Acting 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 in Higher Education (CertHE) in Acting & Theatre Making
Accreditation: By Falmouth University
Duration: 1 year full-time
Schedule: There are two separate timetable pathways for the CertHE at Fourth Monkey. This is to enable all students to have accessible options to live and work around their training, depending on their own life circumstances and commitments.
Same weekly contact and training hours, same modules of study and same practitioner team...just different hours designed to suit you.
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.
Evenings & Saturdays Pathway: Keep your days free and dive into studio work on weekday evenings and Saturdays
Timeline: September - May
OUR COURSE
Course Overview
This one-year foundation course offers a comprehensive introduction to actor training in a collaborative ensemble environment. Designed to appeal to those at both the start of their training journey and those returning to it or making a career change later in life with two flexible learning pathways to enable access for all.
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Students eligible for student finance can access finance to cover the cost of their entire fees and student maintenance loans to support their learning and living
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Professional training in acting, voice and movement for both stage and screen utilising Fourth Monkey's diverse actors toolkit of practitioners and practices
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Includes creative theatre-making, puppetry, clown and screen making work alongside screen acting
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Delivered by the core team of established industry professionals teaching across our BA (Hons) Acting degree
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Public performance opportunities - rare for foundation-level courses
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Student progression upon completion of the training to BA Acting courses at accredited drama schools year on year exceeds 90%.
Find your passion, find your voice and find your path.
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. Same weekly contact and training hours, same modules of study and same practitioner team...just different hours designed to suit you:
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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 practice based sessions
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Ensemble performance projects
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Movement, text and voice training
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Masterclasses in practitioners such as 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
