What’s It All About?

The Acting Scene began due to a lack of high quality drama courses delivered by industry professionals during the school holidays. The popularity and success of these courses led to weekly classes and bespoke master class weekends. The Acting Scene has also branched into the corporate world. Taking improvisation techniques from the theatre, presenting skills from the world of TV and Media and applying them within a business setting.

Directors and tutors working for The Acting Scene have attended some of the UK’s top accredited drama schools. Accreditation is a quality mark which is only awarded to drama schools that offer a conservatoire level of training. The Accreditation process involves a rigorous assessment by Drama UK. Attendees of these prestigious conservatoires give the “profession” confidence that the people they employ have been taught to an exceptionally high standard and  have the skills/talent required for the continuing health of the industry.

All directors and tutors whose services The Acting Scene engage are still working industry professionals in their chosen fields. As such they are always teaching the latest skills and techniques currently being used in the industry today.

The Acting Scene is not part of a franchise. As such they are always able to provided the highest quality courses and tutors at all times. Neither are they a stage school, attendees are not be required to wear or purchase branded clothing to promote the company.  High quality courses and the enjoyment of those attending  promote The Acting Scene. But don’t take our word for it just read the testimonial page.

Since it’s inception the company has delivered bespoke courses to thousands of primary and secondary school children across Edinburgh and the Lothian’s. All have gained self-confidence, improved their self-esteem, but most of all had fun….. that’s what The Acting Scene is all about.

Director – Marie-Clair Munro

Marie-Clair  has  always  had  a  passion  for  drama, in 2009 she attended  the   Royal  Conservatoire   where  she  completed  an Intensive  Acting  Course.  This subsequently led to work within  the  Royal  Lyceum  Theatre,  Edinburgh.  She now  works  as  a director on their LYT programme where she’s able to utilise over 15 years  of experience in television and radio.

After   undertaking  a Journalism and  Television  course  she  began her career as a junior reporter for  the  Trinity   Mirror  Group   under   the   infamous   Kelvin McKenzie. From there she  has  gone on to be  one  of  the most popular and flexible  presenters/broadcasters in Scotland, with a  wealth  of  experience. With  a  career now spanning 15 years her projects run the gamut from news to entertainment and sport.

Read More… 

Director – Steve Mann

Steve  trained  as  a musical theatre actor at Guildford School of Acting.

GSA  credits  include  Dino  in  The  Rink,  Hamish  in The Mitford  Girls,  Spelvin  in  Strike Up The Band and The Beadle in Sweeney Todd.

Professional   acting   credits:   The  Butterfly  Ball  ( Wimbledon Theatre  and  Tour ),   Palladium   (  Finborough  Theatre ),    The   Sound   Of   Music  (  B.A.C.  and  tour ),  The  Frogs    (  RSC,   The Barbican),  Anyone  Can  Whistle (Savoy Theatre) and  John in a workshop of a new Scottish musical,  Blud Red (Bedlam Theatre). Steve  has  also appeared in cabaret at various venues in Britai

Read More…

Rebecca Wallace

Choreographer  Rebecca  Wallace  has a BA (Hons) in dance and  studied  in the UK & USA. She  specialised in Meisner Technique  in New-York  and brings  with her a wealth of dance experience. (Ballet,  Scottish  Dancing –  Highland  and  Country,  Irish,  Tap, Jazz, Street, Contemporary, Pas de  Deux,  Lindy Hop,  Spanish, Ballroom, & Latin American,)

Rebecca  is  very well respected  in  her  field .  Her  stage credits include  the  lead  in  ‘SPIRIT OF THE DANCE’  where  she  toured the  UK,  Europe,  Far East,  USA  & Canada. Broadway: The  Star Spangled  Celebration –  USA Tour,  Guys and Dolls,  Lord  of  the Flies  &  Showstoppers  to  name  a  few.  She was  also  assistant choreographer  and  dance  captain for Qdos  Entertainment  on Mother  Goose,  Cinderella,  Peter  Pan,  Jack  &  The  Beanstalk,  Robinson  Crusoe   &   Aladdin. She’s currently studying for her masters degree and regularly teaches dance to PGDE students at Edinburgh University

Stephen Mullan

Stephen   Mullan   is  an  accomplished  and  much  sought  after actor/director who trained at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow.

His performing credits  include, Avenue Q (UK National Tour)  Sweeney  Todd,  Spring Awakening, Clinton The Musical, The Tenors (Netherlands Tour,)  ( BAFTA  New  Talent  award  ) John Barrowman’s  Tonight’s  the  Night (BBC) Film credits: Zombie.  Stephen also  works  as  a  Musical  Theatre  Tutor  at  The Royal Conservatoire  of  Scotland.  He  also  runs  the  Conservatoires Summer  schools  and  audition  preparation  courses  for young people (13-17yrs). The Acting Scene are thrilled to have him on board.

 Lindsay Ashworth

Musical Theatre Director, actress & singer Lindsay Ashworth trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (Musical Theatre) and University of Strathclyde (Music).

Her theatre credits include : Prince Charming in Cinderella (Key Theatre, Peterborough); Aunt Em? Good Witch in The Wonderful Wizard of OZ (Hull Truck Theatre); Catriona Macleod in Whisky Galore- A musical! (Pitlochry Festival Theatre); Hannah Chaplin in Limelight  (Arches Theatre, Glasgow); Mrs Marten in The Mystery of Maria Marten & The Murder In The Red Barn; Domina in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum; Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd; Mary Featherstone in How The Other Half Loves; Principal Boy in Dick Whittington: Myra Arundel in Hayfever; & Penny/ Swirl in S Slice of Saturday Night (Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch); Queen Serpentilla in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs & Fairy Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty (Harrogate Theatre); Woman in Marry Me a Little (Etcetera Theatre); and Nanette in Fanny – The Musical as part of the ‘Lost Musicals Series’ (Sadler’s Wells).

Read more…

Oliver Evans

Guest Tutor – Wicked Weekend

Currently Ensemble, and Boq u/s Wicked UK Tour

Training: Central School of Speech and Drama Musical Theatre Course.

Whilst in training at Central he was the recipient of the BBC Musical Theatre Bursary. 

Theatre credits include: ‘Roy’/’Puckle’ in Three Witches (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry); ‘Kenneth Starr’ in Clinton the Musical (King’s Head Theatre); ‘James’/’The Gatekeeper’ in Ella and the Dragophant (George Wood Theatre); ‘Harry’ in The Most Wonderful Time of Year (Jermyn Street Theatre); ‘Baxter Bennet’ in Fanatical (Soho Theatre); title role in Aladdin, ‘Jacques’/’Remy’ in Beauty and the Beast (Hertford Theatre); ‘George Locks’ in Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Dugdale Theatre) and ‘Charlie’ in A Little Bit of Dickens (Hertford Theatre and Dugdale Theatre). 

Film includes: Closely Watched Rooms; 59 (Tea Fuelled Art); Handle With Care and The Battle of the Somme (Channel 4 Films).

Carina Gillespie

Guest Tutor – Wicked Weekend

Currently Playing: Nessarose Wicked UK Tour

Training: Liverpool Theatre School.

Theatre includes: ‘Sandy’ in Grease (West End and UK tour); ‘Maria Elena’ in The Buddy Holly Story (UK and Scandinavian tour); ‘Linda’ in Bloodbath the Musical (Edinburgh Festival) and ‘Princess Timara’ in Jack and the Beanstalk (Regent’s Theatre, Ipswich).
Other work includes: ‘Carmen’ in Siphonheads (Sanctuary Films); dancer for various music videos (Kiss Records); support act for Basshunter (UK tour 2010) and session singer for Love to Infinity Records. In 2010 Carina released a single under the name ‘Ezcapade’, which went to number two in the DMC Charts and was included on the number one album Clubland 18.

John McManus

John was born in Edinburgh and moved to London after winning the Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber scholarship to train at The Arts Educational School in London.

His theatre credits include: Playing Maurice in the 2014/2015UK tour of Top Hat, WINNER of 3 Laurence Olivier awards including Best New Musical, and WINNER of the Evening Standard ‘Best Night.  Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd with Michael Ball & Imelda Staunton (Adelphi Theatre and International Tour) Scrooge with Tommy Steele (London Palladium), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Philip Schofield (London Palladium), Grease (Cambridge Theatre), Skimbleshanks in CATS (International tour) Miss Saigon (Demark Arena) Sunshine on Leith (Dundee Rep and UK tour)

West Side Story (Royal festival Hall ), When Pigs Fly (Arts Theatre), The Lion ,Witch and the Wardrobe (Hampstead Theatre), The Great Gatsby (Riverside studios), Jet set go! (Jermyn St Theatre), My Cousin Rachel, Wind in the Willows, Into the Woods, The Slab Boys,(all Perth Rep), My fair lady ,Doctor Doolittle, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers ( National Tours), The Buccaneer (Finnbrough Theatre), Leader of the Pack , Me and My Girl and A Midsummer Nights Dream (Lincoln Theatre Royal)

Television Credits: EastEnders , The Bill, Taggart, High Road, Living Dangerously, Super Scrimpers, Tick Tock!, Lover Come Back, Blue Peter and Children in Need. The Acting Scene are delighted that John has agreed to be a guest tutor for us when he comes to Edinburgh.