March 2026

Hello!

Here is the CMA newsletter - a dedicated space for our latest news, acting tips, life reflections, inspiring quotes, and updates from our talented actors.

Workshop Updates

Manchester

Our guest this month in Manchester was Zora Bishop, an expert in acting in video games. She has tons of experience in the animated space, with credits including Assassin’s Creed and Star Wars. She uses a mindfulness process to help manage nerves and build confidence, and consistently develops her physicality to prepare for roles. We worked on scripts from Assassin’s Creed and The Last of Us. George introduced exercises on characteristics to assist with building detail. It went so well that Zora is repeating the workshop in London in April!

*

11th/12th April sold out in 48 hours, and with good reason. We will be welcoming David Salter to teach across both days. He has taught Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy (and me and George!). He has directed Rachel Weisz and Paul Rudd. This will be his first ever private acting workshop. If you managed to grab a place, you are in for a treat.

**

16th/17th May is also filling up quickly. Invites will be sent out soon but if you know you want a place, I would advise booking now. Our guest will be Leila Ali from Sonia Allam Casting. Part of the casting department on Adolescence and Brassic, this is a great opportunity to meet Leila and receive feedback on your work.

Book Now

London

Down in London we welcomed Producer and star of Testament John Omole. We prepared scenes from Season 1 with physical exercises on character, working from the inside out, followed by script analysis and application. John guided and shaped the scene work, interspersed with ensemble games and 8 square! Season 2 is casting now and I know that John has passed on some of our actors details to the team. I have just received my scripts ahead of shooting in mid-May. Everyone earned their drink in the new pop-up bar at Mountview on the Sunday. It made a, let's say, refreshing change from the Peckham Wetherspoons. 

Our lovely London regular George Hargreaves made a highlight reel from the weekend. Watch it here.

*

April in London - Acting in Video Games

As mentioned above, Zora Bishop will be leading a masterclass in video game acting 18th/19th April. She has a huge range of experience across the video game world and screen industry. She has taught and delivered masterclasses at various institutions across the UK, including LIPA and Manchester School of Theatre. You will learn how to adapt your body and voice to give life to animated characters. If you want to develop your physicality and become freer in your movement choices, this one is for you. I will expand on her work with a new practical exercise called ‘The Tank’, which explores moving on impulse.

Book now using the link below. There are a few spaces remaining.

Book London April Workshop

My Ideas

*

Think long and hard about the question ‘why do you want to be an actor?’. Often I ask this question to students and often all that they can come up with is ‘because I’ve done it since I was little and I just love it.’ Yes, but why do you love it? What is it about acting that makes you want to take on such a high risk, volatile and mostly unrewarding career? Your answer will inevitably change over time. But you should always have an answer. Keep asking why to get to the root. Or you can always do something else.

**

Why do I want to be an actor? What is it that I love about it? For me, I love the pursuit of something that never ends. You will never reach the summit. It is a continual search for improvement. Like going to the gym. Consistency is the best you can aim for. And I love how present it makes me feel. To immerse myself in a scene means my mind isn’t on anything else. And to get better at something hard feels good. 

***

What I’m Reading: My Shakespeare: A Director’s Journey through the First Folio by Greg Doran. I have immersed myself in the world of Shakespeare this year as part of my directing process for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Greg Doran has directed all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays and each chapter of this book focuses on each play. If you’d like to learn more about the world’s most famous playwright then take a whistle stop tour of each piece through the eyes of a brilliant director. 

Buy the book here.

What I’m Watching: Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere on Netflix. 
This is Louis Theroux at his absolute best. He just knows how to push buttons in the most gentle way. Yes, this documentary is scary and horrific. Men at their worst. But ultimately the release and exposure is positive. It shows us what we need to do to rise up against this growing narrative of what a man should be. At its core, these are men who grew up lost little boys without a father figure or strong male role model. We have to get our own house in order first. Men, make a difference at a local level. If you are a dad, be a fucking present dad and show your children what a real man is. A real man is compassionate, caring, kind, strong, protective, inspiring, healthy, disciplined, fun. A real man loves his partner and shows his love by supporting and taking an EQUAL role in the relationship. A real man isn’t afraid to just like what he likes. I love Taylor Swift and I love Manchester United. I love musical theatre and I love fantasy football. And lads. Trust me on this one. You ain’t going to impress women by treating them badly. Lead from the front and start breaking the mould today.

What I’m Watching: Saturday Night Live UK. Genuinely really clever and funny. 

Insights

*

Naval Ravikant on unhappiness:

“Any moment when you’re not having a great time or you’re not really happy, you’re not doing anyone any favours. It’s not like your unhappiness is making anyone better off.”

**

Adrian Noble on the actors job:

“In many ways, the job of the actor is to transform him/herself into another human being.”

***

Daniel Pink on reading:

“Become a T-shaped reader. Go deep in your field. Go broad everywhere else.
Psychology.
Art.
History.
Poetry.
Comics.
Depth without breadth narrows you. Breadth without depth thins you. Do both.”

CMA Actor Spotlight

London regular Natalie Kimmerling has opened in Henry V at the RSC. Playing until 25th April. Details and tickets here.

*

I am directing A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Source theatre in Stratford, London on 7th & 8th May. Would love to see you there. Tickets and more information: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Please use the code TOBE for a 50% discount (valid if booking before 31st March). Let me know when you are coming!

**

Manchester regular Michaela Short sent us a lovely update - after attending our weekend workshop with Sheraz Ahmed last year she has been cast in All Creatures Great and Small as Mrs Townsend. Well done Michaela! 

***

London regular Namita Lal has just performed a short play at the Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescott.

****

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

Email Us

Thanks for reading,

— Majid