apply now for September 2025
Collective | Birmingham
Flexible Training, That Works For You
In our Part-Time Drama School in Birmingham, you train two evenings a week with some of the most inspiring and renowned acting teachers and industry professionals in the U.K.
The course runs over three terms a year. Each term is 12 weeks long. You do 6 hours of classes per week.
Applications for September 2025 are now being considered.
when will i graduate?
You would be invited to stay in the Part-Time School for a maximum of three years – by which point we would consider your training complete.
However, we recognise that, depending on your level of prior experience, you may feel able to graduate sooner than that.
We celebrate our students becoming industry-ready, so in April of each year of the training there is a public-facing showcase in London’s West End for agents – allowing you to transition in to the industry at any point if you feel ready to do so.
We also have an annual industry gala in Birmingham each July where you will be part of a season of plays and short films, allowing a second major opportunity to share work with industry.
You will not be invited to participate in the showcase until Year 2, though all students participate in the annual gala.
how do you work with industry?
Our Part-Time Drama School is structured to be open to the industry – and you will regularly share your work with external agents, casting directors and other industry professionals.
At each annual showcase we will support you in seeking to gain agent representation, should you feel ready to do so.
where will it be based ?
The Part-Time Drama School will be based in a Central Birmingham performing arts venue.
We will have further announcements around the venue very soon. Watch this space!
Taster Day
Want to find out what Collective is all about?
Join us for our Taster Day – a free day of classes with leading industry professionals from the Collective team.
Saturday 26th April 10.30 till 5.30 at Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham.
I don’t think theres been a moment I have not used something from my classes with Collective during my career – whether that’s from the way I prepare for castings, for rehearsal or for a take on screen/stage. I use techniques from my training in every aspect of my professional life.
Segun Fawole – Screen Actor – Grime Kids, Sandman, Eastenders
Course Overview
Our curriculum offers a comprehensive professional actor-training – allowing you to develop the skills needed for a sustainable career as an actor for stage and screen.
The term-by-term training model has a clear developmental structure to aid your growth as an actor.
Each term you will build on the skills you learnt previously and explore new approaches and techniques you’ve not covered before.
Year 1
In the first year, the curriculum will help you develop your acting techniques for Realism.
- Actor’s Toolkit
- Movement
- Screen Acting 1
- Voice
- Contemporary Scene Study
- Accents
- Screen Acting 2
- Creative Ensemble
- Contemporary Play Project
- Self-Tapes
- INDUSTRY GALA
YEAR 2
During the second year you will undertake more stylised and genre-based forms of acting.
- American Play Project
- American Accents
- Screen Acting 3
- Making Your Own Work for Theatre (Solo Story)
- Short Film Project
- Spoken Word
- Motion Capture
- Industry Preparation
- WEST END SHOWCASE
- INDUSTRY GALA
YEAR 3
The final year will focus on public performance and preparation for the industry.
- Shakespeare Play Project
- Full-Length Public Play Project
- Industry Preparation
- Audition Technique
- WEST END SHOWCASE
- INDUSTRY GALA
course fees £650*
*per term
Unlike with a drama school degree, you pay term-by-term to join our Part-Time Course. So you can come train with us without needing to commit to full-time academic study.
There is an option to pay in instalments.
meet the staff
paul harvard | programme leader
aly spiro | head of industry and development
anthony vander | head of film and television
joseph junkere | head of participation
gail sixsmith | movement teacher
niall walker | head of voice and movement
alexander igbanoi | screen acting teacher
corry raymond | director of photography
aundrea fudge | american accent teacher
