Acting Foundation Course in London. Start fearless.
Your first step into fearless, ensemble-based actor training. The CertHE Acting & Theatre Making is Fourth Monkey's one-year foundation course in acting. Designed to fit around your life, it gives you real training in acting, voice, movement and theatre-making, plus public performances that most foundation courses don't offer. Over 90% of our graduates progress to further accredited actor training.
AT A GLANCE
Qualification: Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Acting & Theatre Making accredited by Falmouth University
Duration: 1 year
Schedule: There are two options to work around you. Evenings and Saturdays or a Daytime option Mon - Thurs at The Monkey House.
Timeline: September – May
OUR COURSE
Course Overview
This one-year foundation course offers a comprehensive introduction to actor training in a collaborative ensemble environment.
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Fully funded with professional training in acting, voice and movement
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Includes creative theatre-making, puppetry, clown and screen work
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Public performance opportunities – rare for foundation-level courses
Suitable for those beginning their professional acting journey
CertHE Course Delivery & Progression
We train at The Monkey House, London. Our vibrant space for makers, movers, and risk-takers. To make rigorous actor training accessible, we offer two distinct training schedules that leave space for part-time work and life outside the studio:
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Daytime Pathway: Four full training days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday | 9:00–17:00 approx.), with Wednesdays left open for independent study and creative prep.
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Evenings & Saturdays Pathway: Keep your days free and dive into studio work on weekday evenings and Saturdays
You’ll learn through:
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Workshops and seminars
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Ensemble performance projects
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Movement, text and voice training
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Masterclasses in Meisner, Uta Hagen, Lecoq, Laban and more
Where does it lead?
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Our BA (Hons) Acting courses
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Other UK accredited drama schools
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Further training or entry into the creative industries
With over 90% of CertHE graduates progressing to further accredited actor training, this is a transformative first step in your creative career.
Performance Project
Contemporary Play or Ensemble Devised
Your craft. Your schedule. Your WAY
Modern training needs to reflect modern life. We know you need to earn, hold down jobs, and manage commitments while honing your craft. Delivered at The Monkey House by active industry professionals, our one-year foundation course gives you world-class actor training without forcing you to pause your life or livelihood.
Choose the pathway that fits your flow:
The Daytime Pathway
Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday (09:00–17:00 window, exact hours TBC) Self-Study Day on Wednesday
The Flow: Four structured, high-intensity studio days every week, with Wednesdays carved out for independent research, creative prep, line work, and reflection. Keep your mid-week space free while maintaining a full daytime momentum.
The Evenings & Saturdays Pathway
Schedule: Weekday evenings & full Saturdays
The Flow: Built specifically for actors balancing daytime employment, freelancing, auditions, or family life. Get the exact same rigorous studio hours, expert masterclasses, and ensemble focus without sacrificing your income or weekday commitments.
What is the CertHE Acting
& Theatre Making?
A one-year foundation course that introduces the core skills of acting and making for stage and screen. You'll train in acting, voice, movement, clown, puppetry, creative theatre-making and screen work, in a collaborative ensemble. It's the best-prepared first step towards BA-level training.
Who is the foundation course for?
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Starting out. You've never trained but you can't stop thinking about it.
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Coming back. You've had a break and want in again.
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Changing direction. New career, new study, new life.
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Preparing for drama school. You want serious training before auditioning for degree-level courses.
No experience required. You need curiosity, commitment and the drive to tell stories.
Why choose the FOUNDATION YEAR AT FOURTH MONKEY?
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Real performance, not just classes. Public performance at foundation level is rare. We think it's essential.
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Study around your life. Evenings and Saturdays.
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Ensemble from day one. You'll belong to a company instantly.
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A direct line into our BA. Know the school, the people and the way we work before you commit to the degree.
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Inclusive by design. A dedicated Student Welfare Officer and active removal of barriers to training.
Fourth Monkey is different as an institution; we have a clear independent identity and training toolbox designed to support our students forge individual paths defined and inspired by our training but always centred on you and your uniqueness. We celebrate the individual in a collaborative space.
We see you and our training is designed for you to see, understand and celebrate yourself...and for the industry to do so too. Fearless actors for a creative world.
"The variety found within the training is something you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. The training this course provides is fantastic and the curation of different practicies is unique. I see myself as a complete creative artist.
REN BERNABE PLUMER, GRADUATE
Enhancement Opportunities For All Courses
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Subsidised access to short courses and professional development
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Leadership opportunities as course or teaching reps
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Invitations to Monkey Socials and networking events
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Ongoing pastoral care and professional mentoring
FAQs
We recruit a maximum of 50 students on to this course. We then create rotating subgroups of 20 or less for engaged learning.