Dramatic flair

Fancy yourself as a thespian? This season’s adult acting classes at Constellation Dubai could be right up your street

If you’re one of those people who sit in front of the TV wishing you were on the screen rather than staring at it, the latest adult learning programme from Dubai’s Constellation studio has something to interest you.

Budding Michael Fassbenders will love the Brecht method-acting course, while for those who want an internationally recognised qualification, the studio’s renowned LAMDA courses recommence this month, with a trip to London to sit one of two final exams on the timetable.

This month, Australian soap and movie actor Blake Stemm will take the helm at the beginners’ screen acting course, while successful playwright and actor Alex Broun will coach the advanced group in the intricate act of performing to camera.

Constellation’s artistic director, Elizabeth Hadaway, says participants will learn a very specific set of skills. “You’re much more dependent on facial expressions when you are working with camera close-ups, so screen acting requires detailed and nuanced expressions. You’re not projecting to the back of the theatre so it can be quite different.”

Elsewhere, actress Rhiannon Oliver will be commencing a course in Shakespeare, fresh from turns on stage at London’s renowned Shakespeare Globe And National Theatre, while British stage star Beth Burrows will be taking charge of the musical theatre module.

“We have such a variety of people who do classes for a wide range of reasons,” explains Elizabeth. “We have some students who have a desire to do this professionally, who’ve maybe had a dream for some time but have never had the opportunity to pursue it. But there are many other reasons people come to us, whether for the social aspect and the chance to meet people outside of their day-to-day lives, or because they want to improve their communication skills. Everyone, I guess, acts to some degree at some point in their lives, whether giving presentations at work or speaking up in a meeting, so the sort of qualifications we teach are useful for everyday life.” From September 14

Constellation Dubai, Studio 1002, Al Thuraya Tower 1, Dubai Media City, Dhs1,000 for a six-week course. Tel: (04) 4385574. Metro: Nakheel. constellation.ae