Acting Meisner Masterclass
Together with VZW Start2Wonder we are organizing our second 3-day Meisner Masterclass in Belgium in May 2023.
Find testimonials and pictures from our first one down below.
In this 3 Day Intensive Masterclass, You will be introduced to the philosophy behind Meisner Technique with an in-depth look at the fundamental training exercise 'Repetition'. This is suitable for both new and professional actors, and indeed anyone with a willingness to approach the work with curiosity and a passion to become a truthful and spontaneous actor.
If you were there last time, Ashlie will take you even deeper into the work.
We will cut through the bullshit so you can experience first hand what it means to ‘act truthfully’.
For anyone that is interested, (not obligatory) there will be a yoga class at the end of Saturday and Sunday sessions. This will be given by a certified yoga teacher.
Details below.
Who:
Ashlie Walker
A wealth of experience as a professional actress & presenter for over 20 years, Ashlie has worked extensively both as a Performer & Acting Coach, specialising in Meisner Technique. Ashlie is a highly respected international Teacher having worked as the Managing Director at the world renowned Actors Temple, London and as a Course Tutor at both The Actors Academy, Finland and Studio Azot, Paris.
As an acting coach, she focuses on unlocking the actors' instinct for truth, elevated by dramatic choices in performance. She guides actors to deepen their understanding of the craft, experience emotional freedom, build their actors' faith and, perhaps most importantly, to take risks.
Alongside teaching, Ashlie is a Personal Transformation Coach, which expands her capacity to work with and empower her actors on and off stage.
What:
The Meisner technique is an approach to acting which was developed by the American theatre practitioner Sanford Meisner. The focus of the Meisner approach is for the actor to "get out of their head", such that the actor is behaving instinctively to the surrounding environment. To this end, some exercises for the Meisner technique are rooted in repetition so that the words are deemed insignificant compared to the underlying emotion. In the Meisner technique, there is a greater focus on the other actor as opposed to one's internal thoughts or feelings associated to the character.
Sanford Meisner said that his approach to training “is based on bringing the actor back to his emotional impulses and to acting that is firmly rooted in the instinctive. It is based on the fact that all good acting comes from the heart, as it were, and that there’s no mentality to it.”
Learn to live in the moment as an actor, and let go of any idea of result. Experience what it means to really “do” and to respond truthfully to a given moment based on what you get from your partner. Through improvisation, emotional truth and personal response learn to resonate authenticity within a given circumstance. Only in this way will you begin to understand the definition of real acting, which is “to live truthfully under the imaginary circumstances”.
“If you want to reach every person in the audience, it's not about being bigger, it's about going deeper.” - Sanford Meisner
When:
Friday 26th May: 7pm-10pm
Saturday 27th May: 9am-6pm (with one hour lunch break)
Extra: 6pm - 7pm: yoga
Sunday 28th Oct. 9am-6pm (with one hour lunch break)
Extra: 6pm - 7pm: yoga
Homemade soup and snacks will be included.
Where:
Studio Groene Vallei
Noordstraat 30
9000 Gent
Cost:
Early birds: 359 euro
Last week price: 379 euro
Maximum of 12 participants.
Contact:
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email us.
Email: Meisnermasterclass.belgium@gmail.com
To join this masterclass click the button below
Testimonials:
Listening
Noticing
Drama on the scene
No unfinished business
Being clear is a gift
Bringing your partner to life
Keep the ball rolling
Following impulses in the moment
Call the actual behavior
Many colors in a small moment
All that
My knife has been sharpened
My emotions have been stretched
This masterclass was a gift.
Joke Deynck, actor
It was an amazing experience with this masterclass. I am so incredibly grateful that I attended the workshop. My vision about script analysis has been increased. It was completely eye opening for me, I seriously learnt a lot. Ashlie is a very compassionate and dedicated acting coach. Thank you so much for organising this acting masterclass. You are very humble and arranged everything for us with great hospitality. You are really a gem.
Mukesh Kumar Pal, actor
It was scary. It was scary to meet the real me, not the one I imagined, but the one I don’t know how to get along with, how to accept... How to accept this “gift” .... An eye-opening experience, a journey towards yourself, not always easy and because of that precious.
Maria Shluga, actor
A big thank you to Olga and Kristin for organizing this workshop! Working with Ashlie is an absolute dream. I truly feel like Ashlie is one of the best acting teachers I ever had. She encourages you to really dive deep into the work and fully grow as an artist without feeling unsafe or pressured in any way. I cannot recommend her classes hard enough. Truly looking forward to more of these!
Valérie Baart, actor
I started this workshop with some knowledge about the Meisner technique. I have to admit that this was a life enriching experience. Not only does it make you a better actor, it also gives you a better view of your emotions and the emotions of the people around you. Ashlie is someone who knows very well what she's doing. She starts slowly but still gives enough information. The combination of the yoga afterwards is a good addition to reconnect with yourself and the moment you live in. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone who is open to it.
Janis Vercaempst, actor
The Meisner Master Class, what a trip... A curious and rich trip full of learning, feeling, baby steps and giant leaps. An interesting and -for me- new perspective on acting. It was as if we opened a door I didn't notice before (or it simply wasn't there). Behind it: an immense world. It feels as if we stepped right in, and on the other hand as if we need a lot more time to explore this world. It was amazing to notice how this 'we' got shaped, a group of participants, eager to get to know more about this technique, to re-explore it for some, to share. We were marrying the moment, as Ashlie said. Or at least we can say that proposals were on the table.
Melissa Mabesoone, actor
Testimonials about Ashlie Walker
Ashlie's teaching ignited my passion for the craft of acting. She approaches teaching with an inspiring level of dedication, patience, and compassion which she then, inevitably, instills in her students.
Fola Evans-Akingbola, Actor
Ashlie’s uniqueness above others is in her highly sensitive intuitive awareness and emotional accuracy and understanding. Her way to direct is gentle, yet never lets you off the hook to underachieve your best potential at hand. The best features in a coach an actor and human being could ask for.
Nita Arpiainen, Advanced Student @ Actors Temple/ Founder of Actors Academy Finland
She made me feel safe 100%. It’s the only way to learn with the guidance of a teacher who has acquired a deep understanding of the technique.
Gill Broderick, Advanced Student @ Actors Temple
Ashlie's intuitive nature, warmth and forthright guidance helped me develop as an actor, and the lessons I learnt under her tutelage remain with me in my daily work.
Mairead Reynolds, Advanced Student @ Actors Temple
Working with Ashlie was inspiring and motivational. She is a wonderful coach and a teacher and really takes you on a journey. She has great attention to detail and really pushes you to reach high. Her technique helped me both in my acting career and personal life.
Dajana Fifield, actor
The Meisner experience with Ashlie was eye-opening for me not only from an actor`s point of view, but also from a human being’s point of view. Ashlie's brilliant way to teach and how she guides away from controlling the scene is something to experience.
Jani Airiainen, Workshop Student @ Actors Academy
Ashlie is skilled professional. She gave individual attention, presence. The environment was safe. The course gave me a strong and different understanding of acting - and definitely a more appealing way of acting. I grew as a person and as an actor.
Slava Dugin, Workshop Student @ Actors Academy