(By Interview only - experience necessary)
This Lab is curated for directors who are ready to work deeply over time. Admission is selective and by interview only: for directors, emerging or experienced, who are actively seeking to expand their rehearsal process and collaborative tools.

Each Lab includes 7 sessions, with 12 carefully chosen directors and 12 experienced actors. Sessions take place on Thursday evenings, 6:30–10pm, in Central London.

The craft of directing actors which most might have read about in Judith Weston’s books will only come with practice, hence the reason why Judith originally setup the AD LAB 15+ years ago. Many of Judith’s students went on to win awards and become nominated for Oscars - they make it no secret they learnt everything they knew at the LAB. There are countless months if not years before we as directors get to be on set, why not hone our skills and learn to better communicate with actors in a safe and supportive environment so that we avoid mistakes when we are finally on set.

• Next Lab begins Sept 11th •

(Full)

7-Week Lab Cost: £515

(Admission by interview – open to all levels)

Designed for directors who are unable to commit to the full 7-week Lab, the Intensive is a two-day immersive experience focused on the craft of working with actors. It takes place over a Friday evening and a full Saturday in Central London.

The Intensive brings together 6 directors and 12 experienced actors. While it is open to directors with less experience, admission is still by interview—though the process is less selective than the full Lab. Directors are paired with two actors in advance of the Lab.

Friday evening focuses on the director’s toolkit: script analysis, rehearsal technique, and communication.

Saturday is dedicated to rehearsal, with each director working on one scene with professional actors in a partially supervised setting.

Due to time constraints, each director will direct one scene only.

• Next Intensive Lab: Oct 17, 18 •

The Lab Intensive Cost: £350

This isn’t your average script analysis class. In this intensive, we don’t just talk about a script, but bring it to life.

Participants read the script in advance, then join a live online session where we break down key scenes with professional actors reading aloud. This real-time, embodied exploration reveals the hidden architecture of story: how emotional events land, how characters shift, and what actually drives a scene beneath the dialogue. This is prep work, the kind that happens before the table read and rehearsal room, and it’s essential for any artist serious about storytelling.

Perfect for writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, production designers, and producers - anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of how performance emerges from the page. We’ll focus on subtext, intention, backstory, and emotional logic, peeling back the text to uncover what truly moves a scene forward.

Online workshop – Saturday Sept 27th, 1pm–5pm GMT

Cost: £135 – Limited spots available

A Two-day workshop designed to deepen your understanding of the craft of acting (You must be present for both days)

Day 1: Introduction to Acting Technique

Basic acting techniques

The use of imagination

Improv exercises

Day 2: Scene Work

Prep and rehearse a scene

Present the scene and be prepared to be directed

PRICE : £275

Next Date: TBD