Characterisation is at the heart of acting. It's the process of fully understanding and portraying the characters we play, making them feel authentic and relatable to the audience. In our acting classes in Glasgow, we guide students through the essential steps of characterisation, helping them develop nuanced and believable performances.

1. Character Traits and Backstory Development

The first step in characterisation is identifying your character's unique traits. Whether it’s their personality, mannerisms, or life experiences, understanding these elements creates a strong foundation for any role. Our Glasgow acting classes teach students how to create detailed backstories, helping actors understand their characters' histories and how these past experiences shape their present actions.

2. Psychological Profile and Emotional Depth

Every character has a unique psychological makeup. Understanding their thoughts, fears, and desires allows actors to portray them with greater emotional depth. Through exercises in emotional memory and psychology, we help actors explore their characters' inner worlds, adding layers of complexity to their performances.

3. Motivations and Internal vs. External Conflict

A key part of understanding characterisation is knowing your character’s motivations—what drives them forward in the story. Whether it’s love, revenge, or ambition, motivation fuels every action. Additionally, recognising the internal and external conflicts your character faces allows for more dynamic performances. At Southside Performance Studio, we teach actors how to embody these conflicts and use them to shape the character’s journey.

4. Relationships with Other Characters

No character exists in isolation. Their relationships with other characters—whether loving, tense, or conflicted—play a significant role in defining who they are. Our classes focus on building relationships within scenes, helping actors create authentic connections with their scene partners, whether on stage or in film.

5. Physicality, Movement, and Voice

How a character moves, walks, and speaks can reveal much about who they are. From posture to speech patterns, physicality is essential in characterisation. We focus on helping actors develop the right physicality and voice to bring their characters to life. Learning to embody a character’s physical traits helps actors connect with the role on a deeper level.

6. Subtext, Inner Dialogue, and Role Research

Not everything a character thinks or feels is spoken aloud. Learning to communicate subtext—the hidden thoughts behind their words—creates a richer portrayal. Understanding a character's inner dialogue can add depth to performances, helping actors show what’s happening beneath the surface. Additionally, researching roles—whether it’s historical, cultural, or psychological—enables actors to portray their characters with authenticity.

7. Character Arc and Transformation

A character’s journey throughout a story is known as their character arc. Characters often evolve as they face challenges, grow, or transform. Our acting classes in Glasgow focus on helping actors understand and portray these arcs, showing the progression and changes that occur over time. We work on techniques to ensure this transformation is believable and compelling.

8. Empathy and Authenticity in Acting

To truly embody a character, an actor needs to empathize with them. Even when playing complex or flawed roles, finding empathy helps actors deliver performances that are authentic and grounded. At Southside Performance Studio, we guide students in understanding their characters from the inside out, allowing for more honest and captivating performances.

Master Characterisation with Acting Classes in Glasgow

Characterisation is about more than just memorizing lines—it's about understanding who your character is and bringing them to life in a way that resonates with the audience. At Southside Performance Studio, our acting classes in Glasgow are designed to help actors at every stage of their journey, from beginners to seasoned performers, develop a deep understanding of characterisation.

Ready to dive into the art of characterisation? Learn more about our acting classes in Glasgow here.

With the right tools and techniques, you'll be able to create characters that are memorable, dynamic, and truly authentic.