Drama & Theater
Acting Classes for LGBTQIA+ People
Queer Theatre invites you to join our weekly acting classes for LGBTQIA+ people, held every Monday from 7pm to 10m at the iconic queer venue, The Two Brewers in Clapham. Led by award-winning theatre director Andrew Keates, our classes welcome LGBTQIA+ people of all acting abilities, from seasoned professionals to enthusiastic beginners. What matters most to us, is building a queer community of performers in a place where we can play and grow together.
Our acting classes serve as a queer theatre lab, a safe and creative space where LGBTQ+ theatre-makers can come together to:
Hone Acting and Performance Skills: Learn about performance styles and acting techniques.
Explore Through Play: Participate in creative improvisation games and exercises designed to foster self-discovery and collaborative play.
Delve into LGBTQ+ Material: Work with scripts, themes and devise work that reflects LGBTQIA+ people, experiences and themes.
Build a Supportive Network: Make friends and join a nurturing community that supports your artistic and personal growth.
Discover Opportunities: Gain access to Queer Theatre's array of events, such as our Queer Play Reading Club, Queer Variety Night, trips, social events and networking opportunities.
Industry Showcase: We dedicate several months a year to preparing our acting class students to perform in our OutCast showcases of queer actors and writing. We invite friends, loved ones and people from the performing arts industry such as agents and casting directors to see our work and many have received agent representation and professional opportunities as actors and writers.
Our classes are facilitated by the esteemed Andrew Keates, Queer Theatre's artistic director and an award-winning theatre director. Andrew's impressive portfolio includes directing critically acclaimed LGBTQ+ plays such as Bent and Passing By by Martin Sherman, As Is by William M. Hoffman, Dark Sublime by Michael Dennis, and the recent European premiere of Steve by Mark Gerrard (to name but a few!). His experience directing in the West End, internationally and working with West End, Hollywood and Broadway actors worldwide, alongside with his years of LGBTQ+ activism and experience of LGBTQ+ issues make these classes a unique sanctuary for growth, learning, challenges and of course, fun.
When: Mondays, 7pm - 9:30/10pm. Doors open at 6:30pm for complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits.
10pm we often socialise together until late after class. Finish time varies depending on the type of work we’re doing.
Where: The Two Brewers, Club Room, 114 Clapham High Street, Lambeth, Greater London, SW4 7UJ
Travel: Conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Clapham Common underground station, ten minutes from Clapham North underground station, and Clapham High Street overground.
Cost: £20 per session (includes entry to The Two Brewers for post-class entertainment and bar access).
Accessibility: Our classes are wheelchair accessible. If you have any specific needs, please reach out so we can accommodate you.
Please note we’re currently rehearsing for our OutCast showcase on 25th March, so sessions are focused on finding and rehearsing LGBTQIA+ material for performance. That said, every session is still open to everyone. We’ll play plenty of games, cover a range of acting techniques, and make sure you feel welcome and included whether or not you plan to perform. And if we’re not too close to the deadline, we may also be able to include you in the showcase.
Clothing: Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes that allow you to move easily.
Pencil Case: Bring a notebook, a pen, and a pencil. A pencil sharpener and an eraser may also prove helpful.
Materials: We will provide all materials for each session, such as queer scenes, monologues and other resources.
By purchasing a ticket and attending, you agree to these terms and conditions. Tickets are non-refundable unless the session is cancelled by Queer Theatre (or where required by law). Queer Theatre reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the programme, content, structure, timings, guest line-up, and venue arrangements where necessary. Class usually ends around 9:30pm but may run until 10pm depending on the work.
Complimentary snacks, tea and coffee may be provided. You are responsible for checking allergens and for your own dietary requirements. Participation is at your own risk. Please tell the facilitator before the session about any injuries, health conditions, access requirements, or anything that may affect your safe participation. Queer Theatre accepts no liability for loss, theft, or damage to personal property. We reserve the right to refuse admission or remove anyone whose behaviour is disruptive, unsafe, discriminatory, or harassing, or who is intoxicated.
By attending you also agree that Queer Theatre may photograph and/or film the session, including your image and voice, and use this content for promotional, marketing, archive, and editorial purposes across all media. There is no opt out.
Some sessions may include rehearsal-style work connected to our OutCast Showcase, exploring LGBTQIA+ material and acting technique. Every session is structured so everyone can participate and learn, regardless of experience.
