BRIGHTON CLASSES
Beginners' Drama
Step into the world of theatre and let your creativity shine! In this lively course designed for complete beginners, you’ll play drama games, explore acting techniques, and bring characters and scripts to life.
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Whether you want to build confidence, try something new, or simply have fun with like-minded people, this supportive group is the perfect place to start your drama journey.​ Great for devloping spontenaeity, team work, public speaking skills, voice, and presence.
All ages 18+ welcome. Early booking recommended to secure your spot!
OCTOBER
Dates: Wed 1st Oct-Wed 10th Dec
(No class Half Term Week Wed 29th Oct)
Time: 6.30pm-8pm
Price: £155 for 10 weeks
Location: One Church, Gloucester Place
APRIL-JUNE 2026
Dates: Wed 15th April-Wed 10th June
(No class 13th May or 27th May)
Time: 6.30pm-8pm
Price: £115
Location: One Church, Gloucester Place
SEPT-DEC 2026
Dates: Wed 30th Sept-Wed 9th Dec
(No class Half Term Week Wed 28th Oct)
Time: 6.30pm-8pm
Price: £160 for 10 weeks
Location: One Church, Gloucester Place
JANUARY -MARCH 2026
Dates: Wed 28th Jan-25th March
(No class 18th Feb)
Time: 6.30-8pm
Location: One Church, Gloucester Place
Price: £130 for 8 weeks
JUNE-JULY 2026
Dates: Wed 17th June-Wed 22nd July
Time: 6.30pm-8pm
Price: £95 for 6 weeks
Location: One Church, Gloucester Place
Intermediate Drama
Explore theatre acting techniques, learn more about improvisation, script work, and how to create a character. We'll work on scenes and speeches from contemporary plays. Add a weekly dose of play and collaboration to your life.
This course is for those who have already completed a course with us or who have previous drama experience elsewhere and want to learn more. All ages (18+) welcome. Early booking recommended. This term we'll be working on classical and contemporary scripts from well known plays.
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'Winter Showcase Course'
Perform in a mini play for friends and family! Our highly popular showcase course returns for a second year. This course gives students ten weeks to create their own play, or rehearse and perform an existing script in a live 'showcase' open to friends and family, followed by festive drinks and celebration. The showcase features work from our Intermediate and Advanced Drama groups in Brighton and Shoreham.
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Wed 1st Oct-Wed 10th Dec
(No class Half Term Week Wed 29th Oct)
Time: 8pm-9.30pm
Venue: One Church, Gloucester Place, BN1 4AA
Price: £160 for 10 weeks
​JANUARY 2026
Wed 28th Jan-25th March
(No class 18th Feb)
Time: 8pm-9.30pm
Venue: One Church, Gloucester Place
Price:£130 for 8 weeks
​ (There is no performance at the end of this course).
APRIL-JUNE 2026
Dates: Wed 15th April-Wed 10th June
(No class 13th May or 27th May)
Time: 8pm-9.30pm
Price: £115
Location: One Church, Gloucester Place
JUNE-JULY 2026
Dates: Wed 17th June-
Wed 22nd July
Time: 8pm-9.30pm
Price: £95 for 6 weeks
Location: One Church, Gloucester Place
SEPT-DEC 2026 'WINTER SHOWCASE COURSE'
Dates: Wed 30th Sept-Wed 9th Dec
(No class Half Term Week Wed 28th Oct)
Time: 8pm-9.30pm
Price: £162.50 for 10 weeks
Location: One Church, Gloucester Place
ADVANCED COURSES TIME & VENUE: 7pm-9pm @ St Mary's Church Hall, St. James Street, Kemp Town, BN2 1PR
OCTOBER 'Winter Showcase Course'
Perform in a mini play for friends and family! Our highly popular showcase course returns for a second year. This course gives students ten weeks to create their own play, or rehearse and perform an existing script in a live 'showcase' open to friends and family, followed by festive drinks and celebration. The showcase features work from our Intermediate and Advanced Drama groups in Brighton and Shoreham.
Thurs 2nd Oct- Wed *10th Dec
(No class Half Term Week Thurs 30th Oct)
£210 for 10 weeks
*Final class is the showcase on Wed (all other classes on a Thurs)
Advanced Drama
This course is for people who are serious about acting and have been to drama classes before. Maybe you'd like to become a professional actor and want to learn technique. Maybe you've started your acting journey and want to keep your skills sharp. Or maybe you've done a few courses with us or elsewhere and feel ready for a new challenge. We'll get to grips with scenes, monologues, movement for stage, Meisner Technique, actioning scripts, Michael Chekhov Technique and vocal development. Open to amateur and professional actors, performers from different disciplines i.e. performance poets, comedians, dancers etc and anyone with a passion to discover more about acting. T All ages (18+) welcome. Early booking recommended.​​​​​​​
JANUARY 2026
An 8-week course that blends bold improvisation with the dynamic world of contemporary theatre from the UK, Ireland, and the US. Across the term, you’ll dive into scenes and monologues from writers such as debbie tucker green, Simon Stephens, Enda Walsh, Marina Carr, Annie Baker & Tenessee Williams. Through rehearsal, text exploration, and impulse-driven impro techniques, you’ll develop sharper instincts, deeper emotional truth, and greater freedom onstage. Perfect for advanced amateur actors and aspiring professional actors ready to push themselves, expand their repertoire, and work with exciting, challenging material from three of the world’s most iexciting theatrical traditions.
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Thurs 29th Jan-26th March
(No class 19th Feb)
8.00-9.30pm
£166 for 8 weeks
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(There is no performance at the end of this course).
SHOREHAM CLASSES
​WEDNESDAY DRAMA SHOREHAM
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Suitable for adults of all ages who would like to build confidence, meet new people and express their creativity in a fun and supportive setting.
Learn acting technique, dive into script, or create our own. Suitable for beginners. and people with some previous experience. All ages (18+) welcome. Early booking advised as this course often sells out.​​​
SHOREHAM COURSES TIME & VENUE: 6.30pm-8pm @ Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham
OCTOBER 'Winter Showcase Course'
Perform in a mini play for friends and family! Our highly popular showcase course returns for a second year. This course gives students ten weeks to create their own play, or rehearse and perform an existing script in a live 'showcase' open to friends and family, followed by festive drinks and celebration. The showcase features work from our Intermediate and Advanced Drama groups in Brighton and Shoreham.
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Wed 1st Oct-Wed 10th Dec
(No class Half Term Week Wed 29th Oct)
£160 for 10 weeks
2026 COURSES
Join a welcoming drama class where adults of all experience levels come together to develop skills, build confidence, and enjoy the creative process. Each weekly session blends acting techniques, voice work, movement training, improvisation, and script analysis in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.
We begin with warm-ups that engage body and voice; focusing on breath, clarity, grounding, and vocal freedom. Movement exercises encourage physical expression, spatial awareness, and ensemble connection, helping you feel confident on your feet.
Across the term, we explore character development, storytelling, and different performance styles. You’ll work with a variety of texts, devise short scenes, and take part in drama games that build spontaneity, creativity, and group trust.
This class is perfect for anyone looking to develop acting skills, improve vocal and physical confidence, meet new people, or simply unwind and reconnect with their imagination. Whether you’re new to drama or returning after time away, you’ll find a supportive community and an inspiring space to grow.
WORTHING CLASSES
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BEGINNERS' DRAMA WORTHING
We are delighted to bring our drama classes to the beautiful Heene Community Centre Worthing. This course is suitable for adults of all ages who would like to build confidence, meet new people, and express themselves in a fun and supportive setting. Maybe you’ve always wanted to try acting. Maybe you’d like to develop your spontaneity. Or maybe you’d like to get better at speaking in front of other people. People take our courses for various reasons and enjoy the weekly dose of play and connection drama provides.
You’ll learn theatre acting techniques and get creative with character, script work and improvisation. This course is suitable for beginners and people who have done a little drama already.
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BEGINNERS' COURSES TIME & VENUE: 6.30pm-8pm
@ ​​Heene Community Centre, 122 Heene Rd, Worthing BN11 4PL
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SEPTEMBER
Tues 30th Sept-Tues 9th Dec
(No class Half Term Week Tues 28th Oct)
£155 for 10 weeks
INTERMEDIATE DRAMA WORTHING
This course is for adults who have already completed our Beginners' Drama Course or have previous drama experience elsewhere. Delving further into acting technique, script work, improvisation, creating characters, vocal technique. Build focus, develop spontaneity and self confidence. Meet new people and express creativity in a fun, supportive setting. All ages (18+) welcome! This term we'll be working on scripts from contemporary and classical plays. Learn how to approach scenes and monologues (solo speeches).
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COURSES TIME & VENUE: 8pm-9.30pm
@ ​​Heene Community Centre, 122 Heene Rd, Worthing BN11 4PL
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SEPTEMBER 'Winter Showcase Course'
Perform in a mini play for friends and family! Our highly popular showcase course comes to Worthing! This course gives students ten weeks to create their own play, or rehearse and perform an existing script in a live 'showcase' open to friends and family, followed by festive drinks and celebration.
Tues 30th Sept-Tues 9th Dec*
(No class Half Term Week Tues 28th Oct)
£160 for 10 weeks
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Drama Class FAQs Terms & Conditions & Testimonials
Q: Do you do trial classes or drop in classes?
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A: We don’t currently offer trial classes. This is because group dynamics and connection are essential to the course experience. Drama is a collaborative art, and the work builds week by week as the group develops trust, ensemble skills, and a shared sense of play. Students coming and going can disrupt this process and affect everyone’s experience.
We understand that trying drama for the first time can feel nerve-wracking, so we create a very safe, supportive environment. You’ll be welcomed, guided, and encouraged from your first session, helping you feel at ease and ready to enjoy the class.
Q: I've never done drama before, am I too inexperienced to take a class with Savage Heart?
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A: Not at all! We welcome complete beginners. Just make sure you book our Beginners Course!
Q: Who teaches the classes?
A: Joy Forsythe teaches our Shoreham courses. Joy is a professional theatre director who has directed several shows for Savage Heart. Joy ran weekly classes and staged 100+ productions over several years with her company the Irish Academy of Dramatic Arts, in Dublin. She has extensive experience as a freelance drama facilitator, running performance courses and workshops for Oxbridge Academic Programs, OXONDrama, and Theatre Royal Brighton. She has an MA in Theatre Making from The Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin and Maynooth University.
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Rachel Mae Brady teaches our Brighton courses. She has a BA in Drama in Performance from Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama and Columbia College Chicago. Rachel is a professional theatre director, producer, playwright and was a professional actor for 10+ years. She has directed and produced several shows for Savage Heart and worked on countless theatre projects as a freelancer. As a playwright she has completed residencies with Theatre 503 and Oxford Playhouse as well as writing several shows for Savage Heart. Before moving to Brighton, Rachel ran weekly adult drama courses with her school OXONDrama in Oxford from 2015-2021. As a freelance facilitator she has taught performance workshops and courses for Cherwell Theatre Company, Creation Theatre Company, the Mill Theatre, Banbury, EF Language schools, Oxbridge Academic Programs, Oxford Royale Academy, and boomsatsuma. As an actor she appeared in theatre, film and TV projects including Vikings, The Tudors, Camelot and The Perfect Christmas Village.
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Ben Grafton teaches our Worthing Classes. Ben is a theatre maker with an MA in Actor Training and Coaching from Central School of Speech and Drama. He has taught acting at various UK drama schools including Trinity Laban, Italia Conti and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and has led devising projects at Lamda. Ben also specialises in physical comedy and clowning and how this can inform traditional acting approaches.
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Q: Do you do performances?
A: Yes. Once as year as part of our Winter Showcase Courses in Brighton, Shoreham and Worthing.
Q: Are their opportunities for students to get involved in Savage Heart's professional productions?
A: Occasionally students from our drama classes can get involved in our professional productions. Students have taken part in Dark Bites and Brighton 24 Hour Play Festival. This is usually by audition and joining our drama classes does not guarantee you'll appear in our professional shows. If you want to perform with us, we do one big perforemance a year with our Winter Showcase Course and friends and family are welcome to attend this.
Q:I really want to take a drama class but I'm terrified! Is drama right for me?
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A: YES! This is one of the most common questions people ask us. It's normal to be nervous before your first drama class. We understand that for many people who come along, showing up for the first class is the hardest part. We have years of experience creating safe, supportive spaces where you can build your confidence and express your creativity. You may feel a bit nervous for the first few minutes but we assure you, the first few classes are all about working as a group so you won't have lots of focus on you. Students often tell us that after the first few minutes of the first class, they forgot about their nerves and enjoyed having fun with the group.
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Q: Is drama good for confidence building?
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A: Drama is one of the best activities you can do to build your confidence. At least 50% of our students come to drama class to build confidence. Many of our students benefit from acting technique in their day-to-day lives, including feeling more at ease in social situations and more self assured at work.
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Q: What should I expect from my first drama class?
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A: Lots of low pressure games and exercises to get to know one another, build group trust and break down inhibitions. Easy movement, storytelling and character exercises in groups to learn about stage craft and some low pressure 'show and tell' in small groups.
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​Testimonials
'I enjoyed every aspect of the classes. Joy was an excellent teacher and put everyone at ease very quickly. The games to get to know each other and to put people at ease were really good fun and definitely did the trick. It was amazing how relaxed the atmosphere was to enable everyone to take on roles/improvise so freely. The idea of this was daunting to start with but really wasn't so daunting in practice.' Rachel - Beginners' Drama Student
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'Do more classes please! I don’t know what to do with myself on a Thursday now and turns out I need this as a creative outlet!' Amy - Beginners' Drama Student
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'It has been really helpful for my mental health and fun/enjoyable.
I really enjoyed the scripted scenes and having to interact/be in the moment with others. Plus the framework of the classes moved at a really good pace.' Simon - Intermediate Drama Student
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'I had fun, I received a lot of support and constructive feedback. I felt valued, I felt challenged in the best way possible. I always left the class feeling like I had discovered something really insightful and I felt good and hopeful. It's something that I almost never experienced before with previous acting classes/training.' Lorraine - Intermediate Drama Student
Drama Course
Terms & Conditions
REFUNDS
Once you book a course with us, we can offer a refund with the minimum notice of two weeks before the course starts. This is so we can resell the place. Please note refunds can take 5-7 business days to be processed by our website provider.
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DEFERRING YOUR PLACE
If for some reason you book the course and then become unavailable, it is sometimes possible to defer your place to next term. This is on a case-by-case basis and we will charge a small admin fee for this. If you have already attended classes in the course you booked onto, this will not be possible. We will not defer a student's place more than once.
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MOVING COURSE
If you decide you would like to move to another level mid-course, this can be discussed with your facilitator on a case by case basis. There may be an admin fee for this.
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SAFE SPACE
Our courses and work shops are safe spaces. Any hate speech, bullying or threatening behavior will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to remove anyone from the class who behaves in a way that makes other students or our facilitators feel unsafe, or intimidated.