiment
COLLABORATE
Celebrating the individual within the ensemble and the practice of we over I
The Monkey House,
London
The Monkey House, our home and training base, in Islington, North London is where the CertHE Acting & Theatre Making course is delivered.
You can explore our modern fit-for-purpose training spaces and bustling creative hub with our virtual 360 tour of the Monkey House.
Centre of Excellence,
Bristol
We are in the process of acquiring and updating a new Monkey House to become our long-term home in the South West and form the heart of our Bristol Campus; students may be able to train in our new home this coming academic year if we can get everything ready to welcome them in good time.
Our Ethos
We believe strongly in the power of ensemble and ‘play’ in our training. We develop open-minded performers who are driven not by the pursuit of the spotlight, but by the desire to create and deliver bold, visceral and collaborative work as an actor and theatre maker. We want to celebrate the humanity of every individual who comes through our doors, to encourage their passion for acting and theatre and guide them to seek out physical and emotional truth in all they do.
We want all our students to thrive and excel during their time with us, and are committed to removing potential barriers, offering tailored support and making reasonable adjustments to our auditions, workshops and professional vocational training, based on individual need where required.
Fourth Monkey are dedicated to creating a learning environment which embeds inclusive excellence into all aspects of our work. We are actively against discrimination and celebrate the diversity of our staff, students and participants regardless of; age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, health or disability, socio-economic background or religion.
