clasrùm - intensive acting courses

intensive acting courses

Here’s what I honestly think.

The cost of actor training has become prohibitively expensive, many drama schools have lost their way and the acting profession has become frustratingly elite. Although I am not alone in this opinion, it is a problem that has largely been ignored.

So this is for people that want a robust and flexible acting technique but cannot or do not want to enrol on a full time acting course.

I call it Clasrùm.
The Scots word for classroom.

The idea is simple. It is two distinct, month long courses for actors of different experience.

I’ve worked with many theatre companies and acting schools worldwide, helping actors build confidence in their methodology. I've worked with hundreds of actors and auditioned many more and I’ve seen that the most successful ones are confident in their own bespoke methods and open to collaboration.

Personally, I find the learning process with actors in the rehearsal room as rewarding as making a show for an audience. So, throughout my career, my focus has been on crafting shows and teaching classes aimed at helping actors understand subtext, explore the layers beneath dialogue, listen and respond authentically to scene partners, and stay present and engaged onstage while truthfully reacting to circumstances.

At Clasrúm you will develop a bespoke toolbox of practical techniques to build your confidence, authenticity and adaptabilty.

If you think that this short and intense training might suit you, just make contact.

Graham McLaren.

Clasrùm 1

A four week intensive acting course for people with little or no formal experience of acting. This is designed for individuals new to acting who want to learn fundamental acting techniques.

Throughout the course, participants will progressively enhance their skills, following a structured curriculum that ensures a comprehensive understanding of acting fundamentals including voice, movement, and character development. Using a variety of contemporary and classical texts, participants will gain foundational skills in acting with text.

Participants will examine strategies for approaching unfamiliar scripts, extracting crucial details about characters and settings. Practical exercises will illustrate the process through which actors make decisions and deliver text.

Classes will be predominantly practical, focusing on solo and partnered scene work and needs consistent attendance. Additionally, discussions and feedback sessions will be integral to the learning process, enabling participants to expand their vocabulary for discussing performance.

10:15 am-11:15am, led by Vicki Manderson and will focus on the actor's physicality.

11;15am-12;15am, led by Fiona Kennedy and will voice on the actor's voice.

12;15 am-1pm lunch

1pm-5:45 pm, led by Graham McLaren and will focus on acting techniques.

5 days a week for 4 weeks. (160 hours)

In 2025, clasrùm 1 will take place in The Tron Theatre, Glasgow , June 30th until July 25th.

Clasrùm 2

A four week intensive acting course for individuals with prior acting experience.

The course emphasises the development of actors' movement, and acting abilities through an advanced exploration of contemporary methodologies in character development, text analysis, and rehearsal techniques. Using a variety of challenging contemporary and classical scenes from significant playwrights, participants will advance their skills in acting with text. Participants will delve into the approaches of various theatre practitioners and teachers, enhancing their comprehension of constructing nuanced and authentic characters through text analysis and research.

Classes will be predominantly practical, focusing on solo and partnered scene work. Additionally, discussions and feedback sessions will be integral to the learning process, enabling students to expand their vocabulary for discussing performance.
This course assumes an advanced level of acting proficiency and needs consistent attendance as well as self-directed study or preparation between sessions.

10:15am-11:15am, led by Vicki Manderson and will focus on the actor's physicality.

11:15am-12:15am, led by Laura Donnelly and will focus on the actor's audition techniques.

12:15 am-1pm lunch

1pm-5:45pm, led by Graham McLaren and will focus on character development, text analysis and rehearsal techniques.

5 days a week for 4 weeks (160 hours)

In 2025, Clasrúm 2 will take place in The Tron Theatre, Glasgow, July 28th until August 23rd.

Graham McLaren

Acting

Graham McLaren established Theatre Babel in 1994 and oversaw the revitalisation of Perth Theatre from 2004 to 2008. His international career includes serving as Associate at Necessary Angel in Canada (2008–2011), Associate Director at the National Theatre of Scotland (2011–2016), and Artistic Director and CEO of Ireland’s National Theatre (2016–2021). He has created over 70 productions across four continents. In 2024, he became the founding Executive Director of Creative Glasgow. In 2025, he will return to the stage to collaborate with Scott Silven on ‘The Lost Things’, which will premiere at the Sydney Opera House.

Vicki Manderson

Movement

Vicki Manderson, a movement director, choreographer, and performer, co-founded groupwork. She has worked with National Theatre of Scotland (Dracula-Mina’s Reckoning, Burn), National Theatre (The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), The Lyceum (The Outrun, Sunset Song), Abbey Theatre (Jimmy’s Hall), Royal Exchange Theatre (Light Falls), Royal Court (The Children), Bristol Old Vic (Anna Karenina), and Dundee Rep.

Fiona Kennedy

Voice

Fi gained her MA Voice teaching and Coaching from Central School of Speech and Drama and has assisted Barbara Housman at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. She has taught at CSSD, Mountview, LAMDA, Arts Ed, Performers College Essex and worked on a number of productions for The Bush Theatre. Private clients include Lloyds TSB, Nokia and wedding celebrants. Her dog Eadie can be found in rehearsal rooms with her from time to time.

Laura Donnelly

Casting

Laura Donnelly. Laura is a Casting Director with 20 years experience across all media. She was the resident Associate and then Casting Director at National Theatre of Scotland for 10 years from 2012-2022. She is currently based between Croatia and the UK.

Clasrùm Collective

Once you have completed your time in Clasrùm, you can join the Clasrùm Collective, a supportive online space where we learn, share, and grow together.

What’s Involved?

• Regular Zoom Sessions:
We will host Zoom meetings where we can work through acting techniques, chat about challenges, and share ideas. It’s a chance to stay connected and keep learning, even when we’re not face-to-face.

• Peer Support and Mentoring:
You’ll team up with other actors to exchange advice, give feedback, and support each other. Whether you’re stuck on a scene or need audition tips, you’ll have people you can turn to.

• An Online Hub:
We’ve created a space where you can:
• Discuss ideas, techniques, and even what inspires you.
• Swap useful resources like monologues, scripts, and tips.

This community is about connection. It’s about having people in your corner who understand the challenges you have. You’ll get encouragement, honest feedback, and the chance to build lasting relationships with others who share your goals.

We will be there to guide and support you, but it’s the group that makes this special.

Packed Lunch

Over the four-week period with us, in addition to your regular classes, you will be invited to six Packed Lunches. These are informal, yet highly focused, working lunches where industry professionals share their expertise and insights on key aspects of the acting profession.

Each session will be based on a one-hour discussion led by experienced directors, casting agents, producers, or actors, covering topics such as navigating auditions, building a sustainable career, understanding industry trends, and enhancing your craft.

These lunches are designed to give you honest, practical knowledge, invaluable connections, and an insider’s perspective on how to thrive in the industry. Bring your lunch and bring your questions.

Info@clasrum.org

Tell us about yourself, your acting experience and which Clasrùm you are interested in. You should get a response within 48 hours.

How much do the courses cost?

£10 per hour.

Both courses run 10am until 6pm five days a week for four weeks.
(160 hours) cost: £1600

There are no admin costs or auditions costs to pay, it’s all included.

Course fees need to be fully paid at least four weeks before your course starts to secure your place.

Do I need to audition?

No.
Simply fill in the form on this website.
Explain who you are and why you are interested in the clasrùm you have chosen. Thereafter you will be contacted and at that point you may need to chat on zoom with us.

Where do classes take place?

Clasrùm are planned to take place in The Tron Theatre Glasgow, UK in Summer 2025. We will use the same city centre rehearsal studios for all classes.

In the future, we may expand Clasrùm to other cities, including locations beyond Scotland.

Say more about the thinking behind clasrùm

For almost thirty years, I’ve had this notion: If we added up all the hours we spent specifically focused on relevant acting techniques during our full-time training as actors, it might only amount to a month or two. Of course, that doesn’t include the practical experience gained from making student shows. But to be honest, I always found classes more helpful than rehearsing for shows, and I still do.

I shifted from acting to directing because I wanted to dedicate more of the rehearsal room time to refining a bespoke process for each actor and each show. In 1994, I founded theatre babel with the specific aim of creating space for a robust methodology within the rehearsal process, something often overshadowed by the pressures of a looming opening night.

Since then, I’ve created countless theatre projects for companies in many places around the world. I’ve worked with hundreds of actors globally and auditioned countless more. What I discovered is that the actors most in demand weren’t necessarily those who graduated from the most established acting schools. They were the ones who were confident in their own ways of working and open to collaborating with new people.

I enjoyed creating those shows, but the most rewarding part of the process has always been developing and learning with actors in the rehearsal room. Across my career, I’ve taught and directed in numerous theatre schools worldwide, focusing on helping actors uncover subtext, explore the layers beneath dialogue, listen and respond authentically to their scene partners, and remain fully present while truthfully reacting to the given circumstances.

This is the work I love to do most.

For more than thirty years, I’ve been striving to make theatre more inclusive, to ensure that anyone, regardless of their income, race, physical ability, postcode, gender, or sexuality, can participate in theatre, whether as an audience member or an artist. Yet I’m deeply frustrated by the return of elitism in the industry. It’s becoming harder and harder for people to afford acting training, let alone sustain a career in acting.

I believe that the root of the problem is that many acting schools have lost their way. They are no longer driven by artists who deeply care about the craft, but by administrators who do not understand the profession. This shift has led to a decline in meaningful, practical training, and as a result, the acting profession is failing to reflect the society we live in.

I believe it’s essential to bring people from all backgrounds into the industry. That’s why I’ve created Clasrùm, a project offering affordable, short, and intense acting courses designed to put the focus back on the art of acting. Clasrùm is about practical, artist-led training that helps actors thrive by reconnecting with the essence of the craft.

Graham McLaren

Say more about Graham

Graham is an award winning theatre maker and cultural leader. As an artistic director, and curator, he has produced, directed and designed over seventy productions across four continents, ranging from totally improvised and devised shows to classical plays, working with national theatres and commercial producers from Europe, America and Asia. He has performed, designed, curated, written, devised, taught, improvised, choreographed, programmed, directed and produced. He has collaborated with Hollywood, Broadway and West End stars, dancers, puppeteers, circus performers, high school students and asylum seekers.

His first professional engagement was as an actor at the age of twelve, appearing on stage and television screens as an actor for the next decade. He trained as a dancer until the age of eighteen. He trained as an actor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, during Glasgow's European City Of Culture celebrations.

At the age of 24, he established the internationally acclaimed Theatre Babel, and after a few years along side his role as Babel’s Artistic Director, he joined the creative team helping to reinvigorate Perth Theatre, Scotland. Between 2008 and 2011, he was Associate with the acclaimed theatre company Necessary Angel in Canada. Between 2011 and 2016 he was Associate Director for the newly established, National Theatre of Scotland. In 2016 he spent five years as Artistic Director and joint CEO of Ireland’s National Theatre.

Does Graham Subscribe to a particular method?

Graham McLaren describes his method as “a bit of a mongrel,” adapting freely and stealing openly from Alfreds, Meisner, and Stanislavsky while also drawing inspiration from the physical dynamism of Jacques Lecoq and the raw, visceral energy of contemporary dance companies like Wim Vandekeybus Ultima Vez and Hofesh Shechter.

His approach is vigorous, embodied, and rooted in action, ensuring actors are fully engaged, present, and responsive in every moment of performance. He demands both physical commitment and psychological depth, pushing actors to explore the full complexity of human behaviour with precision and truth.

His training is highly practical and designed for results. Drawing from the explosive physicality of Vandekeybus and Shechter, he encourages actors to move with full bodied commitment, breaking habitual patterns and discovering new ways of inhabiting character and narrative. He strips away artifice, habitual tension, and self consciousness, replacing them with instinct, responsiveness, and clarity of action. His work challenges actors to go beyond surface level emotion, requiring them to explore the psychological depth of their characters through action and intention rather than imitation or display.

Through his proven methods, McLaren consistently equips actors with the skills to deliver performances that are not only compelling and truthful but also psychologically complex and deeply affecting. His work is demanding, but the results are undeniable. Actors leave his process with a profound ability to embody character, command the stage, and adapt instinctively in performance.

Say more about the Voice classes

The vocal component within the classroom offers students the opportunity to refine and transform their expressive abilities. By exploring techniques that promote ease and curiosity, participants come away with a deeper understanding of how to communicate with clarity, resonance, and emotional authenticity. They develop the skills to use their voice with confidence, adaptability, and artistic intent.

Through daily guidance from an experienced voice director, students discover the full potential of their unique vocal instrument. Tailored exercises and exploratory sessions equip them with practical tools to engage with a wide range of dramatic texts and performance styles. Beyond technical proficiency, students leave the training with a heightened awareness of the interplay between body, breath, and voice, empowering them to deliver performances that are both compelling and deeply connected.

Say more about the Movement classes

The movement component of the classroom helps students build a strong connection with their bodies, giving them the tools to meet the physical demands of professional training and performance. By learning safe and effective movement techniques, students reduce the risk of injury and create a solid foundation for a lasting career.

By the end of the training, students will be able to move with ease, control, and confidence, adapting their movement to fit a wide range of performance styles. They will also gain the ability to incorporate choreographed steps into their work, increasing their versatility and expressive abilities on stage. This training ensures they are ready to meet the challenges of any creative project.

Say More about the Casting classes

The casting classes give students the tools to approach auditions with confidence, clarity, and professionalism. Working closely with the casting director and Graham, students will refine their techniques and develop strategies to take control of the audition process. Through practical exercises and one-on-one coaching, they will gain the skills to adapt to the unique expectations of both theatre and television auditions.

In today’s industry, a well-honed casting technique is almost as important as the craft of acting itself. With the rise of in-person, Zoom, and self-taping auditions, it is essential to navigate these mediums effectively and professionally. By the end of the training, students will know how to present their strengths and individuality, make a strong impression, and better understand the business side of acting. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in casting, acting, and directing, the programme equips students to handle a wide range of audition scenarios with poise and confidence.

Say more about clasrùm 1

Clasrùm 1: Introduction to Professional Acting

Clasrùm 1 is an intensive four-week course designed for individuals who are new to acting or seeking to build their foundational skills. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to professional acting, blending physical, vocal, and acting techniques with practical scene work and collaborative exercises. Participants will gain the skills and confidence to explore acting further and apply these techniques in creative settings.

Led by experienced tutors, including Graham McLaren, Clasrùm 1 focuses on practical learning in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Course Overview

Morning Sessions (10am–11am): Physicality in Acting
Led by a Movement Director, participants will explore:
• Body awareness and the relationship between physicality and characterisation.
• Techniques to cultivate a commanding physical presence on stage.
• Movement exercises designed to enhance performance flexibility and focus.

Mid-Morning Sessions (11am–12pm): Vocal Techniques
Under the guidance of a Voice Director, participants will cover:
• Breath control and vocal warm-ups to improve range and projection.
• Techniques for effective articulation and emotional vocal expression.
• Exploring how vocal dynamics enhance character and storytelling.

Afternoon Sessions (1pm–6pm): Acting Fundamentals with Graham McLaren
Practical sessions include:

Week 1: Foundations of Acting Techniques
• Introduction to basic acting principles, including objectives, obstacles, and tactics.
• Practical exercises and scene work focusing on understanding action and intention.

Week 2: Character Development
• Imaginative exercises and improvisation techniques to create believable characters.
• Exploring the physical and emotional aspects of characterisation.

Week 3: Scene Work
• Scene study and script analysis, focusing on character motivation and relationships.
• Rehearsals to apply characterisation and analysis to scenes from a variety of plays.

Week 4: Collaborative Performance
• Learning the rehearsal process, including taking direction and ensemble storytelling.
• Collaborative scene rehearsals, blocking, and refining scenes.

What You’ll Gain by the End of Clasrùm 1
• Acting Foundations: A solid understanding of basic acting principles, including objectives, tactics, and characterisation.
• Physical and Vocal Techniques: Enhanced physical awareness, stage presence, and vocal projection skills.
• Scene Work Experience: Practical knowledge of script analysis, scene study, and character development.
• Collaborative Skills: Confidence in working within an ensemble and taking direction in rehearsals.

Why Choose Clasrùm 1?
• Expert Guidance: Learn from Graham McLaren and other experienced tutors who are passionate about nurturing new talent.
• Comprehensive Training: Gain a well-rounded introduction to acting, covering physicality, voice, and performance.
• Supportive Environment: Work alongside peers in an encouraging and creative atmosphere.

Say more about clasrùm 2

Clasrùm 2: Professional Development

Refining Your Craft, Expanding Your Potential

Clasrùm 2 is a month-long intensive course in Glasgow, designed for actors seeking to refine their craft and develop the tools needed to thrive in the competitive acting industry. Led by acclaimed theatre director Graham McLaren, this hands-on programme focuses on advanced acting techniques, movement, and voice work. Through small group sessions and individualised feedback, participants will explore both classical and contemporary texts while addressing the challenges of performing for stage and screen.

The course culminates in a Performance Showcase, where participants will present their work to invited industry guests and receive tailored feedback to guide their future development.

Course Overview

Week 1:
Foundations of Advanced Acting Techniques
• Introduction to advanced methodologies, including Stanislavski, Grotowski, Strasberg, Meisner, Le Coq, and Alfreds.
• Exploration of embodied, interdisciplinary, and culturally inclusive approaches to acting.

Week 2:
Techniques in Performance and Interpretation
• Actor-centred approaches to text work.
• Constructive, work-focused feedback to refine devised scenes.

Week 3:
Techniques in Performance and Interpretation
• Application of advanced techniques to interpret, invent, and perform scenes.
• Study of exceptional plays by Chekhov, Ibsen, Reza, Crimp, Stoppard, Pinter, Churchill, Kane, McDonagh, Butterworth, Letts, and Nottage.

Week 4:
Embodied Approaches and Creative Practice Development
• Experimentation with ensemble performance techniques.
• Development of individual creative practice through practical application and reflection.

Throughout the course, participants will engage in practical exercises, scene work, and discussions aimed at deepening their understanding of advanced acting techniques and creative performance practices. Learning is supported by research, reflection, and expert guidance from Graham McLaren, equipping participants to revitalise today’s acting landscape with bold and intuitive performances.

What You’ll Gain by the End of Clasrùm 2
• Enhanced Acting Skills: Advanced techniques in realism, naturalism, and other acting methods for stage and screen.
• Voice and Movement Training: Strengthened technical foundation for vocal delivery and physical performance.
• Audition Preparation: Strategies and confidence to excel in auditions, whether for casting or further training opportunities.
• Personalised Career Development: A tailored professional plan, including a polished CV, headshots, and a contact list of industry professionals.
• Industry Insight: Practical advice on navigating Scotland’s theatre and film industries, preparing you for success.

Why Choose Clasrùm 2?

• Expert Guidance: Learn from Graham McLaren, a globally recognised theatre maker deeply connected to Scottish theatre.
• Immersive Training: Experience intensive, practical learning in a supportive and inspiring environment.
• Industry Exposure: Showcase your work to local industry professionals, opening doors to new opportunities.
• Lifelong Connections: Join a growing network of passionate actors and mentors, building connections that last a lifetime.

How does clasrùm foster a collaborative learning environment?

Clasrùm fosters a collaborative learning environment by creating opportunities for shared exploration, mutual respect, and open dialogue among all participants and contributors. We achieve this by:
• Encouraging Active Participation: Clasrùm invites all individuals to contribute their perspectives, recognising that every voice adds value to the learning process. This ensures a dynamic and inclusive exchange of ideas.
• Facilitating Peer-to-Peer Learning: Through group discussions, workshops, and creative activities, Clasrùm emphasises the importance of learning from one another’s experiences, skills, and insights.
• Providing Structured and Flexible Frameworks: While sessions are designed with clear objectives, flexibility is built into the structure to allow for organic exploration and adaptation based on participants’ needs and interests.
• Promoting Respect and Openness: Clasrùm nurtures an environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and making mistakes without fear of judgement. This culture of respect and openness supports risk-taking and innovation.
• Utilising Interactive Tools and Methods: Clasrùm incorporates interactive, hands-on approaches that engage participants actively, making the learning process accessible, creative, and enjoyable.
• Prioritising Reflection and Feedback: Time is allocated for reflection and constructive feedback, enabling participants to consolidate their learning and share their experiences for mutual benefit.
By embedding these principles, Clasrùm creates a space where collaborative learning thrives, fostering growth, creativity, and shared achievement.

Clasrùm, is in Glasgow, Do I need to be local to participate ?

No.

If you can attend the sessions in person, you are welcome to participate. We chose Glasgow City as the location and set the start time at 10 a.m. to accommodate travel. In the future, we may expand Clasrùm to other cities, including locations beyond Scotland. We are committed to making acting training accessible to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

How does clasrùm ensure best practices and safe spaces within the working environment?

Clasrùm prioritises creating a safe and respectful environment for all participants. All sessions are recorded Instructors are trained to adhere to best practices in teaching and fostering an atmosphere where students feel comfortable expressing themselves. Any concerns regarding safety or well-being are promptly addressed to maintain a supportive learning environment for everyone involved.

Clasrùm is committed to ensuring best practice and creating safe, respectful, and supportive working environments for all collaborators, contributors, and participants. We achieve this by:
• Maintaining Clear and Transparent Policies:Clasrùm operates with clear guidelines that promote mutual respect, professionalism, and fairness. These are communicated openly to all collaborators at the outset of any engagement.
• Prioritising Psychological Safety:We foster a culture of trust and open dialogue, encouraging individuals to share their needs, raise concerns, or provide feedback without fear of judgement or reprisal.
• Providing Training and Resources:Where possible, Clasrùm incorporates learning opportunities to support awareness of best practices in creating safe and inclusive spaces, particularly when working with underrepresented or marginalised groups.
• Adopting Flexible and Person-Centred Approaches:Clasrùm proactively seeks to understand and accommodate individual requirements, ensuring reasonable adjustments are made to support participation and well-being.
• Preventing Harassment and Discrimination:We operate a zero-tolerance approach to harassment, bullying, or discrimination and have clear processes for addressing any such issues should they arise.
• Collaborating with Trusted Partners:Clasrùm works with venues, suppliers, and collaborators who share our commitment to safety, equity, and respect.

By embedding these practices into our working environments, Clasrùm strives to ensure that everyone can participate and contribute fully, free from harm and with confidence in the support available to them.

What efforts does clasrùm make to promote inclusivity, fair work and environmental issues.

Clasrùm is committed to making acting training accessible to individuals from diverse backgrounds. Through its affordable, short-term courses priced at £10 per person per hour, clasrùm aims to provide opportunities for actors, regardless of their financial status or background, aligning with its goal of promoting inclusivity and diversity within the theatre industry.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Clasrùm actively contributes to fostering an inclusive and representative creative space that values and celebrates diversity. Rooted in principles of equity and social justice, we aim to break down barriers to participation and ensure everyone feels welcomed, respected, and supported in their engagement with Clasrùm.
To achieve this, we commit to:
• Monitoring and learning from feedback to ensure that underrepresented voices are included in our activities.
• Considering the socio-demographic diversity of collaborators and audiences in all projects.
• Providing proactive opportunities for contributors to share their support or access needs, ensuring reasonable adjustments are made to remove barriers to participation.

Clasrùm acknowledges the importance of taking an intersectional approach to EDI, recognising that individuals may experience overlapping forms of inequality. While our resources are modest, we remain committed to regular reflection and improvement in this area, inspired by sector best practices.

Fair Work
Clasrùm is committed to the principles of Fair Work by ensuring dignity, respect, and equity in all our working relationships. We support transparent communication and fair compensation for collaborators, recognising the value of their contributions. We aim to:
• Offer enhanced fees where possible to support those with higher barriers to participation.
• Foster positive and collaborative working environments built on mutual trust and shared goals.
• Be open to feedback and flexible in adapting to the needs of our collaborators.

Environmental Sustainability
Clasrùm is committed to integrating sustainability into its practices, acknowledging our shared responsibility to protect the environment. Despite being a small project, we strive to minimise our environmental impact by:
• Using ethical banking partners that prioritise sustainability and social responsibility.
• Reducing waste and prioritising digital over physical outputs whenever possible.
• Partnering with local suppliers and venues that support green initiatives.
• Ensuring any physical events are planned with environmental sustainability in mind, such as promoting public transport options and using eco-friendly materials.
We understand the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and will continue to explore ways to adopt more sustainable practices as Clasrùm grows.

I worked with Graham whilst at drama school. Working with him changed me as an actor forever. One of the most intuitive blokes I have ever met, with a unique eye for bullshit. You get away with nothing. His techniques have served me to both prep & perform. He taught me how to push and push, and never settle for fine. I wouldn't be doing what I’m doing without him. Ultimately he gave me no fear. Get into the ring with him.
Jack Lowden

I worked with Graham at the National Theatre of Scotland, and I learned more in that five weeks than I had learned in the previous twenty years. It was a really fascinating and enjoyable experience. The techniques and processes he taught me, I have taken with me into every job since.
Lorraine McIntosh

My time working with Graham was the single most important learning experience of my life. He taught me that with rigorous preparation you can play with more joy, more abandon and more humanity. He gave me the tools that I still use in my work as an actor, film director and as a teacher myself. I am jealous of anyone who gets to work with him. Do it. Do anything to do it. Work with Graham McLaren.
Steven McCarthy

Being directed by Graham at The Abbey Theatre was challenging, stimulating and possibly the best fun I’ve ever had in the rehearsal room … if you are looking at this you are probably already thinking of taking one of his classes. Stop thinking, Just do it!
Bosco Hogan

I worked with Graham whilst I was studying. He transformed my creative life, because he unlocked my potential as an actor. He pushes you to listen, to be genuine and support your fellow cast members. Being in a room with Graham is so much fun, he will challenge you, push you support you and make you laugh.
Andrew Rothney

Graham at that time was the first to take a chance on someone like me. He taught me skills, that to this day I use religiously when I approach a piece of work. His techniques and attitudes to text blew my mind. It changed EVERYTHING for me. For the first time in my life I felt that I understood everything about the character I was playing and their relationship to other characters in the play. I also felt I could tap into my emotions on demand and this really helped with performing some of the more dramatic scenes. His way of working serves what it is to play a human being and this is the same for any type of work you do as a performer. Graham has been the most influential director I have worked with and I am so grateful and privileged that I got the opportunity to do it twice in my career. Anyone who gets to have time with Graham as a performer will be forever changed and enriched because of it.
Louise McCarthy

I think that everyone should work with Graham because it will change you. Being in a room with him is like being electrocuted. In the best way. I learned to be fully present, to pursue objectives and to play actions to their absolute limit. He has made me brave and made me bold, and made me connect with my scene partners much more deeply than I ever had before. I have never had another experience like it, and I carry that experience with me into every process that I have been in ever since.
Christine Horne

McLaren’s direction pulled creativity from me, distilled it, and - in a no-holds-barred, cross-the-rubicon manner - brought me to a feeling of a rooted, whole-bodied and moment-by-moment connection with the audience. He challenged me to burst from my safety zone on a daily basis, with humour, heart and rigour. Working with McLaren was and always will be a highlight of my career.
Gord Rand

Graham has a unique ability to connect and understand the inner plumbing of an actor and the ability to reach that and develop that with love and imagination. Anyone working with him will have a great experience with him. He is one of a kind.
Jimmy Smallhorn

Graham is an inspirational teacher and director. He creates a rehearsal room that is collaborative and focused and he is so generous to everyone he works with. He articulates clearly what he will do before each session and rigorously and patiently supports you to achieve that. He really understands actors, the process we are all in together and brings out the best out in you. The process of making work feels as important as the performance and working with Graham is a great experience to be free to do your very best work.
Lisa Lambe

I played Claudius in Hamlet for Graham a number of years back. He led a rehearsal process that was very unique and creative - powerful, joyful, crazy exercises based on forward action and imagery and a general feeling of freedom and non-judgement which allowed for endless possibilities of exploration of those old texts - it changed the way I looked at playing Shakespeare from then on in …. and not just Shakespeare, all of my work . I’m ever grateful.
Tom McCamus

Graham has a way of working that is so simple and practical that something clicked in me immediately and I haven’t looked back. I still use the techniques learned from him on every job I do. To anyone thinking of doing the workshop I’d say, seriously, do it. It’s no exaggeration for me to say it genuinely changed the way I work as an actor.
Gerry Lynch

Graham’s work as a director and teacher created a rock solid scaffold which enabled me to fine tune and expand and most importantly trust, my theatrical intelligence. His approach to the work has now become my default way of working in both the theatre and film. If you want to develop a deep understanding of how to deconstruct a play – while placing yourself, as an actor, within that process and - after a few weeks of exciting work, emerge in the confidence that you have created a fully formed character – now ready to dive into the life of the play – then study with Graham
Rachael Dowling

What we learn at drama school can all too easily be forgotten in a vulnerable and precarious industry. Graham brought us back into a space where it felt fresh again. We hit the stage and that connection was alive. It was a truly inspirational experience that I continue to think about to this day
Richard Clements

The lessons Graham taught us whilst working with him at the National Theatre of Scotland, have stayed with me and I have gone on to use them in other plays and in filming jobs. What you will learn from his workshops will be invaluable. Sign up. You wont regret it.
Julie Wilson Nimmo

Graham's methodology creates visceral, instinctual performances that are based in a rigorous dramaturgical approach to the text. I had the honour to work with Graham on three different productions and they remain highlights of my career.
Christopher Morris

if we dont do it , who will?