Building a career as an actor or stage performance artist can have its challenges. Whether you’re making a start or looking to advance your skills and experience, it’s important to find opportunities that cater to the development of your career. There are many free or affordable acting courses made available to performance artists across South Africa. These courses are often offered by municipal community art centres, state theatres, and private agencies. Here are some examples of performance art courses in South Africa:
The Johannesburg Theatre Youth and Community Development Program
The Youth and Community Development program at the Joburg Theatre seeks to create an incubation space and hub for young directors and theatre makers to usher in a new generation of South African Theatre practitioners. The programming for the unit is designed to curate a rounded experience for the participants as they develop their work under the mentorship and guidance of a community of trainers, practitioners, and experts who make up the community of the Joburg Theatre. The program supports community-based arts practitioners in extending the reach of the theatre beyond the physical space and taking the Joburg Theatre to their communities.
The program is committed to nurturing talent and empowering communities through three key pillars: skills development and education, mentorship and support of young creatives, and engagement and community outreach. For more information, contact 011 877 6867 or visit www.joburgtheatre.com/youth-development.
The Anthony Meindl Actor Workshop Audit
The Anthony Meindl Actor Workshop is an actor’s workshop course that was established 26 years ago by Anthony Meindl. Built on the desire to help actors understand a more modern and simpler approach to the work, he now has the largest scene study studio in Los Angeles and locations in 10 other cities around the world: New York, London, Vancouver, Toronto, Atlanta, Sydney, Chicago, Copenhagen, and Cape Town. As part of the programs offered, the workshop hosts free audits for Anthony’s classes. An audit is an opportunity to observe Anthony teach a class for free and ask any questions you may have about the studio. For more information, visit www.anthonymeindl.com/event/audit-tonys-lab-acting-class-free or email Natasha@anthonymeindl.com
The Durban Short Actors and Actresses Facebook Group
The Durban Short Actors and Actresses Facebook Group is a community group page on Facebook with over 86,000 users. Aspiring actors can join the page to be notified of any free acting classes or opportunities offered in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal. For more information, search Durban Short ACTORS & ACTRESS’S on Facebook.
Looking for a free or affordable performance art training program near you? Reach out to your local municipality for the contact details of the state theatre and art centres in your area.
