The Actor’s Room Cardiff: A Grassroots Acting Workshop In The Heart Of The City
Actors in Cardiff don’t have to move away to start a professional career anymore. The traditional route, drama school followed by a move to London is no longer the only path. Grassroots initiatives such as The Actor’s Room Cardiff are now creating local spaces for training, networking and screen and stage opportunities.
Dan Linney left, Sean Rhys-James right
The Actor’s Room Cardiff offer hands-on screen-acting classes for anyone interested in acting, regardless of skill-level or background in the industry. Students receive a short script a few days before class and then perform the piece in front of camera. A practical, industry-focused format designed to build confidence and a usable showreel. The workshops rebranded from Now in a Minute to The Actor’s Room in late October 2024, becoming a distinct business co-owned by Dan Linney and Sean Rhys-James.
The pair went to drama school together at East 15 Acting school and reunited in Cardiff in 2024. By then Sean had already established a profile locally through workshops and classes; together, the pair expanded that work into what is now The Actor’s Room Cardiff.
The classes are deliberately inclusive, offering classes to everyone regardless of experience, roughly only 20% of the students at The Actor’s Room Cardiff have been to drama school. However, many are going on to find professional success.
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Sean Rhys-James left, Dan Linney right
Sophie Ellis, 24, has been acting her whole life but was stuck in a rut since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was sort of just fumbling around in the dark desperately trying to get an agent to no avail.”
Through the classes and with the help of the two actors running it, Sean Rhys-James and Dan Linney, Sophie created a showreel and has now been signed to an agency.
“I’ve now signed with JK’s Management who have been on the list of people I’ve reached out to for the last 4 years.”
Other than her professional development, Sophie was grateful to the community she had found through the course, finding friends in both Sean and Dan and her classmates.
“I have completely found community from the course, even more so than I anticipated.”
Another student, Scott-James Dale, 33, attended his first session this month having been out of acting for five years due to being diagnosed with Cancer. Scott-James said there were already beginnings of a community building from one session alone, something difficult for actor’s to find if they have not gone to drama school.
He said:
‘There is a community if you’re in the industry in a high level or going to drama school… it’s more difficult if you’re not someone from that environment, I think The Actor’s Room having these types of classes are really good.’
For those interested in attending the next classes open up in April and costs £200 for 8 weeks.
