'I thoroughly enjoy the workshop, your enthusiasm and the effort you put in to making it an inclusive, enjoyable and productive experience. Plus the friends that I have made since joining have made it a must do commitment!'
KEV - WORKSHOP MEMBER SINCE 2019

What we do...

BASED IN BRISTOL, AND SPECIALISING IN ACTING TO CAMERA, the WEST ACTING WORKSHOP provides acting training for anyone aged 9 upwards in the skills required to work in theatre, film, television and radio! 
to find out more and how to apply:
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Email: westactingworkshop@gmail.com

Our weekly sessions are based in the Community Hall at Upper Horfield Community Trust, Eden Grove, Horfield BS7 0PQ.
In front of the camera, on stage or in front of a microphone, we teach anyone of any age (from 9 upwards) how to act in any genre through our weekly workshops, theatrical productions, radio plays and short films. We also cast a lot of our members in films and TV programmes like Harry Potter, Penelope, Skins, Casualty, Larkrise to Candleford and many more. Even Steven Spielberg's production company popped down to cast for 'War Horse'!! 
Young or old, experienced or inexperienced we can help you become a fully fledged actor!

FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP ON THE 24TH FEB
With Tom Jordan from the RSC!

Last year we were lucky enough to have Tom Jordan and his assistant Sam from the RSC, come down to run a fight choreography workshop with us!
It was a fantastic session, a lot of fun, but also a complete eyeopener in to how fights are choreographed for the stage and screen, and how realistic you can make them, but how fantastic they can look!!
The session went so well, that we have invited Tom and Sam back to run a session with our younger members this time. So we are absolutely thrilled to say that they will be here on Saturday 24th February to run a session with the 9-12 groups and we can't wait!

OUR PATRON EMMA THOMPSON

Our Workshop Patron Emma Thompson!

Emma kindly agreed to be our Patron earlier this year and has promised to pop down and meet us very soon! Watch this space for further information!

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Visit by actor nick blood

Visit by former Workshop member Nick Blood who came to share his knowledge of the business as a professional actor. Nick has starred in such exciting projects as the Beatles Musical 'Backbeat' in London's West End as well as numerous TV shows Misfits and Trollied.
He is currently starring as Jimmy Knight in the BBC's 'Strike: Lethal White'

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THIRD FILMS VISITING THE WORKSHOPS TO CAST FOR FEATURE FILM!

THIRD FILMS are visiting the Workshop sessions this week and next to cast for a feature film entitled 'Light Years' written and directed by BAFTA Award winner Esther May Campbell.

We have worked with Esther before on various projects 'Delilah' and 'September' and are hopeful that the young workshop members will be involved with her next project!

'The film centers on Rose (8) and her journey to find her missing, mythical mother. Over the course of one day she follows a bus route into England’s edgelands - drawing her family out into an odyssey of intimate and epic implications.'

Former Workshop member matt kane makes screen international list of 'talent to watch'

Click on this link to see the Article in full!
http://m.screendaily.com/5057694.article
Matt was a member of the Workshop for approximately 8 years and left four years ago to pursue his career in the States. He is currently starring in an ABC TV series and has recently finished shooting 'The Last of Robin Hood' with Kevin Kline.
We are very proud of Matt's achievements and wish him all the best with his career in America!! Don't forget us when you collect your Oscar Matt!!

'broadchurch' actor and former workshop member 
joe sims visits us!

Joe Sims, who played Nigel in the recent acclaimed ITV Drama 'Broadchurch' visited the Workshop this week - the place where it all started for him - to chat to the current young members.
He regaled us with anecdotes of film shoots, plays and being stopped by Police and questioned as to whether he had shot Vince (the chocolate labrador from the series) or not!
Joe gave the young Workshop members some great advice saying;
'Acting is hard graft, it is not just going to land in your lap, but it is well worth the rewards. Always believe in yourself, always believe that you are good and chase down those agents as they are constantly looking for the next big star!'

Thanks so much to Joe for giving up his time and coming to see us!

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WORKSHOP MEMBERS VISIT THE ITV WESTCOUNTRY NEWS STUDIO!

The Workshop members were lucky enough to have a tour around the ITV WESTCOUNTRY News Studio, courtesy of our amazing News Presenter Ian Axton! 
Ian invited us to have a look around the studio, sit on the sofas and have a go at presenting the News!
We then had a look at the Gallery, where all the VT's come in, the vision mixing is done, the sound and cameras are controlled and it's where the Director and Producers sit!
Ian talked us through what it is like to be a New Presenter, what his job entailed and gave lots of valuable advice to the aspiring presenters in the Workshop!
What a great experience for our members! Thanks Ian!

WORKSHOP MEMBERS IN 
'bottom knocker street' 
for citv.

After successfully auditioning for Bottom Knocker Street - a children's TV programme for CITV, four talented Workshop members have been cast in lead roles! 
Congratulations go to Connor Cheeseman from the Wednesday 13-16 Group, Alanna Smith from the Tuesday 13-16 Group, Angel Galloway from the 9-12 Group and Emily Miller from the 18+ group. 

The first in the series of 'Bottom Knocker Street' is being broadcast on ITV on Saturday 31st August at 7.55am so tune in to watch our guys in action!

Huge Congratulations to our Patron!

Our wonderful Patron Emma Thompson has just been made a Dame by the Queen for her contributions to Drama. We are so proud of this accolade and think she thoroughly deserves it. She is so supportive of everything we do! We couldn't ask for a better Patron. So proud of you 'Dame' Emma Thompson!

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OUR CANADA TRIP TO PERFORM SHAKESPEARE!

We recently returned from our trip to Canada to perform Much Ado About Nothing at the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival, tired, hot and very very happy!!

The whole trip was a great success! Our performance at the Festival in Saskatoon was very well received, all of the cast had an amazing experience taking Shakespeare to Canada and having the opportunity to perform in another country, as well as taking in some of the Wonders of the World while we were there! We were also very luck to appear on Canadian TV too!
What's not to like?!!

And the trip would not have been possible without all of the hard work and fundraising from the Cast and Workshop members, from ITV's assistance and of course, our wonderful and most fantabulous Patron Emma Thompson who gave us her wholehearted support and donated to the funds too!!
​
Check out a few photos from the trip below! The whole shebang will be on our productions page very soon!
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NEWS...

Amazing Meisner Workshop with American Actor Markus Flanagan on Saturday 17th July

A couple of years ago (before the COVID thing) American actor Markus Flanagan dropped in to run a Meisner Technique workshop for the members!! Markus was taught by Meisner himself and the session was a real eye-opener for all of the Workshop members.
Now, he is back in the country and we are very excited to announce that he is returning to run another 'Beginners Meisner Technique' Workshop, exclusively for West Acting Workshop members on Saturday 17th July! Aren't we lucky??
Below are photos of his previous workshop with us - I will add the new ones after the session on Saturday. We are so excited!!

COVID RISK ASSESSMENT

9-12 AGE GROUP'S
​LOCKDOWN FILMS

Just because we were in Lockdown and couldn't meet up to run our acting sessions, doesn't mean that we sat back on our laurels...oh no - were busy behind the scenes, devising, shooting and editing two short films based on the young members' experience of lockdown!!
​They are short comedic pieces, exploring the trials and tribulations that the young workshop members experienced during the pandemic. Enjoy the fruits of their labour... well done 9-12 Group members!!

AMAZING TIME ON OUR TRIP TO Harry Potter STUDIOS!! 

We took the Workshop on a trip to Warner Brother Studios to go on the Harry Potter Tour at the beginning of October. It was utterly brilliant! The studios had many COVID safety measures in place and we had to wear masks but it didn't detract AT ALL from an amazing time. And it was so quiet! We had so much room and time to see everything; the sets, costumes, art work, animatronics and of course we tasted Butterbeer in the Backlot Cafe!! All of the workshop members had a brilliant time and can't wait to go again. Check below for photos of our awesome trip!!

WORKSHOP ALUMNI NICK BLOOD

Lovely to see former Workshop member Nick Blood starring in the BBC's drama 'Strike: Lethal White' as Jimmy Knight!  Well done Nick!

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SCREEN PRESENCE CHALLENGE! 

WEEK TWO: PHONE CALL

The task was to be on the phone to an imaginary person. There will be no dialogue from them, you have to imagine what they are saying and react.
The phone conversation starts off quite normally, a little chat, the usual to and fro between you and the character on the other end. Casual, relaxed.
At some point during the conversation, the person on the other end of the phone is going to say something that has a great effect on you. It can be utterly amazing, mind-blowing, moving, shocking, upsetting or makes you livid. You will then react to the statement that they have made and express your thoughts and feelings, finally ending by putting the phone down on them / or they put the phone down on you.
Below is the winner of this Challenge - Ryan from the 18+ group! Well done Ryan!

As the actors from the West Acting Workshop are not currently meeting up due to the lockdown, we decided to run some challenges whilst we are all stuck at home and our acting wheels are getting rusty...
Roll up the 'Screen Presence Presents Challenge' - where workshop members are giving an exercise to record to camera that will help them to start to create Screen Presence at home.

Week One: 'Eating'

The task was to eat a meal or snack in a medium shot for approximately one minute and about half-way through, to suddenly have a moment of realisation. A moment of clarity where they remember that there is something that they have to do, either amazing or awful and then feel and think and decide about that issue, whilst they finish their meal.
A really interesting exercise to see if they can intrigue an audience, to get their attention and make them feel something about the character with a believable and realistic performance.
The worthy Winner of the challenge was Phoebe from the 9-12 group with runner-up Ammo from the 18+ Group. Two special mentions to Elvira and Mike from the 18+ groups for their comedic effect and obsession with food!
Their footage is below, along with a Montage of everyone's efforts in the Screen Presence Presents Challenge - Week One! Well done to everyone who took part!
​Roll on Week Two...

9-12 GROUPS WORKING ON PUPPETRY!

The Saturday 9-12 Groups are both currently working on 'Puppetry in Performance' with their Tutor Charlotte. They have spent the last few weeks working on how to interpret and operate puppets and now have started creating their own! What fun!

WORKSHOP MEMBERS CAST IN
​ITV PROJECT

We are so pleased to announce that we have cast 19 Workshop members in a Corporate Video for ITV! 
It is a Court Room shoot designed to train journalists how to behave in a court room scenario and what they can and cannot, report on. This is a fantastic opportunity for the Workshop members to have professional work with ITV, which will look great on their CV and also help them to gain a profile on Spotlight!! 
​Brilliant!

The Lion, the Witch and
​the Wardrobe

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Siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are evacuated from London to a huge house in the country in the middle of WW2.
Bored out of their minds, they decide to play a game of hide and seek. The youngest of the four, Lucy, decides to hide in a beautiful wardrobe – only to find that it is a magical doorway to the snowy world of Narnia! A world ruled by an evil White Queen, where it is always Winter and never Christmas – think of that!!​

What follows is a story of betrayal, sacrifice and bravery as Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy come through the wardrobe and embark on mission to rescue Mr Tumnus, become allies with the Great Lion Aslan, win the war against the evil Queen, fulfil the Prophecy and become the righteous Kings and Queens of Narnia!
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Performed by the young members of the West Acting Workshop and using Puppetry skills for the first time, this iconic, heart-warming tale by C.S. Lewis of triumph over adversity is brought to life on stage!

Being performed at the Redgrave Theatre, Clifton from
Tuesday 25th - Thursday 27th June @ 7.30pm

To book tickets go to: www.redgravetheatre.com

FOUR MINUTES TWELVE SECONDS by James Fritz

PLEASE BOOK YOUR TICKETS for this amazing production being performed at the Alma Tavern Theatre from Weds 9th to Sat 12th January 2019
​
A thought-provoking play by James Fritz  about our obsession with posting our lives on social media.
​When a teenage boy's sexual antics with his girlfriend appear online, his parents are outraged. Who would do this? Who would put in on line?
Not their son, obviously - so who could it be?

Their search for the truth starts to uncover criminal acts and cracks in their family and their 'whiter-than-white' son... making them ask themselves a fundamental question; how far are they willing to go to protect him?

​Please go to
http://www.almatavernandtheatre.co.uk/theatre/what-s-on.html
TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS!

Directed by Charlotte Hobbs
Produced by Lisa Hamilton-James
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CAST
Michael Pring - DAVID
Rebecca Parr - DI
Louie Wanless - NICK
Tace Rogers - CARA

Fight Choreography Workshop for the 9-12 Groups. What fun!

CASTING NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS to two of our 18+ Group members who have just been cast in a Corporate Shoot for the CLIC Sergant Charity!

And we have our finger's crossed for some of our 16-19 age group as they audition for the new Netflix series 'Sex Education'!!

We will keep you posted on their progress...

Our recent production of
​Alice in Wonderland

Our steam-punk version of Alice in Wonderland
opens next week!!
 Based on the classic tale by Lewis Carroll and performed by a cast of over 30 actors from ITV WEST Television Workshop, this is a Steam-punk themed look at the madcap, fast-paced ridiculous journey of Alice through the world of Wonderland!
So get your tickets now for this family-friendly comedy suitable for all ages!

"Alice is bored. Sitting on the riverbank with her sister who has her head stuck in a book. Again.
Nothing exciting ever happens to Alice. Ever.
 
That is, until a sarcastic and frenetic White Rabbit appears with a waistcoat and a pocket watch, obsessing over how late he is.
 I mean - have you seen a rabbit with a watch before? Alice hasn’t!
 
Then, he rudely disappears down a rabbit hole…
 
 Should Alice stay on the riverbank, bored out of her mind? Or follow him down into a utopia of madness - with grinning cats, chaotic twins, mad tea parties and a crazy queen after some tarts?
 
Boredom loses. Curiosity wins.
 
Welcome to Wonderland."

TUESDAY 3RD - THURSDAY 5TH OCTOBER @ 7.30pm
at the Redgrave Theatre, Clifton
Tickets £10 / £12

Box Office: 0117 3158700
or through the Redgrave website: 
https://redgravetheatre.com/event/2017/10/alice-in-wonderland/180/

REHEARSAL PHOTOS OF OUR UPCOMING PRODUCTION OF
​ALICE IN WONDERLAND!

RADA ACTING COACH AND STAGE COMBAT PRACTITIONER COMING TO THE WORKSHOP!

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Fight Choreographer Tom Jordan who works with the RSC is coming to the Workshop in January to run a Stage Combat sessions with Workshop members! This promises to be an absolutely brilliant session, learning all about how to pull of fight scenes realistically and safely whilst still looking amazing. This is going to be a very physical class, but lots of fun!!

And we are equally delighted to announce that the Senior Acting Tutor from RADA Annie Tyson is coming to the workshop in March to run a session focusing on auditioning for Drama Schools. Participants will be required to learn a monologue in preparation for the session and Annie will put them through their paces in readiness for auditions.
This is an invaluable opportunity to have a 'dry run' for a Drama School audition, and hear from the lady herself, what you need to work on and how to improve. An absolutely amazing chance to practice in front of someone who knows what is required and can therefore give you everything you need in order to be ready for your audition.
These sessions are only open to Workshop members.

OLIVER TWIST!

THE REHEARSALS FOR OUR NEXT PRODUCTION OF 'OLIVER TWIST' ARE WELL UNDER WAY!
This brand new version, adapted by Workshop Leader Lisa Hamilton-James from the original text by Charles Dickens, is set in 2016.

The action has moved from Victorian England to present day. But how much has really changed?

The current Childcare System has chewed Oliver up and spat him out into the arms of Fagin and his gang in the city. All Oliver wants is to find a family who will love him. Is Fagin's gang the place for him? Or will the dastardly Bill Sykes put pay to that? Will the Social Worker Miss Shallcross ever track Oliver down and find him a family? Or will he be sent back to the arms of the evil Mrs Bumble and the East Side Children's Home?
Follow this iconic dark and tragic tale, as Oliver desperately tries to overcome all his obstacles and fulfil his dream.
​Finding a home. 

The play is being performed at the
Redgrave Theatre, Clifton from
Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st July
with a cast of over 50 workshop members!!

Horizon Website

Check out a brand new Web series produced by local Film Makers and Writers (and former Workshop Tutors!!) Paul Dudbridge and Simon Pearce, which stars a overflowing number of Workshop members, both past and present!!

'Horizon' is a sci-fi Internet drama set in Bristol which will be airing every weekday evening over the next two weeks on their website.
It's an absolute nail biter of a series and looks absolutely amazing! Below is the first episode for you to feast your eyes on!
For more information and to watch the next episode go to their website by clicking on the link!