The Actors' Guild Manchester Launch

Join acclaimed Rose d’Or and Cannes Lion-winning director Matt Holt for a dynamic one-day intensive designed to give actors a practical, director-led insight into high-end television performance. This immersive session focuses on truthful, detailed storytelling for screen, with an emphasis on script analysis, character specificity, and making bold, playable choices in a professional on-set style environment.

Actors will work directly on prepared material, receiving individual direction and feedback throughout the day. Matt will guide participants through his process of working with actors in television drama and comedy, exploring how to refine performance for camera, adjust to direction in real time, and build confidence in audition and screen-testing situations. The day also includes a Q&A focused on the realities of working in contemporary TV production and what directors are looking for when casting and shooting.

Bio:

Matt Holt is a BAFTA and Rose d’Or-winning British television and film director whose work spans acclaimed drama and comedy. His credits include the Emmy-nominated A Kind of Spark, Perfect, Horrible Histories, Jack and Dean of All Trades, EastEnders, Emmerdale, and Coronation Street, as well as extensive work in children’s television, comedy, and scripted drama across BBC, ITV, and Channel 4. Known for his precise understanding of performance and script, he is widely respected for his collaborative approach and ability to draw naturalistic, nuanced work from actors across all experience levels.

Description supplied by the event organiser.