Acting Intensive: The Speaker and the Listener

ACTING INTENSIVE: The Speaker and the Listener – Mastering the Monologue and Silence, with Actor & NIDA Graduate Nic Coghlan.

Ongoing 4-Week Program
Tuesdays I 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Commencing February 18, 2024 

The Speaker and the Listener: Mastering the Monologue and Silence is an intensive course designed to elevate your on-screen performance through a deep exploration of authentic inhabitation. This unique program focuses on the dual roles of speaker and listener, recognizing that great acting is as much about reacting as it is about delivering lines. Participants will delve into the art of generous listening, developing a heightened sensitivity to sensory input and cultivating authentic creative responses.

Through a series of challenging exercises and scene work, actors will learn to harness the power of silence, understanding that some of the most powerful moments in performance come from what is unsaid. The course emphasizes that true acting is a constant exchange of energy, whether speaking or listening, and aims to help performers develop a more nuanced, responsive, and deeply connected approach to their craft. By mastering both the monologue and the art of silence, actors will emerge with a more comprehensive toolkit for creating compelling, truthful performances on screen.

Nicholas Coghlan is an accomplished Australian actor and acting coach, with over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. He has played lead roles in series television both in Australia and New Zealand, establishing himself as a versatile and respected performer across Australasia. Nick received his formal training at the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting in 2002.

Nick’s on-screen career has been marked by versatile performances across various genres. He has been a regular presence on Australian television, with recurring roles in popular series such as Neighbours (where he starred in nearly 1000 Episodes as Shane Rebecchi, from 2017 to 2021); La Brea; Bad Behaviour; Line of Fire; Mr & Mrs Murder; Jack Irish: Black Tide; The Secret Life of Us; Carla Cametti PD;  and Nowhere Boys (appearing as Mr Bates across multiple seasons). In New Zealand, he took on a lead role in the series Orange Roughies. His television credits also include appearances in acclaimed productions like The Leftovers; House Husbands; Home & Away; and Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War. In film, Nick has worked on both domestic and international projects, including George Lucas’s Star Wars Episode III.His stage work demonstrates his range as a performer, with roles in productions such as Threepenny Opera at Belvoir and A Man for All Seasons with the Melbourne Theatre Company.

Throughout his career, Nick has demonstrated a deep commitment to nurturing new talent and advancing the art of acting and storytelling. As an acting teacher and coach, Nick has established himself as a respected and influential figure in the industry. Nick’s expertise has been sought after by prestigious institutions. His teaching philosophy, encapsulated by the phrase “Being, not seeming,” emphasises authenticity, presence, and deep self-acceptance in acting. Nick encourages his students to fully inhabit their characters rather than merely pretending, focusing on embodied experience over intellectual analysis. His approach balances technical skill with spontaneity, advocating for actors to trust their instincts while remaining open to the organic evolution of a scene. Nick offers students valuable insights into how actors present themselves visually in the industry, often incorporating lessons on visual presentation and personal branding into his acting workshops.

Nick also works as an on-set drama coach all over the country, where he provides crucial guidance to actors in a professional environment. His holistic approach to teaching and mentoring, combined with his extensive industry experience both in front of and behind the camera, has made him a valued resource for aspiring actors and established professionals alike.