Rolling Academy

Screen & Stage Workshops in Central Manchester 🎬🎭

Always led by Working, Industry Professionals

Manchester Casting Director CLAIRE BLEASDALE
- 'In Person' Casting Workshop
- 23rd October - 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Claire trained as an actor at Manchester School of Theatre (1999 - 2002) and worked professionally in theatre, film, television, and radio before moving into casting.

She specialises in finding new talent through creative practices, as well as working with agents and groups to connect with their new and trusted talent. Claire includes street and workshop casting in her casting process. Building connections with incredible grassroots communities and groups to unearth fresh faces. Her work is grounded in finding authenticity and actors with an edge.

Claire cast the BAFTA winning film COWBOY DAVE and other award-winning shorts including REQUIEM, starring Bella Ramsey and Matthew Dunster’s directorial film debut JUDY, starring Maxine Peake.

In television she has cast five series of the Broadcast digital award and BAFTA nominated MEET THE RICHARDSONS.

Claire has cast five productions at Shakespeare North Playhouse, including the opening show MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM directed by Matthew Dunster and NOT TOO TAME and Philippa Gregory's RICHARD MY RICHARD.


WORKSHOP DETAILS:
This workshop will focus on Comedy for either screen or theatre. Claire would like you to prepare a Comedy script for screen or stage and Claire will work with you on this script in the workshop and explore and play. There will be a Q&A and discussion throughout the workshop.

Book Workshop

Casting Director SOPHIE KINGSTON-SMITH
- 'In Person' TV/Film Workshop
- 25th October - 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Bio:
Sophie began casting for theatre and commercials, then moved into film and TV casting in 2017. She has worked most closely with Rose Wicksteed, co-casting series 'JACK RYAN' (Paramount), 'INVASION' (Apple+) and 'BLACK CAKE' (Hulu). Other significant projects include 'THE NUN' and 'THE NUN II' (New Line), 'THE GREAT' (Hulu), 'HOMELAND' (Fox 21 for Showtime) and New Line's upcoming 'THE CONJURING: LAST RITES', due for release later this year.

As well as working with Rose, Sophie also collaborated with Lucy Jordan to co-cast Eli Roth's 'THE FACELESS LADY', a cutting-edge stereoscopic 3D VR horror series playable on Meta's Horizon headset.

She has also cast several short films, including Academy Award and BAFTA qualifying 'EDICIUS' (dir. Uzo Oleh) and '5 Stars' (dir. Remi Itani), shortlisted at several prestigious festivals including the British Short Film Awards and the BFI London Film Festival. She also voice-cast 'LUSUS', a fiction horror podcast series for BBC Sounds which featured voice work from Morfydd Clark, Patsy Ferran and Ncuti Gatwa.

Sophie has just finished working on a series with Karga 7 and is developing an independent feature with Natives Filmworks, scheduled for 2026.

Book Workshop

'Acting Through Song' Workshop with Casting Director JIM ARNOLD
- 'In Person' - 1st November - 10am - 1pm

Bio:
Credits include:
MEL BROOKS’ YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN at Hope Mill Theatre Manchester; WICKED (Apollo Victoria and UK tour);
PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL (Savoy and UK tour);
SHREK - THE MUSICAL (UK tour);
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - THE MUSICAL (Leeds Playhouse and UK tour);
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF MUSICAL (Everyman Cheltenham and Noël Coward);
BONNIE & CLYDE (Arts and Garrick);
FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS: THE MUSICAL (Hall for Cornwall and UK tour);
ROCK OF AGES (UK tour);
WHEN DARKNESS FALLS (UK tour);
THE PRINCE OF EGYPT (Dominion);
ROMEO & JULIET (filmed theatrical production, Metcalfe Gordon Productions); A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Dominion);
WEST SIDE STORY (Royal Exchange Theatre);
CURTAINS (Wyndham’s and UK tour);
THE WEDDING SINGER (Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, UK tour and South Korea – Best Musical at the 13th Annual Daegu International Musical Festival 2019);
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (St Lawrence Centre Toronto);
CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN (Harold Pinter and UK tour);
THE MIRROR CRACK’D (Wales Millennium Centre and Wiltshire Creative);
THE OSMONDS MUSICAL (Workshop)
EUGENIUS! (The Other Palace);
CAMELOT, GIRLFRIENDS AND A CHRISTMAS CAROL (LMTO Concert Series 2018);
MY NAME IS BEETHOVEN (Workshop);
THE REST IS SILENCE (dreamthinkspeak);
CRAVE AND ILLUSIONS (Actors Touring Company);
DNA (Hull Truck & UK tour);
YERMA (Gate & Hull Truck);
PERICLES RE-IMAGINED (Regent's Park);
LINGUA FRANCA (Finborough & 59East59, NYC);
HORTENSIA AND THE MUSEUM OF DREAMS (Finborough);
FRAGILE! AND LE MARIAGE(Arcola)
and ARTIST DESCENDING A STAIRCASE (The Old Red Lion).

Workshop Details:
For both Actors who sing and Musical Theatre Actors. An ‘Acting Through Song’ and ‘Audition Practice’ Workshop. Jim would like you to bring your own choice of song, cut to 1 - 1 and a half minutes. Your choice of song can be in any style (e.g. contemporary, pop/rock, legit etc.). There will be an accompanist available to play alongside you in the workshop. Jim will also lead a Q&A and discussion at the end of the workshop.

Book Workshop

TV/Film Director SEAN GLYNN
- ‘Working With Emotion On Camera’
- 2nd November - 10:00am - 6:00pm

Bio:
Sean is an award-winning director. He has been directing for 19 years and his work includes HOPE STREET (BBC) as Lead Director, LONDON KILLS (BBC) as Lead Director, CASUALTY (BBC), THE CASE (BBC), HOLLYOAKS (C4) and HOLLYOAKS LATER (C4), MISSING (BBC), DROP DEAD GORGEOUS (BBC), DREAM TEAM (Sky One), HOLBY CITY (BBC).

He has won awards for Best Comedy Drama at the British Comedy Awards and Most Spectacular Scene at the British Soap Awards.

He also has just finished his latest short film SNAPCATCH, about online grooming. This follows the critically acclaimed LEADBELLY, which has just won ‘Most Influential Film’ at the Horsetooth International Film Festival in Colorado, amongst many other rosettes awarded.

He believes passionately in supporting and guiding actors in achieving the very best of their potential.


Workshop info:

Sean will be working from pre-delivered scripts, on ways to access and maintain levels of emotion for the camera. Using both technical and practical methods to deliver performances of a high emotional intensity the workshop will be supportive and collaborative. Participants will also explore the subtle differences in acting for the camera, as opposed to acting for the stage, with non-verbal and physical communication, playing with shot size and framing. Performances will be delivered to camera on a 'live' feed.

We will explore all elements of the screen acting process from the initial delivery of the script right through to the first and final take. Among many other aspects, this will include backstory, intention and obstacles. The day will be interactive, working together and experiencing the challenges of day to day filming on continuing television drama and film.

This workshop is designed to ensure you don't leave your best performance in the rehearsal, or in the read through but that you deliver it when it matters most. On screen, in front of the camera.

Book Workshop

TV/Film Director JESSE QUINONES
- In Person - ‘Acting on Screen’
- 8th November - 10:00am - 1:00pm

TV / FILM DIRECTOR JESSE QUINONES | ACTING ON SCREEN

BIO:
2025 will see Jesse return as Lead Director on BBC’s WATERLOO ROAD, where he was also Lead Director on their flagship return in 2022, seasons one and two. Jesse’s other director credits include season 8 of BBC's INSIDE NO 9. He is developing HEIST OF BENIN, a feature spec set up with Endurance Media with David Oyelowo attached to star.

A dual national (US & UK) Writer/Director, Jesse's first feature film, CALLOUSED HANDS, starred Andre Royo (HBO's THE WIRE), Daisy Haggard (Showtime's EPISODES), and Hans Howes (THERE WILL BE BLOOD). It premiered at the Miami International Film Festival, and has gone on to screen in over 20 festivals around the world, garnering numerous awards.

In 2020 Jesse wrote and directed his second feature film, CAGEFIGHTER which starred Gina Gershon and Chuck Liddell, which was released in select theaters in October, 2020 in the US and had a global release online. Jesse is a recent addition to Stars Collective, a US initiative run by Starlight Entertainment to support BIPOC filmmakers.

Jesse is a full member of BAFTA and Director's UK. Jesse is an alum of numerous writing labs and fellowships including the Royal Court Young Writer's Programme, Soho Theatre Writer's Attachment Programme, Berlinale Talent Campus, B3 Media Talent Lab, NALIP Latino Writer's Lab, and the BBC Writer's Room.

WORKSHOP INFO:
Jesse leads a Screen Acting Workshop. Jesse will focus on screen acting techniques, to give the actor a feel for what it's like to be directed by Jesse Quinones. You will receive sides before the workshop to work on with Jesse in the session. We will explore all the above through practical exercises, discussion and chance to ask Jesse questions throughout the session.

Book Workshop

Casting Director / Associate - CAITLIN JOSEPH
- 'In Person' TV/Film Workshop
- 9th November - 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Workshop Details: Caitlin leads a TV/Film Workshop. Participants will be sent sides to work on with Caitlin, which will be taped and sent via email after the workshop. Caitlin will then lead a discussion and Q&A with the participants, sharing her knowledge and inspiration.

Bio: Caitlin has been Casting Associate for Suzanne M. Smith (CSA, CDG) for over 7 years, recently working on ‘Silo’ (Apple TV) and recently has gone out on her own, starting her own casting office as Casting Director at Caitlin Joseph Casting.

Her other most recent credits include ‘Invasion’ (Apple TV), 'To Olivia' (Sky), ‘Carnival Row (Amazon), ‘Good Omens’ (BBC/Amazon), Season 4 of the Emmy-award winning ‘Outlander’ (STARZ), Season 2 of ‘Knightfall’ (A&E/History), ‘In From The Cold’ (Netflix) & ‘Warrior Nun’ (Netflix) as well as the much-anticipated TV adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s best-selling books ’Shadow & Bone’(Netflix). Caitlin is currently working on several exciting projects and has a passion for championing and working with actors, having come from an acting background herself.

Book Workshop

TV/Film and Theatre Director RUTH CARNEY
- 'In Person' Workshop
- 10th November - 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Ruth Carney, TV/Film and Theatre Director is leading an ‘In Person’ Workshop.

Ruth is a hugely experienced TV/Film and Theatre Director, working across the main TV channels, BFI supported film and theatre across West End and Broadway.

Some of Ruth’s TV credits include: BRASSIC (Sky One), EMMERDALE (ITV), DEATH IN PARADISE (Amazon), WATERLOO ROAD (BBC), CALL THE MIDWIFE (BBC), CASUALTY (BBC), FATHER BROWN (BBC), ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL (Channel 5), HOLBY CITY (BBC), DOCTORS (BBC).

This year Ruth has also directed on feature film AMAZING GRACE written by Daniel P Lewis and working with cast members Chanel Creswell, Hannah Walters and James Nelson-Joyce.

Ruth was one of the Directors on the new High-End TV Stepping Up Scheme with the aim of bringing on the next generation of diverse talent in the HETV industry, the scheme was led by Bafta and Emmy winning Producer John Chapman. 

In addition, she was a participant on the Directors UK Inspire Scheme which saw her being mentored by Rebecca Gatward.

Ruth attained an MA in Theatre Directing at The Russian Theatre Academy, Moscow and Middlesex University after studying at The University of Sheffield.

Book Workshop

TV/Film Director ALEX BROWNING
- In Person - 'Acting on Screen' Workshop
- 15th November
Either at: - 10:00am - 1:30pm

Or: 2:30pm - 6:00pm

TV / FILM DIRECTOR ALEX BROWNING | ACTING ON SCREEN

Bio:
Alex brings over a decade of experience as a director and storyteller. Alex's television credits include BBC's three-part drama series GRANITE HARBOUR (season 2) in Scotland, and was named as a Broadcast HotShot for 2024.

Alex has also directed numerous episodes on TV dramas in the UK, this year alone this has included CORONATION STREET (2019-2025), EMMERDALE (2022-2025), HOLLYOAKS (2023-2025) and prior to this BBC’s THE DUMPING GROUND.

Alex has made a number of short films with commissions from BFI Network, Sky Studios, and Channel 4. His most recent short film DAYLIGHT RULES was commissioned by BFI and SKY, and the film is available to view online on DUST.

WORKSHOP INFO:
Alex leads a Screen Acting Workshop. In a very small group size, Alex will focus on screen acting techniques, to give the actor a feel for what it's like to be directed by Alex Browning. You will receive sides before the workshop to work on with Alex in the session. We will explore all the above through practical exercises, discussion and chance to ask Alex questions throughout the session.

Book 10:00am - 1:30pm Workshop
Book 2:30pm - 6:00pm Workshop

'Making The Short Film' with Film Director ALEX BROWNING
- 'In Person' Workshop
- 29th November - 10:00am - 6:00pm


WORKSHOP INFO:

Alex Browning will be leading on a FULL DAY  ‘Making The Short Film' workshop.  The day will be split across various strands including: 

Finding your story; to hone in on the 'what' and 'why' of your story, and how to cultivate an authentic vision for your film.

Exercises in filmmaking;that will illustrate what filmmakers need to think about as they ideate, develop, produce and complete their short film. Here Alex will also give practical tutorials using examples from his body of work. 

Industry insights;conversations around  strategy for your short film (including film festivals & distribution), and how to navigate the wider industry.

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Please note - this will be an interactive workshop, allowing attendees to ask questions as and when they arise. 

Come with your thinking caps on, and with a small idea for a short film. 

Be prepared to have a fun, chatty and dynamic workshop. 

All experience welcome. 

Bio:
Alex brings over a decade of experience as a director and storyteller. Alex has made a number of short films with commissions from BFI Network, Sky Studios, and Channel 4. His most recent short film DAYLIGHT RULES, was made with Sky and BFI, starring T'Nia Miller and David Ajala, it is out now on Sky in the UK & Ireland, and the film is available to view online on DUST. The film had its' international premier in New York at TIDE Film Festival, and won 'Best Afrofuturism' at Atlanta Sci-Fi Film Festival, both festivals supported by HBO.

Alex's television credits include BBC's three part drama GRANITE HARBOUR (season 2), filmed in Scotland. Following this, Alex went on to be named as a Broadcast HotShot in 2024.

Alex has also directed numerous episodes on TV dramas in the UK, this has included CORONATION STREET (2019-2025), EMMERDALE (2022-2025), HOLLYOAKS (2023-2025) and prior to this BBC’s THE DUMPING GROUND.

Book Full Day Workshop

TV Drama Director SURI KRISHNAMMA
- FULL DAY ‘Screen Acting' Workshop
- 6th December - 10:00am- 6:00pm


**Very Small Group Size!

BIO: Winner of a Royal Television Society award and three time BAFTA nominee, Suri Krishnamma has an extremely broad range of experience across television and feature film.

Suri regularly directs on continuing dramas, CORONATION STREET (ITV), EMMERDALE (ITV) and CASUALTY (BBC). Suri also recently directed on THE CANTERVILLE GHOST (BBC), THE LIBRARIANS: THE NEXT CHAPTER (Balkanic Media), as well as award-winning productions A RESPECTABLE TRADE (The Irish Film Board) and THE CAZALETS (BBC). Suri has directed on numerous prime time dramas such as WAKING THE DEAD (BBC), BLUE MURDER (Granada Television) and COLD BLOOD (ITV).

Internationally acclaimed, Suri has directed seven feature films including the award winning DARK TOURIST and A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE starring Albert Finney. His film NEW YEAR’S DAY was named Best UK Feature Film at Raindance.

Workshop Info:
THE CAMERA LOVES YOU - with Suri Krishnamma

This one-day intensive workshop will cover the nuts and bolts of performing on camera. It will explore the specific expectations of a screen actor, such as how to stay ‘in the moment’ when filming out of sequence, what impact shooting a scene in ‘cuts’ versus a single take has, how to work with developing shots and how to ensure your best take gets on camera.

Through practical exercises, participants will be guided through a process to find the meaning and hidden meaning of scenes, how to stage the hidden meaning, and how to change a performance quickly in front of a camera. Exercises will be recorded and debriefed during the session.

N.B. All contact or questions regarding this workshop should come through the Rolling Academy office. Please do not contact the workshop leader directly with questions.

Book Full Day Workshop

TV Drama Director EMMA LINDLEY
- 'In Person' 1 DAY INTENSIVE
- 17th January 2026 - 10:00am - 6:00pm


1 DAY INTENSIVE Screen Acting Workshop with Award Winning Director EMMA LINDLEY

**Very Small Group Size!

Bio:
Emma Lindley is an award-winning and highly experienced director and writer working on popular drama series and films in both the UK and US.

Her UK drama directing credits include multiple episodes of ‘Coronation Street’ (2024), Emmerdale’ (ITV), ‘Hope Street’ [BBC1), ‘Holby City’ (BBC1) and award-winning teen series, ‘My Parents as Aliens’ and ‘24 Seven’ (ITV). She is skilled in both single and multi-camera directing and equally happy in studio or on location.

Her authored shorts as writer-director have been shown at festivals around the world and on ITV/Channel 4 and include child-bride drama, ‘Red River’, winner of three Best Film awards (London Short Film Festival). Her feature scripts as writer-director have been funded by South West Screen, shortlisted for Sundance Screenwriters Lab and selected for the UK Filmonomics development programme.

Emma’s work in the US includes directing two award-nominated arts documentaries for Ovation TV. She has a current 01 visa and is represented in the US by Stagecoach Entertainment and in the UK by Linda Seifert Management.

Emma is a voting member of BAFTA and Directors UK and a guest lecturer in directing and acting for camera at NFTS and Met Film School.

Website www.emmalindley.net

WORKSHOP INFO:

If you want to act in television series Emma shows you how to prepare and what to expect, how to really connect with the director and cast and, most importantly, enjoy the whole experience!

Working with pre-delivered scenes, you will prepare, discuss and rehearse them with Emma before shooting on camera live and receiving individual feedback. Find out how working quickly can keep the energy of the scene and focus your performance.

We will cover: preparation vs adapting on the day; how and when to ask the right questions to get what you need; understanding the tone of the show or film you’re in; how to interpret director’s notes between takes and how to stay in character while knowing which camera your on and what the shot is.

We will also discuss how to deliver a strong self-tape.

Emma’s aim is to make you feel welcome from the moment you’re cast to the moment you say goodbye on wrap. The more relaxed you are, the better your performance will be and the more confident you’ll be in every film you collaborate on.

Honing your on-screen technique is the best way to achieve it.

Book Full Day Workshop

Past Workshops

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Rolling Academy

Tib Street Studio
First Floor 72/74 Tib Street, Greater Manchester M4 1LG

Phone
0161 399 1368