THERE is an odd idea floating around that anyone can act, that if you want to act you can walk in off the street and get a job in a major TV series with no skills and that if you’re a show-off, chances are you’re a better actor.

That’s all wrong, as Peter Wilkins’s “Acting for the Fun of It” courses, kicking off for 2015 this weekend, are out to prove.

Wilkins, a well-known Canberra theatre critic, long-time former teacher at Narrabundah College, former artistic director of Jigsaw Theatre Company and the founding director of The Acting Company, is out to demonstrate that acting can help you build confidence, make new friends, learn to act of course, and above all, learn how to have fun.

With a wealth of experience behind him, Wilkins explores exercises, techniques and approaches that develop the actor’s craft, build confidence, connect body, mind and imagination through a variety of exercises and activities that are especially designed for people with no prior experience or people who wish to gain confidence or learn techniques that will improve their acting ability or public presentation occasions.

The 6 week course is as follows:

WEEK ONE:         Name Games, Trust Exercises. Getting to know people.

WEEK TWO:        Mime and Movement Exercises. Freeing the body

WEEK THREE:     Breathing, Voice and Relaxation

WEEK FOUR:      Improvisation. Freeing the Spontaneous Imagination

WEEK FIVE:         Creating Character. Interpreting the Text. Rehearsal.

WEEK SIX:            Performing the text. The actor’s craft in performance. Farewell Party.

“Acting for the Fun of It”, Allara Street/City Walk (Opposite the Casino), in the ImproACT Studios, for 6 weeks, 7 to 9pm, Sundays Feb. 15 to March 29. There will be a coffee/tea break in the middle of each class. $150 for adults. Concession $100, information and enrolments to peterbwilkins@aol.com or 0408 034 373.