Advanced Drama

This course is designed specifically for developed actors to explore the art of performance and what it means to create ensemble cohesion within the given circumstances of a performance world.

​This advanced 10-week drama course is designed to refine and elevate the skills of experienced performers through an intensive exploration of character building, believability, movement, stage craft, world logic, and placement. Students will develop psychologically rich characters, strengthen emotional truth and listening, and will cultivate precise physical storytelling using movement techniques. Vocal and physical placement work empowers students to command space, project intention, and align voice and body with character choices.

The course culminates in a collaborative creation process in which the students will work together to create a vignette theatre performance. These scenes will be used for a final public showcase during their week 10 class and will be for invited guests, demonstrating the performers’ mastery of advanced acting craft and their ability to bring fully realised, truthful characters to the stage.

About the Tutor

Nathan David Martin is the Artistic Director of Dark Forest Theatre. Founded in 2023, the company was created by create theatre that was used to explore the complexities of the human psyche, often through a distinctly macabre lens. His writing and directing credits include A Filthy Dirty Rumour, MONSTER, I Heard a Dragon, and Marjorie’s Dead. His upcoming work, I, She, Medusa, will premiere at The MAC in February 2026, and he will also write and direct a new production of Alice in Wonderland for the Grand Opera House in the new year.

Nathan was selected by Theatre and Dance NI for their 24/25 fellowship, part of their emerging talent development programme, and has been shortlisted by the Ulster Tatler for Arts Personality of the Year 2025 in recognition of his ongoing commitment to supporting artists and charitable causes across Northern Ireland.