Manchester Acting School

ActUpNorth is one of the leading acting schools in Manchester, providing professional acting classes for adults in the city centre and giving students the opportunity to work with renowned industry experts and access to invaluable contacts, including directors, agents, producers and casting directors.

Based near Manchester Victoria and Salford Central stations, our regular weekly acting classes cover a wide range of different mediums and techniques, but note that there is a strong emphasis on acting for camera, making our acting classes ideal for anyone with a keen interest in pursuing a career in TV acting.

However, rest assured that the full spectrum of work is covered and our course provision includes:

– Acting and auditioning for TV drama/commercials

– Audition techniques

– Acting for film vs TV

– Showreel preparation

– Breaking down scripts

– Creating characters

– Approaches to comedy

– Finding an agent

Terms last for between 12 and 16 weeks, divided into three modules lasting around four weeks each, so it’s possible to join the ActUpNorth school of acting at various times throughout the year.

Our Manchester-based drama school offers exceptional acting courses for adults of all ages and experience levels, providing an engaging and supportive environment for those keen to take their career to the next level.

Your journey with us will see you develop as an actor, building your confidence and supporting authentic performances through greater emotional connection to your characters. 

Techniques will be refined, your confidence will grow and you’ll find yourself empowered to seek out your next big acting opportunities. Past students have gone on to see success in popular shows such as Waterloo Road, Happy Valley, Cold Feet and Brassic, to name just four.

As an Spotlight accredited training provider, once you successfully complete two full consecutive years of study with us, you will then be eligible to join Spotlight, helping to connect you with casting professionals across film, TV and theatre.

To find out more about our weekly acting classes and to determine whether our approach to the time-honoured craft of acting is the right one for you, get in touch with the ActUpNorth team today.

In addition to a regular tutor, students also get the valuable opportunity to work with a host of well-known, visiting industry experts including casting directors, agents, directors, and producers.

FEES: Classes are priced at £22 for 2 hours. This figure includes the cost of all additional guest tutor and professional practice classes. A fee of £88 is payable in advance every four weeks, though discounts are available for those wishing to pay for the whole term in advance.

COMMITMENT:  The minimum commitment to study with ActUpNorth is one term.

WHEN: If you are accepted onto our programme, you will be invited to attend 1 x 2-hour class each week. Class times vary throughout the week with some running weekdays 5.15pm-7.15pm or 7.30pm – 9.30pm.

For some a weekend class is preferable running from 1.30pm – 3.30pm or 4pm-6pm. Due to high demand we’ve limited availability which will be fully discussed at your intake class.

WHERE: Our classes take place in the heart of Manchester City Centre, close to Manchester Victoria and Salford Central Stations. Access via road is via the ring road off Trinity Way.  Turning right off Trinity Way turn right onto Blackfriars Road. Take the second right onto Cross Street as you head towards the city centre. Follow Cross Street to the bottom of the road where you turn right onto Bury Street. On that junction you will see the main reception to our building (Quebec Offices) immediately on your right. Please note there is a ramp further down Bury Street to allow for those with additional access needs. You can find the full Manchester address at the bottom of the page. Please note attendance at class is strictly by invite only.

SUCCESS: Our students in Manchester have had great success locally, nationally, and internationally.  Students have appeared on programmes including ‘Cold Feet’, ‘Waterloo Road’, ‘Happy Valley’, ‘Dodger’, ‘No Offence’, ‘Cucumber’, ‘Banana’, ‘Stay Close’, ‘Red Rose’ and ‘Brassic’ to name but a few. It goes without saying that many have also walked the cobbles of Manchester’s flagship show, ‘Coronation Street’.

Students have also featured prominently in TV ad campaigns for global brands and appeared in west-end, national and regional theatre productions at profile venues such as The Royal Exchange, The Lowry, Home, Bolton Octagon and the Oldham Coliseum. To find out more about the latest developments and success stories at ActUpNorth Manchester, simply head to our News Page.

Should you have any additional questions please feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] and one of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.