June 2025

Workshop Updates

Manchester

June kicked off with a big one: BAFTA-winning producer Juliet Charlesworth (Happy Valley, Brassic, Ridley, Clocking Off) joined us at CMA Manchester. Actors worked on scenes from Season 1, Episode 4 of Ridley and put Juliet’s feedback into practice. We are so inspired by Juliet - her warmth, honesty and genuine love for actors makes for a fantastic workshop. Plus she isn’t afraid to send George out of the room for coffee!

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Our in-person workshops will resume in September, with TV and Film Director Isher Sahota leading both cities. Like us, he believes in the talented actors that attend CMA and would love for you to be the first to workshop a new, original film script with him. You really do need to get in quick when Isher is around! If you managed to grab a place, well done. Manchester is now wait list only as we have reached capacity.

*13th/14th September 2025 - SOLD OUT - WAITING LIST ONLY*

Join the Waiting List

London

Our guest in London was award-winning director and writer Lloyd Eyre-Morgan (Departures, Eastenders, S.A.M). He sent over a scene from a television series he wrote and we explored the text using his creative process - running the scene, receiving notes, improvising around the scene, running the improvisation and receiving feedback. He was so impressed by the talent in the room that he considered several actors for parts in his forthcoming projects. Watch this space - Lloyd is really going places.

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We will be back to timetabled classes across two studios in London with Isher Sahota (2 groups of 20 actors). There are just 7 spaces remaining. Get in quick if you haven’t already!

*London 20th/21st September 2025 -  7 SPACES REMAINING*

Book Here

Book Now Pay Later

Online

We have 2 spaces left for our 4-week online course in August. Self-taping, working with text, screen technique, actioning and reviewing your tapes are all on the menu for this one. Grab one of the final spots below (12 actor capacity).

*Screen Actor’s Toolkit 6th/13th/20th/27th August 2025 -  2 SPACES REMAINING*

Book Here

Book Now Pay Later

My Ideas

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I have just re-read the best novel on acting in the theatre: Next Season by Michael Blakemore. Simon Callow called it ‘the finest fictional celebration of the passionate craft of the actor’.
Totally encapsulates the experience of being an actor. Read it and let me know your thoughts. Maybe we should start a CMA book club?! Acting books only, darling.

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Read the script, write initial thoughts, read the scene, read the breakdown, choose an objective, choose some tactics, rehearse on camera, watch back, rehearse again, record the tape, submit the tape.

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If it doesn’t line up with your values, don’t do it.

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Insights

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“At auditions his knees were still inclined to shake without warning, and when it was all over and he stepped out of the stage door into indifferent daylight, he still felt a sort of incredulous shock as if through his own stupidity he’d been narrowly missed by a bus.”

Next Season by Michael Blakemore

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Steve Kotler on finding meaning:

“More meaningful does not typically mean more pleasant.”

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Greg McKeown on saying no:

”Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough.”

CMA Actor Spotlight

Please keep us updated with what you are up to - we would love to shout about your work in the newsletter.

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CMAcademy

George and I are so excited to be joining forces with CMA regular and star of Hollyoaks Isabelle Smith in opening The Craft Masters Academy - a performing arts community for young people. We will be offering expert training in acting for screen and stage, singing and dancing, every Saturday in Manchester from September 2025. FREE taster sessions will be taking place 27/09/25 and 4/10/2025.

Do you know any young performers aged 7-18 that might be interested? Drop us an email academy@craftmastersacting.com.

Email CMAcademy

Thanks for reading,

— Majid