Introduction to Presenting
There are over 420 digital TV channels in the UK including 47 shopping, 44 entertainment, 37 sport and 24 children's. There are a similar number of radio stations nationwide. Where are their presenters going to come from? Why not you?
Add to that the boom in internet content delivery where anyone with a webcam can create their own overnight sensation, and the possibilities for presenters are endless.
This course will give you the skills and confidence to work across different presenting mediums and sharpen your appetite for a career in front of the mike or camera.
This part of the course will run over two days, working with camera and autocue, and will give you the skills to audition for a wide variety of TV presenting jobs. You will use professional scripts and cover presenting to camera, talking to time, vox pops, demonstrations and audition technique. The genres covered will be news, entertainment, children's, corporate and documentary.
Kathryn Wolfe is a Senior Lecturer in TV Production and Media Performance at University of Bedfordshire . Her previous experience includes over 25 years as a TV director on mainstream broadcast programmes for BBC, ITV, SKY, TVS and HTV. BBC trained, she has made programmes in virtually every genre and her BBC credits include Breakfast Time, The Clothes Show, Playschool, Record Breakers and Tweenies. For ITV her credits include Michael Winner’s True Crimes, Britain ’s Most Wanted, One in a Million and The Six O’Clock Show. Kathryn is a guest director at Brook Lapping Productions where she produced several series of educational programmes for the launch of TEACHERS’ TV.
The dozens of presenters she’s worked with include Chris Tarrant, Danny Baker, Nick Ross, Selina Scott, Michael Aspel and Paul Ross. Kathryn is responsible for training the TV presenters for recently launched urban culture channel, Just Fabulous TV, and she teaches media and presentation training to business managers in the corporate sector.
On the first day of the radio course we will get your ears tuned into sound and your voice tuned up for presentation.
We will look at:
- The evocative power of sound
- How to write to be heard not read
- How to use your voice to convey emphasis and meaning
- Relaxation and posture tips
- Finding your own voice: tone, style and rhythm
The emphasis will be on practical experience and learning by doing in a supportive and professional environment.
Gordon Lamont is an actor, writer and radio producer who has made a wide variety of programmes for the BBC including drama, poetry, live and OBs, news and children's programmes. He was a pioneer of Multi Media Digital Radio, writing and directing Fly YOU to the Moon, the world's first full length DAB multimedia pilot. He has worked with some of the UKs leading presenters and actors including Sandi Toksvig, Terry Jones, Roger McGough, Tom Baker and Adjoa Andoh. He regularly trains production staff and journalists for the BBC.
On the second day of radio presenting you will discover techniques of good presentation. We will explore the essentials of radio programming: news, current affairs, music, feature (women’s, health, arts, science etc.), promotion, continuity, talking to time, ad libbing, interviewing technique, vox pops, package making and how to connect with your audience.
Alec Sabin is Voice and Presentation Trainer for BBC World Service, where he delivers one-to-one training, and designs and facilitates Presentation courses for BBC staff among them journalists, presenters and announcers, as well as for other individuals and companies. For 16 years he presented news and other programmes at the BBC World Service. He was also a news writer, programme maker and senior announcer. In the industry since 1984, he has worked in radio and TV in Britain , Europe and the Middle East . Alec also has many acting credits in TV, radio, theatre and cinema.
Apply by sending us the application form along with a short CV of your performance or presenting experience (if you have any) and a passport photo. You can click here to download the application form.
Our address is
1a Tower St
London
WC2H 9NP
We'll then get back to you to confirm your place. Once your place is confirmed we ask you to pay within 3 days.
If you can't download the application form then you can email bookclass@actorscentre.co.uk or call 020 7632 8002.
Completion of this Introduction to Presenting course is not a guarantee of eligibility for Actors Centre membership.
For information about our Introduction to Acting course click here.
