Cambridge · Est. 2014
Drenovo is a Cambridge acting school built around structured study, careful mentorship, and the patient development of craft. We offer courses for people who are serious about learning.
Our Approach
At Drenovo, we believe that the study of acting is a long-term engagement with human experience. Our courses are not designed to accelerate anyone toward a particular outcome, but to develop the understanding, awareness, and physical presence from which genuine performance grows.
We work within a structured weekly framework that balances technique with exploration, and individual development with ensemble work. Every programme is taught by practitioners with substantial working experience in theatre and related disciplines.
Technical study at Drenovo is grounded in time-tested methodologies — Stanislavski's system, Meisner's repetition exercises, physical score work, and detailed textual analysis. These are not treated as interchangeable toolkits but as distinct approaches, each demanding real engagement.
Much of what acting teaches cannot be found in solitary practice. Our ensemble sessions place students in responsive, collaborative work from the earliest stages. Learning to listen, to give space, and to remain present in relationship with others is as important as any individual skill.
Feedback at Drenovo is specific, honest, and unhurried. Rather than general observations, our instructors focus on what is actually visible in each exercise — what is working, what is getting in the way, and what small adjustments might open new possibilities.
Programmes
Each programme is taught by experienced practitioners and designed to develop a specific aspect of performance — from foundational technique to detailed audition work.
Foundations
10 Weeks · Beginner–Intermediate
A structured introduction to acting technique, covering scene work, character analysis, physical awareness, and basic text approach. Suitable for those new to formal study and those returning after a period away.
Voice
8 Weeks · All Levels
A dedicated programme exploring breath, projection, resonance, articulation, and physical presence. Students develop a more grounded relationship with their instrument — body and voice working in coordination.
Audition
6 Weeks · Intermediate
A focused programme built around audition technique — including monologue selection, cold reading, scene work under pressure, and structured feedback on presentation. Practical rather than prescriptive.
A Typical Session
Sessions at Drenovo follow a consistent rhythm — beginning with physical warm-up, moving through technique exercises, and arriving at scene or text work. This structure is deliberate. Good work rarely emerges from scattered attention.
Below is an outline of how a standard three-hour session is typically structured. The specifics vary by programme and week.
Ask a Question0:00 – 0:30
The session begins with structured body work — releasing tension, establishing breath, and bringing attention into the room. This is not optional and not perfunctory.
0:30 – 1:00
Focused exercises drawn from the programme's technical strand — Meisner repetition, voice work, status exercises, or physical score development, depending on the week's focus.
1:00 – 1:15
Unstructured time for conversation, reflection, or rest. Students often describe this as where a great deal of processing happens.
1:15 – 2:30
Prepared or cold scene work, with instructor observation and feedback. Each student works, watches, and feeds back on others. This is the centrepiece of each session.
2:30 – 3:00
Group discussion on the session's themes, individual observations, and practical notes for the coming week. Students are encouraged to write in a training journal.
Instructors
Our teaching staff are working theatre professionals with years of classroom experience. They bring current knowledge of the industry alongside patient, craft-centred pedagogy.
Lead Instructor — Acting
Marcus has worked as an actor and director in regional and fringe theatre for over eighteen years, including extended periods with companies in Edinburgh and the West Midlands. He began teaching at Drenovo in 2016 and leads the Acting Foundations programme.
Voice & Movement Lead
Niamh trained in voice studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and has since worked as a voice coach for theatre productions and corporate training programmes. Her teaching integrates breath work, postural alignment, and spoken text.
Audition Lab Instructor
David brings experience in both stage and screen work, including short film, radio drama, and touring theatre. He leads the Audition Preparation Lab with an emphasis on specificity, practical readiness, and managing the psychological demands of the audition room.
Movement & Physical Work
Sarah trained in devised performance and physical theatre at Dartington and has worked with several UK-based contemporary performance companies. She contributes to both the Voice & Movement and Acting Foundations programmes, focusing on body awareness and spatial work.
How Training Progresses
Weekly Schedule
Our programmes run in ten-week terms with three intakes per year: January, April, and September. Evening and Saturday classes are available to accommodate working students.
The schedule below reflects our current term offering. Contact us for specific date availability and upcoming term start dates.
View Full ScheduleStudent Voices
From the School
Questions
If you have a question that is not answered here, please use our contact form or send us an email. We are glad to provide more detail about any aspect of our programmes.
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