Based on the five elements of the year of the monkey, Fire being performance, the year’s course offers the following in addition to the two rep seasons of productions.

With workshops throughout the calendar year when not in rehearsal for either production season, the actor will take part in regular sessions and an extensive part-time training programme as detailed below.

Workshops will take place predominantly over weekends, not including bank holidays (with the exception of the Bikram Yoga course).

Water: The Actor’s body, voice and its inner tranquility: Bikram Yoga, Circus Skills, Vocal training and Stage Combat.

-Bikram Yoga Course in association with City Bikram Yoga

-Extensive Vocal Coaching

-Voice & Text

-Circus Skills

-Stage Combat

Drawing on our eastern influences and principles of community and ensemble work Fourth Monkey have joined in partnership with the leading Bikram Yoga provider in London.

With shared philosophies and recognised benefits to the performer’s overall fitness, well-being and discipline, Bikram yoga will help enable the actor to fulfill both their physical and mental goals.

In addition to the Bikram, all company members extensive vocal coaching to develop the actor’s most important tool from renowned industry professionals who will employ different techniques, to develop and enrich the actor’s voice and stage presence whilst also applying the voice to textual study and application.

Circus training is also core to our philosophy to enable the actor to develop a broader physical awareness as well as a wide range of employable skills within the contemporary world of performance.

Stage Combat is delivered in a series of workshops from recognised industry professional Joe Golby, with the aim of developing the actor and broadening the actors on-stage abilities and skills.

Earth: From Seed to Screen, Shakespeare to Stage and Audition to Actor: Short film project, Understanding and bringing Shakespeare to life and audition prep.

 -Shakespearian text and application

-Audition prep with the company's Artistic Director Steven Green

-‘Dogme’ filmmaking: The company of actors will produce 6 short films from conception to screen. Culminating in a screening in Camden at the completion of the programme.

Workshops on the text and performance of Shakespeare with experienced director and classical coach Hamish MacDougall who will open the mind to a fresh and invigorating approach to the work of the bard. With an individual teaching approach to breaking down the language of Shakespeare, Hamish will free the actor from the burden of the text enabling them to not only understand the language, but be able to perform it with character and freedom.

Solo performance and audition preparation with Steven Green: From monologue choice through to performance, this element of the course will aid the young actor’s development.

Based on the principles of ‘Dogme’ film-making and overseen by established short film-maker Ian Williams, the actors will participate from conception to delivery undertaking all roles from writer to performer and from director to camera.

Dogme is a filmmaking movement conceived by Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg that focuses on the traditional values of story, acting and theme. This grassroots style of filmmaking will be taken from the workshop setting and planted in natural, non-studio environments.

Producing five short films from conception to completion, the company of actors will undertake not only the roles of performance, but will also write, direct and produce each film from scratch overseen by respected Film maker Ian Williams.

The project will culminate in a screening in Camden shortly after the completion of filming.

Metal: The Foundation of the Fourth Monkey way: Training, acting coaching and professional theory in the principles of Fourth Monkey from the company’s Artistic Director alongside other recognised experts in their field.

 -Clown and performance through ‘play’ with Fourth Monkey’s Artistic Director Steven Green

-Movement with Angela Gasparetto & a variety of additional practitioners: From Physical theatre through stage movement to dance.

-The way of the Monkey Parts I & 2 with Steven Green: Explore the working style of Fourth Monkey through a series of ensemble based workshops with the company’s Artistic Director.

As an established and critically acclaimed theatre company with a clearly defined style of working and ethos, the actor will be introduced to the ‘fourth monkey way’. Founded in the principles of ensemble and ‘play’ Fourth Monkey has developed a style of work that is both visceral and engaging.

The artistic director of the company, Steven Green, himself trained by John Wright (the founder of Trestle Theatre Company and Told by an Idiot) will lead an extensive training programme of techniques and performance styles employed by Fourth Monkey Theatre Company.

Delivered alongside other influential industry professionals and practitioners the actor will explore physical theatre and performance through the process of play. Based on the principles of the masters of performance clown such as Lecoq, John Wright and Simon McBurney, the training will enlighten the actor’s approach to bold and free characterization, coupled with the essential complicite' of ensemble performance.

The ability to trust one’s self as well as one’s company members is key to the work of Fourth Monkey and indeed ensemble work in general.

Wood: Construction of career skills: Agents, casting directors, photographers and renowned professionals from all aspects of the industry to enable the actor a broad understanding of professional practice. 

-Professional preparation classes to ready the actor for the industry throughout the year with our resident Career development practitioner. 

-Casting workshops for television: Through work-shopping scripts and scenes to camera develop your skills with a practicing industry professional.

-Seminar Q&A with industry professionals from various fields in the live and recorded arts: Networking and learning through sessions with directors, producers, film-makers, casting directors and agents on their roles within the industry.  

-Professional headshots coaching and workshop from established industry photographer* 

Additional workshops with industry professionals from both the live and recorded arts will enable the actor to gain a broad knowledge of all roles complicit in the realisation of performance.

A rounded performer knows the true value of those around them, something central to the team ethos of fourth monkey’s work.

Whether it be the role of the casting director, producer or director; through this insightful programme of sessions the fourth monkey company actor will be able to develop an understanding of the entire machine.

Through additional intensive workshops from industry professionals, the actor will receive supplementary coaching and be introduced to and workshop with experienced casting professionals and theatrical agents, with the long-term aim of gaining professional contacts, work and ultimately representation.

Fire: Rehearsal and Performance

The Fourth Monkey Rep Company will rehearse and produce two seasons in repertory throughout the Year of the Monkey training programme. These seasons will be delivered by an established, award winning production and creative team on the professional stage in both London and Edinburgh. Both seasons will run for a full month, the London season at a central venue in the spring and the Edinburgh festival season throughout the duration of August at one of the Festival's premiere venues, theSpaceUk.

London

All company members will rehearse and perform in repertory, experiencing the challenges and rewards of the true rep theatre for the first time in preparation for our London rep season.

Playing and rehearsing more than one role throughout the duration of the production season the company will benefit from the experiential training of working as a professional actor, in preparation for the delivery of a month long rep season in London.

Rehearsals will take place weekdays and/or weekends (dependent on production schedules) throughout the alloted rehearsal schedule from January until production opens in mid spring for our London season.

 The Plays:

All pieces will be selected based on the principles of Fourth Monkey. To enable bold, visceral production values as well as strong ensemble playing. These works are selected by the Artistic Director in association with the creative team.

Edinburgh

The Company perform at the largest arts festival in the world-namely the Edinburgh Festival in August each year!

Under the production guidance of a large and experienced team of festival going professionals, with a track record of sell-out Edinburgh shows the company will perform in excess of 80 performances throughout the festival in one of the most significant Edinburgh venues; TheSpaceUK.

Staying in central accommodation within the city, the company will enjoy the full festival experience from opening parade to closing night.

Edinburgh rehearsals will take place weekdays and/or weekends (dependent on production schedules) from early May to early August.

Produced by Fourth Monkey’s Artistic Director, Steven Green the productions themselves will be directed by a combination of up and coming industry directors and the Artistic Director himself.

All of our productions are designed and created by established and award winning professionals in their field, ensuring we retain the highest of professional production standards, a trademark of both our reputation and indeed our work.

In addition to this, as with all of our productions; a specialised theatrical press and marketing professional, to gain optimum press coverage and reviews for the project, will market the season and producer affiliates will look to cement transfers of the productions back to London following the festival season.

The Plays:

The Edinburgh productions are often original works written and commissioned especially for the company and again are selected by the Artistic Director.

                           *Please Note: There will be an additional fee for professional headshots