January 2026

Hey fellow actors,

Did you know only 8% of people who make new year’s resolutions actually stick to them for the whole year? As we near the end of January, I hope your first month of 2026 has been as productive as you wanted it to be. It’s a funny month, full of new beginnings and renewed energy, but also still rather dark, cold and hosts ‘blue Monday’ - typically recognized as the ‘most depressing day of the year’. Our resolutions here at CMA are to continue to build and retain the community we have built over the last 2 years. George and I always pinch ourselves at the start of every workshop as we look out at all of the smiling faces, ready to put in the work. Thank you for being a part of the journey so far.

Workshops Designed by YOU

In May, we will be running an accent workshop across both cities. Last year we did General American. This year? Could you let us know which accent you’d prefer to work on? Click the button below.

Which accent?

Workshop Updates

Manchester

Acting for screen with Juliet Charlesworth and George kicked off the year in some style, with a certain trophy making its way to CMA towers…

BAFTA in the house, I repeat, there is a BAFTA in the house. Juliet provided us all with the January inspiration as she brought in her award for her proudest creative achievement - Happy Valley. It was only right that our actors worked on scenes from the iconic show and spent Saturday prepping with George before sharing their work with Juliet on the Sunday. As always, her feedback was brilliant. Honesty, clarity, detail, humor. All of the ingredients needed for a highly successful screen exec and producer. Next up for Juliet? She is teaming up with one of our own…casting now. Read to the end to find out who and what.

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7th/8th February will be a weekend acting intensive on exercises developed from the Meisner Technique with myself and George. Now sold out but join the waiting list below.

Join the Waiting List

London

The long-awaited return of Sheraz Ahmed CDG! London was buzzing with our usual regulars and loads of new faces. We must have been feeling the love - congratulations to Georgia Ryan, who smashed our actions game to win a free place at our February workshop. 

Actors worked on an upcoming Sheraz project - a screenplay in development, with loads of parts still up for grabs. They performed scenes in the room with direction AND submitted a self-tape for feedback. Huge thanks to Sheraz, who has been sending over feedback ever since to those who didn’t see their tape in the room. 

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Script Announced for February!

21st/22nd February will be back to one studio with myself and George for a weekend acting intensive on exercises developed from the Meisenr Technique. We will be working from The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute. I played Phil at the Park Theatre back in 2024. It’s a phenomenal play. Really excited to dig out my old copy for this one.

Reserve your spot and pay later (regulars only) or book now using the link below. There are a few spaces remaining.

Book London February Workshop

My Ideas

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Almost certainly late to the party but I’ve been using Opal this month. It blocks your apps whilst you work and if you want to access them you have to load up the app, tap the session, wait 7 seconds, then tap take a break. Completely removes the temptation by adding barriers.

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Self-tape hack: book a studio that will do it all for you so you can just focus on the acting.

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What I’m Reading: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. Sets out the theory then pummels you with it across a wide range of scenarios. Will improve your life.

Buy the book here.

What I’m Watching: Pluribus and Shrinking (S3) on Apple TV.
Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on Sky Atlantic.

Insights

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Mel Robbins on the silent treatment:

“If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of the silent treatment from a friend, a family member, or a co-worker, it’s painful, and your immediate instinct is to try to figure out what you did wrong. And that’s exactly what the person giving you the silent treatment wants - they want your attention. Just like a child pouting off in a corner wants the parent to come over and soothe them, an adult that gives you the silent treatment wants you to ask, “Are you okay?” and “Can I do something?” and “What did I do wrong?” They use the silent treatment because they don’t know how to process their own emotions, and they are trying to get you to come over to them and ask what’s wrong so they don’t have to do it for themselves.


- from the book The Let Them Theory

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Greg Doran on Elizabethan beliefs:

“In Shakespeare’s day they believed that between midsummer’s night and the feast of St Peter and St Paul, a portal opened up between the fairy world and our own, and you needed to take especial care your children were not snatched away by sprites and replaced with logs.”

- from his book My Shakespeare: A Director’s Journey Through the First Folio

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Tyrion Lannister on weapons:

“My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind…and a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”

- the wonderful words of George R.R Martin, author of A Game of Thrones.

CMA Actor Spotlight

Our very own Isher Sahota, leader of several CMA workshops, will be directing all episodes of a ‘contemporary reimagining’ of detective series Dalziel and Pascoe, produced by our January guest Juliet Charlesworth. It will air on ITV and STV.

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London regular Natalie Kimmerling will be playing Katharine in Henry V at the RSC. Performance dates are 14th March - 25th April. Details here. We could not be prouder of you Natalie.

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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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Thanks for reading,

— Majid