Our Classes
Summer Course 2026 - 10 Actors Only
5 Week Part-Time Foundation Level Course in Acting
(Including informal public performance)
Intended for individuals who are applying or preparing for a BA in Acting, this course gives a foundational duel-technique understanding of the psychophysical approach to acting. It is designed to provide a perfect preparation for all major drama school and university acting programmes, and is specific to those actors who feel their quietness or introversion will be an obstacle to their quality of formal training.
We will explore the basic elements and principles of the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique as well as Stanislavski's Method of Physical Action and Active Analysis. The classes will take place twice weekly and will be text based and character based.
The Michael Chekhov Classes have been created so that they can be attended as a drop in if needed, however the Stanislavski classes would require full attendence each week.
The course will culminate in an informal presentation of scenes from a play which members of the public are welcome to attend.
Course Cost - £350
(Introductory offer - Payment Installments can be negotiated)
Monday 3rd August - Friday 4th September
HAMPSTEAD & CAMDEN
Monday evenings, 6-9pm.
Active Analysis & Method of Physical Action.
Stanislavski's Active Analysis is a rehearsal technique that encourages actors to explore a play through physical action and chaarcter interplay rather than relying on intellectual analysis. In this method, actors experiment with different objectives, obstacles and actions to discover the emotional and psychological truth of the characters.
Actors uncover deeper layers of meaning and build a more authentic connection to their roles by examining their personal response to the material. This makes it a dynamic and organic approach to understanding a play, helping actors to bring a sense of immediacy and life to performances.
Friday Evenings, 6-9pm.
Scene Study, Text Analysis, Character and Performance
Here we begin to apply an understanding of active analysis and psychophysicality to set texts, in preparation for final performance.
We explore when to build a strong understanding of character and when to let go.
We investigate how the intersections of silence, time, and space in combination with the chosen text reveal the unconscious processes present within the rehearsal space and our acting.
We also explore the Michael Chekhov acting technique in our character work which emphasizes the use of imagination, physicality, and gesture to create deep and dynamic connections with our character.
Optional Full-Day Masterclasses
On Weekends we will hold optional additional masterclasses for our students.
These will range from Shakespeare, Mindful Meisner Technique, Clowning, Screen Acting, Corporeal Mime and several more..
There will be 16 places only.
Booking only available in person at the studio.
Prices Vary
Autumn Courses 2026
Foundation and Post-Graduate courses and dates to be confirmed in July 2026
Gavin Lister
Studio Director & Principal Teacher
Gavin gained a Leverhulme Scholarship to train at RADA, graduating in 2001. He also holds a PG Certificate in Performance Training from Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a Masters Degree, with Distinction, from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He has taught acting and directed on various BA acting programmes since 2016.
As an introverted and shy actor he identified his own discomfort and that of other quiet actors within professional acting environments. He has since tailored his teaching, and created the QAS programme, to improve the experience of actors who, once in the rehearsal room, for whatever reason feel that they aren't 'seen'.
He is deeply interested in the psychological complexity of acting and actors. Alongside his work at the QAS he runs a theatre company for recovering alcohol and drug users, and has recently graduated in Psychodynamic Counselling from The University of Oxford.