Mel coaches actors, presenters, business people, lawyers and anyone who has to cope with the media either in private one-to-one sessions or through workshops and conferences. Specific courses can be devised as well as one-to-one tuition.

Regular workshops at The Actors Centre, London. (Next one Sept. 9/10th - Actors Centre members only)

I will be back in Berlin in Summer 2009 for workshops.Voice workshop (The Physical Voice) 13-15th August, Brush up your Standard British Accent 13th & 14th Augus (2 separate workshops) and Film Acting (Fine Tuning) 17-21st. August. (All courses held in English)

(Private teaching is either by arrangement in Central London, at the Drill Hall off Tottenham Court Road or in NW London. (Northwood Hills tube, Metropolitan line) or Suffolk/Norfolk.

Webcam coaching via Skype is also possible for people outside the UK - see links for details.

Several times a year, Mel runs classes at the Actors Centres in London & Manchester. These usually include, 'Acting for Film', 'Performance' and 'Voice in Difficult Spaces'. From time to time, Mel runs a workshop on text - Shakespeare, Jacobean, Restoration etc

Mel also runs regular workshops (film work permitting) at LAMDA and Central School of Speech and Drama as well as for other colleges, theatre companies and groups. For the last few years, Mel has run regular 5 day workshops for actors and

directors in Colgne and Berlin.

Here are some excerpts from emails sent to me by participants of my German workshops. I have put them in at length as they are personal stories about the work.:

I wanted to write you an email the week our workshop ended in Cologne, but as you know, sometimes we don`t. So I do it now because I want to thank you so much for that illuminating week. I've done this job now for 5 years and I studied another four, but that week with all you teached helped me so concretely, so much, also to discover more possiblities I have as the actress I am.
Last week I had two days work for a TV series and I played a traumatizised woman that hasn't left the house for five years. In the end her sister is discovered as the murderer and we had to play a very emotional scene together. And you know what: I managed something never managed before: I cried without any help, just a tear out of one eye. I repeated it three times. I could have never done that without the week we spent. And you know why mainly? Because I kept myself thinking: I don`t know what will happen now? I don`t know if I will cry or not, we`ll see. And so it happened again and again. And I said to myself: you don`t need to feel safe. You are not in a safe situation.
You said I would never read again what I wrote down in the workshop but you were wrong. I read it again and again and I am glad I wrote it. So I ordered your book now and I will read every page. I am very glad that I could meet you and work with you. (Daniela Holtz Cologne 2008)

Having just returned to Berlin last week I wanted to express a very belated thank you for your class in Berlin recently - it did me a world of good. As mentioned, I had gotten myself into a 'method-induced' knot and your workshop helped me unravel this to a great extent!
I've just had the chance on a German feature film to put some of your teaching into practice and thought you might like to hear about the experience - perhaps it may be interesting for future students.
First, it was amazing to me how - when I paid attention - that I actually stopped breathing when the camera was rolling! With "cut" came a long exhalation and reduction of tension - so I tried to correct this by concentrating on my breathing when my partner was speaking and this did relax me considerably. The crux however was when I implemented the three steps: standing and/or sitting straight// breathing//is thinking. If I understood you correctly, the secret is to keep your own energy, your life energy moving and directed ourtwards while 'doing' the 3 things.

Afterwards, the strangest feeling was that I felt I wasn't 'doing' anything and I was a total fraud! By this I mean that work and a certain work ethic is associated with actually doing something or at least to be seen to be doing something (the desire to please) and by not actively expressing this 'doing' I was actually cheating, not doing my job!!

Once I had realised this and managed to allow myself not to 'work', I think the results were better.
I would dearly like to work with you further so do please keep me informed owhen you have any more classes in the Uk or Europe. (John Keogh Berlin 2008)

 

 

Vocal Tuition for Actors

Mel has an MA in Voice Studies (C.S.S.D) as well as an MA in Performing Arts (Mddx.) and is a member of the British Voice Association (Having served on the council and the Education Working Party). She can help with any aspect of voicework: remedial, voice quality, projection and performance. This is best done one-to-one but groupwork can be arranged.

Mel also deals with all aspects of nerves and helps to bring performers confidence in their work and auditions. She specialises in linking performance skills: taking every kind of performer from sports people and martial arts experts to models and singers into the acting process.

 

Tuition for Presenters and Executives - and anyone interested in improving voice work

Groups or private sessions can be arranged on all aspects pf presentation and media work. Mel has run business courses for many years as well as assisting people in all walks of life to overcome nerves and to present and interview with confidence. Mel can also offer help with most aspects of voice and speech work, relaxation and confidence.

Contact Mel on melchurcher@hotmail.com