The Actors Yard Reviews 38

I’d been shopping around for an acting class for a while as I was keen to find the right fit for me-then I found The Actors Yard. It ticked all the boxes- professional actors, straight up scene work, play and a safe environment to make bold choices. I was a bit nervous going in as the pandemic has meant i’m a bit out of practice but I was instantly welcomed with open arms and made to feel part of the gang. Dean is super supportive, warm and leads a great session full of fun and thoughtful discussion. I get to stretch my acting muscles alongside a brilliant bunch of people and in no time at all I’ve felt safe enough to make choices -it’s fast become the highlight of my week!

An amazing class for professional actors. Open, fun, supportive and a a great place to play.

The Actors Yard is the perfect class environment for any professional actor wanting to flex their muscles.
I personally hadn’t picked up a script for the longest of times nor had I been in a rehearsal room (Thanks COVID) for a while. So this was a great way to jump back in with two feet. You pay weekly for your session, which is perfect for me as it doesn’t tie you down or add pressure for completing a course or buying bulk packages. It’s very flexible and user friendly to do!
My first experience, I was warmly welcomed and felt right at home.
Dean is a wondeful facilitator and engages you all in a physical and vocal warm up right at the start of your practice, you then pick scripts blindly and pair off to read through them and rehearse.
I honestly couldn’t recommend this class highly enough, you get to explore characters you might not have the opportunity to explore in a professional environment and break down scenes quickly. You’ll also work with some wonderful professional actors!
Best thing I did in 2021!!!

The. Best. Acting workshop out there! The Actors Yard is the best place to play, create, fail and stretch your acting abilities. There are no egos; the atmosphere is electric and no matter how far along you are in your career or how long it’s been since you last acted you are sure to be greeted like an old friend.
Dean, the facilitator, prepares fresh scenes each week. We then randomly select these scenes in the session and regardless of age, race, gender etc. you and a partner work on this scene before sharing it with the room and being offered direction. You can imagine how every session offers you the opportunity to play with something you may have never played with before.
My friends are seriously sick of hearing about how great TAY is!

Really friendly and supportive environment. Great stretch for the acting muscles and continuation of developing your craft. Highly recommend.

A really great way to stretch those acting muscles. Kind of wether you’re in work or not, currently I’m doing something so it’s a good way to take yourself out of that rhythm & look at your craft in a different light.

Can’t wait to come to more when this contract ends too so that I can keep myself topped up.

This is like an acting gym membership & would wholeheartedly reccomend getting down there to try it out for a workout!

Getting involved with The Actors Yard has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in London! I came across it on Twitter one time and my only regret is not getting involved sooner.

Dean is so generous and just such a lovely warm person and an incredibly intelligent actor and workshop facilitator! He really welcomes you into the group, listens to everyone and there is absolutely no pressure, it’s a show up with nothing and leave with something kind of gathering, we’re all just there together to play, learn and grow and how refreshing is that!

Love the warm ups and layer games, it’s a great balance of fun & concentration and just generally releasing. Each week there is new material to delve into so you’re widening your knowledge of plays and playwrights too.

I feel properly inspired every time I finish a TAY session, being in the space with a bunch of talented actors who love what they do and are as equally generous and kind to each other as Dean has been lovely and a highlight of my week whenever I’ve made it to a session.

For real, I don’t want to leave London and I’m debating travelling down from the North East just for a class at TAY when my tenancy is up ha!

Peace and love, Han

Been to pretty much every session since it started and can’t tell you how beneficial it’s been to me as a professional actor, even after graduating in 2011! Dean is a fabulous facilitator, makes the classes so casual but so sharp and insightful, including everyone and empowering the room in a subtle way. Love it! Actors of all ages - go! Top up, flex those muscles and get involved.

This workshop is brilliant! It helped me regain confidence in my craft, the guy who runs it (Dean) makes you feel completely at ease with no hierarchy or feeling like you have to impress anyone. I don't feel afraid to make mistakes as the other actors who go are always so supportive. The way the class is structured is well thought out; a great warm up to shake of the week and get your mind and body ready to play. Then working in pairs on very well selected scenes from plays that seem to keep challenging me on how I would cast myself, often pushing me out of my comfort zone. You get to rework the scene with new direction to see what else can be mined from it, everyones opinions are asked, valued and respected to create the best work possible- A truly collaborative and inclusive experience each time. It is also very reasonably priced to!

A fantastic place to keep on top of your craft. Dean has set up such a safe, comfortable environment where actors can come and play. It allows you to try new things, take risks and not have the pressures/judgement of an audition room. Dean brings the scenes to work on, which is nice as no preparation is required beforehand and keeps things exciting ever week. As a facilitator, Dean is brilliant - very supportive and insightful. Would highly recommend.

This is a great place to keep sharp and focused as an actor. Dean brings quality scenes each week and ignited in depth discussion for delving between the lines. A lovely group of actor and a community where each can learn from one another without judgement or ego.
100% would recommend.

I'm an actor that was unable to practice outside of a Zoom screen for nearly two years during the pandemic. The Actors Yard was a fantastic way to get back in to the swing. Dean fashioned such a comfortable, supportive environment for practice, and the whole experience was immensely enjoyable. Everyone involved offered guidance, constructive criticism and support whilst practicing.

If you are looking for a safe, friendly, supportive environment to scrub up on your acting skills then the Actors Yard is for you. Id not been In a rehearsal room environment for years but the moment I set foot it the yard I instantly felt comfortable. Dean is very professional and his approach to the class allows you to leave feeling like a better actor. I had so much fun and will definitely be returning.

This class is everything I needed to help build my confidence again. A safe, generous and supportive working environment to allow you to play and discover. Dean who facilitates it all is fantastic. Knowledgeable and passionate without pretence or self indulgence.

Dean is a wonderful person. He has set up a space free of overwhelming ego and insecurity-hiding ‘banter’ in which professional actors can go and have just 2 and a half hours away from their day jobs at a reasonable price, where they can let themselves go into a structured warmup, and be faced with scenes they’ve never seen before from high quality plays, with huge amounts of thought put in. He doesn’t act like a teacher, but just a knowledgeable actor facilitating a space where actors can remind themselves why they wanted to do it, and be faced with challenges in a safe environment without judgement. There is no preparation involved, which create a pressure free zone, and in fact makes you more excited to come back and see what happens the week after. Each week makes you think about your potential, and makes you feel more confident to just try things. In a world of pressure filled auditions led by vacuous people who see you more as an object than an actor, and push you into a state of panic having to learn 10 sides in 24 hours and somehow make them good, it’s the new idea that we need.

I bounce out of TAY properly energised and excited. It's so satisfying to be able to play, turn a scene on its head, give and receive constructive feedback and direction. Thank you Dean.

So good to be able to play, practice and hone alongside experienced actors, without a guru or system. Open and constructive feedback. Welcoming atmosphere. TAY is now a regular fixture of my week.

I’ve been to a lot of acting classes, and this one was great! Lovely people and well led. Wholeheartedly recommend!