June 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

We were delighted to welcome Rosemary Berkon back to Manchester to lead our American accent weekend. Rosemary is an expert in vocal and dialect training, having coached actors in accent work for many years. The focus was very much on developing and refining vocal technique, with practical exercises and scene work on the American accent.

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The summer break is upon us, so there won’t be any in-person workshops in July and August. Get out and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. We will miss you!

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We will return 5th/6th September 2026 with an industry guest alongside George. Full details coming very soon but it is now available to book if you want to secure your place early. We are expecting a high demand as September is always busy. Plus our guest is SICK.

Book 5th/6th September Manchester Workshop

London

Rosemary joined us in London a few weekends later to repeat the great work in Manchester. She chose a scene from The Last of Us and guided our actors through the American accent technique. The training was very much tailored and adapted to the individual, leaving our actors with a 1:1 feel in a group environment. It was lovely to see so many new faces and to welcome them to our community.

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As above, we are now on our summer break and will return 19th/20th September in London. Buzzing to announce that friend of CMA and champion of our actors Sheraz Ahmed CDG will be leading the workshop across both days. Sheraz has projects in the pipeline and is booked up with casting until 2028 (give us a job mate!) and has frequently brought in actors he has worked with at CMA.
You can get in early (before invites go out) and book now using the link below. As with all of Sheraz’s previous workshops, we expect places to sell out.

Book London 19th/20th September Workshop

My Ideas

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To maximise productivity, plan ahead. You are much more likely to stick to a plan if you make one.

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Take your time when choosing objectives. It is not simply a task to get through in order to act. If an objective doesn’t attract and excite you, then what is the point?

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A debate that has always interested me in acting is strength training vs the relaxation of the muscles. I was told to avoid going to the gym whilst at drama school. Then I would turn on my TV or go to the cinema and see the lead actors were absolutely ripped. It is still the case now. Should we be moving away from this being the focus of 1st year drama school training and actually be encouraging strength training? Or a combination of both? We forget that the techniques pioneered by Stanislavsky were all concerned with naturalistic acting for the stage. 

Insights

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Frank Ramsey on the stars:

“I don’t feel the least humble before the vastness of the heavens. The stars may be large, but they cannot think or love; and these are qualities which impress me far more than size does. My picture of the world is drawn in perspective, and not like a model to scale. The foreground is occupied by human beings and the stars are all as small as threepenny bits.”

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Stanislavsky’s character Rakhmanov on lateness:

“We have been sitting here waiting, our nerves on edge, angry, and ‘it seems I am a little late’. We all came here full of enthusiasm for the work waiting to be done, and now, thanks to you, that mood has been destroyed. To arouse a desire to create is difficult; to kill that desire is extremely easy. If I interfere with my own work, it is my own affair, but what right have I to hold up the work of a whole group? The actor, no less than the soldier, must be subject to iron discipline.”

- from the classic acting book An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski. Order it here.

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Stanislavski on observing nature:

“Nothing in life is more beautiful than nature, and it should be the object of constant observation. To begin with, take a little flower, or a petal from it, or a spider web, or a design made by frost on the window pane. Try to express in words what it is in these things that gives pleasure. Such an effort causes you to observe the object more closely, more effectively, in order to appreciate it and define its qualities. And do not shun the darker side of nature. What is truly beautiful has nothing to fear from disfigurement. Indeed, disfigurement often emphasizes and sets off beauty in higher relief. ”

- another golden nugget, taken from the classic acting book An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski. Order it here.

CMA Actor Spotlight

London regular Namita Lal stars in Before Life After Death, a feature film now available to stream on Prime Video UK as part of a regular subscription.

Shot entirely in Singapore, the film was selected for the Singapore International Film Festival, and her performance received a nomination for Best Asian Actress at the Septimius Awards. Congratulations Namita!

Congratulations also due to the wonderful Cal Pegg who has just secured a new agent. She has worked tirelessly for months and always brings a superb energy and passion for the craft to our London workshops. Proud you stuck at it Cal and proud to work with you.

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