Teaching

My teaching career really took off when I joined the National Theatre in 1989. Alongside my acting work I regularly ran drama workshops (principally on Shakespeare) for schools, colleges, young offender’s institutes and youth drama groups - and was to continue as one of their leading workshop facilitators for the following fifteen years...

peter@petersearles.com

M: +44 (0)785 5112337

Stand-up Storytelling Course

My next full (5 day) course is scheduled to take place at the Actors Centre in October 2015.

For workshop details, click on the link.

Booking available for 14 September 2015.

At the same time I also became a regular workshop leader for the National Youth Theatre and English Shakespeare Company – the latter of which included a tour of Canada and the USA where I devised and conducted Shakespeare workshops and master classes in numerous University Campuses. Other teaching work has included running workshops and courses for major drama schools –  LAMDA, Rose Bruford College, Mountview Academy Of Performing Arts, Welsh College of Music and Drama and ALRA. I also regularly coach students and young professionals for drama school entrance and auditions.

Outside my Shakespeare classes at CRISIS - the main focus of my teaching work is now in Contemporary or Stand-up Storytelling. Workshop sessions can run from half a day (introductory course) to one or two days, to a full course running anything up to six weeks or eight weeks (usually involving one day a week).

My next full (5 day) Stand-up Storytelling Course is scheduled to take place at the Actors Centre in autumn 2015 (see link below for details).

Stand-up Storytelling – Bare bones theatre at it’s best!

WORKSHOP TITLE: THE ART OF CREATING A SOLO SHOW BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES

Keywords: STORYTELLING / EXPLORATION / NARRATIVE / CHARACTER / PERFORMANCE / SOLO SHOW

WHAT IS IT?

Creating your own show based on your own experiences has to be one of the most challenging - yet ultimately rewarding experiences you can have as a writer/performer. If you think you are up for the challenge then this might be for you: A five day course of workshops - designed to equip you with a process of how to choose, develop, shape and effectively tell your own stories in a way that is dramatically engaging, concise, truthful and above all - entertaining.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

Encouraged to explore your own real life stories and events – solo show specialist Pete Searles will lead you through an intensive step-by-step program of writing and theatrical exercises and techniques – showing you how to transform your own material into a compelling theatrical presentation. Key areas covered are; Storytelling, listening, narrative structure, theme, stage persona and performance. The process involves a practical ‘out of your seat’ approach, where fellow members are encouraged to work with and for each other in an environment that is creative, collaborative, stimulating and fun.

WHAT WILL YOU GET OUT OF IT?

This course is designed to give you the motivation, skills and techniques to get you started on your solo show; to offer you an unique opportunity to explore and unlock your potential as a writer and performer using your own material; to give you a taste of what it’s like to showcase your own work in front of a live audience; and ultimately inspire the confidence and incentive for you to take it further – this will include professional advice and tips on promotion, marketing and taking steps towards securing your first bookings.

Tutor Information

Peter Searles

Trained at LAMDA. Peter is an actor, writer, director, teacher and workshop facilitator. He has also been described as one of the country’s foremost stand-up storytellers and has toured his repertoire of solo shows all over the world (most recently he performed his award-winning Edinburgh show Sex.. with Pete Searles on Broadway and at NYU’s Tisch School of Performing Arts).

Sell-out shows in the UK have included the Cottesloe - National Theatre, Soho Theatre and numerous prestigious arts, drama and comedy festivals. In December 2004, his adaptation of the third show in his acclaimed Hey Gringo! Trilogy - A Chile Christmas was broadcast as The Afternoon Play on BBC Radio 4.

Peter’s numerous directing credits include Fibber in the Heat with actor/comedian Miles Jupp.

Previous Stand-up Storytelling Shows/Workshops

  • The Actor's Centre
  • The Soho Theatre
  • London Academy Of Music & Dramatic Art
  • Tisch School Of Performing Arts - New York University
  • Drama Centre
  • Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
  • The National Youth Theatre
  • Festival Of Words – Atlantic College (St Donats)
  • Beyond the Borders – International Storytelling Festival
  • Living Willow Theatre (Arts Council Of Wales)
  • Camden Festival
  • Highland Festival
  • Big Up Films
  • Eastbourne College
  • Cambridge University (Bateman Centre)
  • Guildhall City University
  • Bristol University
  • University College Cork
  • Dublin - Trinity College
  • Dublin City University
  • University Of Limerick
  • Metropolitan University London (Post graduate Film Director's Course)
  • Blackheath High School
  • Logotron Teaching & Learning Conference 2008 (Cambridge)
  • Crisis (Skylight Performing Arts)