Theatre's Best Kept Secret: An Introduction To The Meisner Technique
Thursday 17th August 2023, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
Do you feel like you’re stuck in your head when you’re acting?
Or you can’t seem to stop thinking?
Do you feel like you’re always trying to get it right?
Or perhaps you just feel blocked during the scene?
The Meisner Technique is regarded as theatre's best kept secret to help actors stop thinking and start listening. The technique is designed to help actors respond truthfully to their surrounding environment and get them out of their heads and start following their impulses and instincts.
The first half of this 2 hour masterclass will be centred around introducing students to the fundamental elements of Meisner. This will include how the technique helps actors avoid common mistakes in auditions and drop bad habits of showing, demonstrating and acting.
Actors will then be given the opportunity to play the Word Repetition Game which is an integral part of the technique and forces actors to become specific in their listening.
There will then be a Q+A at the end of the workshop.
Attendees do not need to prepare anything for the workshop but need to bring water, a notepad and pen.
Robyn Paterson
Robyn Paterson has worked in theatre, film and television for over 20 years. She graduated from The Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts in Auckland, New Zealand...
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Tuesday 16th December 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Inspired Sound: Unlocking the Science of Choral Acoustics
Professor Helena Daffern
In this session, Professor Helena Daffern will explore the fascinating science behind choral sound, offering choir singers and directors valuable insights into achieving a cohesive and expressive ensemble, no matter what their standard. The concept of choral blend will be examined —what it is, how it can be cultivated, and the roles of intonation and vibrato will be analysed. The decisions that have to be made around intonation when tuning thirds or dealing with modulations over the course of an a cappella piece will be explained in the context of existing research and different singing styles such as barbershop singing and solo voice ensembles.
Tuesday 16th December 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Unclenching the Jaw: Options from the Physio Lens
Walt Fritz
“Jaw tension” is one of many potential problems facing the singer, and can cause a direct negative impact on the performance in both direct and indirect ways. The underlying cause of jaw issues is attributed to numerous factors (technique, posture, strength, range of motion, etc.), making it often difficult to identify common denominators. Join Walt Fritz as he examines the evidence supporting stretching, strengthening, and manual therapy interventions to address jaw-related concerns in vocal performers, taking into account their unique needs.
Thursday 18th December 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Improving Lyric Italian Diction for Classical Singers
Professor Conroy Cupido
Join Professor Conroy Cupido as he offers an in-depth exploration of the most frequent pronunciation errors made by classical singers in Italian lyric diction. Designed for both emerging and advanced singers, the course provides a structured and practical approach to mastering Italian pronunciation as used in opera, oratorio, and art song.