ACTORS ACADEMY
ADVANCED ACTOR'S LAB
HELSINKI
August 2025 - March 2026
This Training is NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS. Limited space. Please apply by June 4th latest to be concidered.
Actors Academy proudly presents The Advanced Actor’s Lab — a brand-new, high-level, international and diverse actor training designed for professional actors, Actors Academy One Year Training alumni, and other trained performers who are ready to challenge themselves and take their craft and careers, to the next level.
This is the training for those who are ready to consciously become the actor they envision — with the tools, mindset, and momentum to create the career they truly want.
Running from August 2025 to March 2026, the Lab consists of powerful weekend intensives and online classes that focus on deepening the Meisner technique, mastering scene work and analysis, expanding your vocal and physical range, and learning to fully embody character — physical diversity and impediments, impulses, and all. You’ll also gain vital industry tools: camera and screen acting technique, career branding, audition prep, and networking insights and connections to support your professional journey.
Whether you’re stepping back into training to refine your edge or reignite your passion, this experience will strengthen your craft, awaken your instincts, and ground your presence — all within a committed, ensemble-led space that fuels momentum, clarity, action, and artistic courage.
Acting is a mind, body and soul craft, culminating in a deeper understanding of ourselves and the characters we play.
- Ashlie Walker
The Advanced Actor's Lab is Finland's second ever Meisner Technique based international Advanced Level actor training. This top of the field in-depth, intensive training gives you the opportunity to cultivate your full potential as an actor and performer, and expand as a unique artist and take your craft deeper.
You will be challenged to find truthful and authentic routes to the full spectrum of your craft as an actor. Building upon your existing professionalism, we will work with performative skills including: Character work, Impediments & Physical Diversity, Text analysis and Screen Acting. Much of the work will be strongly rooted in the Meisner Technique and will be focused on empowering your individuality and self-initiative within the craft.
The Training will culminate with a live open class Showcase in an intimate setting with casting directors, directors and agents coming to meet the students.
Upon completion, you will have the advanced tools needed to meet the high demands of an evolving industry, as well as a developed personal edge; enabling you to not only thrive, but flourish as a professional actor with confidence, authenticity, and discipline.
CURRICULUM
THE TRAINING IN A NUTSHELL
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Runs from August 2025 to March 2026
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The training is part-time. Classes will be held during weekends and evenings so you can work or study full time on the side.
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7 x Intensive 3 - 4 -day Live Coaching Modules
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Online Sessions between the Live Modules
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Updated Professional Headshots
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Edited scenes and filmed material from the filming Sessions at the studio
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Core Training Essentials: Meisner Technique, Repetition, Emotional Preparation, Character Work, Physical & Emotional Diversity and Impediments, Scene Analysis, Voice, Movement & Text Work, Screen Acting & Filming, Industry Expertise, Career Strategy for Screen, Stage Combat, Complete Vocal Singing Technique, Actor's Branding and Networking Coaching, Actor's Mindset Coaching
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Meetings to connect with Casting Directors, Directors and Talent Agents
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Final weekend's open class showcase for industry professionals
MODULE HIGHLIGHTS
Meisner Technique & The Actor’s Mindset
with Nita Arpiainen
Set the tone and intention for your journey. Reconnect to the truth of the moment through repetition, embodiment, and connection. You’ll begin the training by building trust, deepening awareness, and anchoring into a mindset of creative expansion and emotional honesty - and understand your own power in creating the careeer of your dreams.
Meisner Technique, Emotional Preparation & The Actor’s Craft with Ashlie Walker
Dive deeper into Meisner. Explore bolder instinctual responses, and how to bring nuanced truth to your scene work. You’ll deepen the subtle artistry of listening, impulse, and honest expression — all rooted in a powerful sense of presence and character.
The Power of Voice, Text & Truthful Performance
with Ben Joiner
Unleash the full potential of your voice and body to deliver emotionally grounded, compelling performances. Through monologue and scene work, you’ll learn how language, phrasing, and breath drive character, intention, and presence.
Scene Analysis, The Actor’s Craft & Physical Diversity
with Ashlie Walker
Dive deeper into Meisner with a focus on applying the technique to layered scene work. Learn to break down a scene and bring it to life with truth, spontaneity, and emotional precision. You’ll explore how to embody obstacles and impediments — including states like intoxication or addiction — in a grounded, believable way. Through instinctual listening and emotional preparation, you’ll sharpen your ability to bring depth, humanity, and boldness to every role.
Embodying the Character: A Physical & Emotional Transformation
with Ben Joiner
Step beyond the surface and into the bones of your character. Using breath, movement, and sensory exploration, you’ll learn to build roles from the inside out — creating fully inhabited performances that are felt deeply and seen clearly.
Screen Acting, Filming, Industry Expertise & Career Strategy for Screen with Tim Kent
Master the art of acting for camera. Develop the technical and emotional precision required for compelling screen performances — from close-up sensitivity and eye lines to spatial awareness and continuity — so your performances translate with nuance and depth on film. You’ll also gain crucial industry insight: how to work professionally on set, collaborate with directors and crew, and navigate the expectations of the film and TV industry with confidence. This module is designed to sharpen both your on-camera craft, as well as your on-set and industry fluency.
Scene Work & Filming, Industry Exposure & Final Showcase
with Ashlie Walker
The final module includes preparing and filming scenes, a live open training session, and an exclusive event where casting directors, agents, and directors are joining to meet you, get to know you and view your work. A perfect culmination and opportunity to show what you've built and where you're headed next.
Additional Training Features
Stage Combat
Learn the foundational skills of safe, believable stage combat for both stage and screen.
Singing for Actors
Explore your voice through Complete Vocal Technique, gaining confidence and freedom in using singing as part of your expressive toolbox — even if you're not a singer.
Actor Branding & Career Tools
Gain clarity on your personal brand, learn how to network with integrity, and build a website and promotional materials that reflect who you are as an artist.
Edited Scenes from Filming Sessions at the Studio
Walk away with filmed and edited scenes, as well as your other filmed material — perfect to add to you your website, submissions, and showcasing your on-camera work to agents, casting directors, and industry professionals.
Fresh Professional Headshots
You'll also receive a set of professional headshots — an invaluable add to your website and for auditions and marketing.
WHAT DO YOU GET?
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An advanced and broadened understanding of your craft, cultivating an edge upon your skills as an individual performer
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You will develop advanced understanding of the Meisner technique and how to draw upon the skills of repetition practice, independent activity, emotional preparation, relationship and imaginary circumstances for scenes
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A connection with your deeper emotional expression and range, and a readiness to follow your truthful impulses through character work and impediments
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An understanding on how your mind, beliefs and patterns play a huge role in your enjoyment, freedom and success in your craft and career - and support on making the needed changes for break-throughs
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The skills of text analysis and building a character
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Strengthened capacity to fully listen to and connect with your acting partner
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Reinforced acting instincts and the confidence to take risks, trust in spontaneity, improvisation, and moment-to-moment reactions
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An enhanced capacity to utilise your imagination in different scenes and roles or requests from directors
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Ability to create clear objectives or wants that help guide you organically and instinctively through scenes
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Scene working tools that are free from the constraints of 'ideas' or rigid concerns about 'text’
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Professional Screen Acting Technique and Experience
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A set of Professional Headshots
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Edited scenes and material for your own use (e.g. as part of your actor showreel) after the training
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A video recording of your live performance on the open class Showcase
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Opportunities to personally meet industry professionals, showcase your talent in a freeing open class atmosphere
WHO IS THIS TRAINING FOR?
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One Year Training Alumni: If you’ve completed our One Year Training, this is the perfect way to continue your journey and deepen your craft.
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Professional Actors: Whether you’re an experienced actor or you’ve been working in the industry, The Advanced Actor's Lab will help you refine your technique, bring nuance and depth and rediscover your artistic voice.
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Actors Seeking New Challenges: If you feel ready to explore new aspects of acting or reawaken your passion for the craft and life over all, this course will help you do just that.
This training is for you if:
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You’re a trained or professional actor craving a deep, inspiring challenge in a professional training environment
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You want to elevate your skillset and stand out in the industry
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You’re ready to commit to your artistic and professional growth
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You’re excited by collaboration, honesty, and full-body, full-heart work
This training is NOT for you if: -
You’re looking for a beginner-level introduction to acting
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You’re not ready to show up fully, take creative risks, or be challenged
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You prefer to work in isolation rather than in an ensemble-led, supportive space
IS THE ADVANCED LAB FOR ME?
WHAT OUR GRADUATES SAY?
Feedback from Actors Academy Advanced Training graduates 2023:
"The One Year Training allows oneself to open the doors you never even knew were closed, however, the Advanced Training allows a deeper exploration into the whole world beyond those doors. It allows for all the pains, joys, traumas and sorrows unlocked to be molded into pure art, and therefore is a perfect sequel of the OYT. The opportunity to use the immense variety of tools and translate it into a stage production in a unique way that I had never experienced before was so amazing, and the skills gained are some that every actor needs in their toolbox. The coaches, Ashlie, Ben and Barbara, offer depth into the more technical aspects of theatre such as voice and movement, but still in a non-traditional, special and more human way. I will forever be grateful to AAF for teaching me what it is to truly connect and feel. Thank you for guiding me in break-throughs which I never thought possible." - Viva Olsson
My experience with Advanced Training was genuinely transformative. Each session struck the perfect balance of challenge and support, pushing me to dig deeper and discover new layers in my craft. This training has equipped me with insights and techniques that have reshaped my approach to the work. I recommend this for anyone serious about developing their skills." - Erina Giuseppe Francesco
"The Actors Academy Advanced Training was simply mind blowing. Stretching me in the best ways possible. I truly felt what it was to step into characters shoes and allow real feelings come through. In the begin of the training I was afraid if it would be too challenging for me to step into this role that was so different from myself in real life. And finally it became everyone’s favourite character when I got inside of her skin. And I loved the way the character enriched my personal life. How a character is teaching you something in life. How to be more of something or less of something. I too loved to see all of our students huge development and loved to be held through the experience in such a beautiful way. As the school and trainers at Actors Academy do. I loved that we did the showcase many times for a live audience. If was important and beautiful to really experience how it would be to do it in a real theatre. The experience really is one of the highlights in my life." - Raneli Ada Ruul
“What I enjoyed most in the Advanced Training was the passionate approach of our teachers, the inclusive methods, the feedback, and the group synergy that was created. All the coaches of the training were courageous and empathetic professionals in their field, and they created a very good atmosphere. What strongly changed in my life during the training was the philosophy of "Truthful living." I started to evaluate my life and activities with this eye and to courageously feel what I feel. I now dare to be more playful and charismatic in everything I do. The training gave me a lot of courage to my creative aspirations and after the Training I have done more bravely film gigs, but perhaps the most significant achievement is that I published a book, a collection of poems, and I also developed my own standup, where I read poetry, interject stories, and engage with the audience. The final performance of the Advanced Training was a very astonishing triumph; it still seems unbelievable that we did it in such a professional way. Thank you very much!" - Tiina Saar-Veelmaa
TRAINING COACHES & TUTORS
ASHLIE WALKER
Ashlie is a sough-after teacher based in London. She is the Actors Actor's Lab's lead coach and fully committed to your growth and development as an actor. A wealth of experience as a professional actress for 20 years and extensive training in the Meisner Technique, Ashlie is a highly respected international teacher, tutor and personal coach. As a tutor, she especially focuses on unlocking the actors' instinct for truth, elevated by dramatic choices in performance. She guides actors to deepen their understanding of the craft, experience emotional freedom, build their actors' faith and, perhaps most importantly, to take risks. Alongside teaching, Ashlie has numerous directing credits and holds a Bsc (Hons) in Psychology and Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy, both of which expand her capacity to work with and empower her actors on and off stage. As a personal transformation coach, Ashlie guides those living in fear, anxiety and stress to discover a life of freedom, purpose and joy. Ashlie's soul calling is to guide others back to love and into their light.
BEN JOINER
Ben is a highly experienced vocal and movement coach and an actor. He trained as a dancer in the early nineties, touring internationally with various ballet and modern dance companies before retraining as an actor in 2000. Since then he has worked extensively in theatre, film and television. He coaches on the MA in Voice Studies at The Royal Central School of Speech of Drama and is one of approximately 200 vocal coaches worldwide trained by Kristin Linklater to teach her method Freeing the Natural Voice, as well as a Feldenkrais Method practitioner. In addition to being with the Actors Academy Finland since the beginning, he has experience coaching at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, The Oxford School of Drama, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance, Arts Educational Schools, The Actor’s Temple, plus numerous theatre companies, independent groups, and individual and corporate clients.
TIM KENT
Director, producer and acting coach Tim Kent is a multi-award winning director with over 25 years experience working at the forefront of the British film industry. After running a successful talent agency in London's West-End for 12 years, representing many household names. Tim has directed over 200 projects including award winning films for which his talent has been recognised internationally. In 2008 Tim founded the London's Actor's Studio as an international training ground for actors to develop their on-camera skills whilst working with a professional crew. He has taught thousands of established actors as well as provided coaching to politicians, sports stars, professional singers and TV personalities. Actor's Studio is globally renowned as one of the best places to study the craft of screen acting. His debut feature film, Sparrow’s Call, was released in 2023 and marks just one of many achievements in his ongoing contribution to screen storytelling and actor training.
NITA ARPIAINEN
Nita Arpiainen is an actor, acting coach, yoga teacher, holistic coach, EFT Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner, and the founder of Actors Academy Finland. In her previous careers, she has been a professional snowboarder and also worked as a TV presenter and producer.
Nita's deep passion and curiosity for acting, learning and personal growth is the underlying motivation for AA to come alive. The vision for AA was formed while Nita attended numerous acting schools and workshops in London at the Actors Temple, Giles Forman Acting Studio, City Academy and the Actors Studio to name a few, ultimately falling profoundly in love with the Meisner Technique, and it making a powerful and lasting impact on the way she viewed acting - and life over all. Nita has been passionately studying and working with the Meisner Technique since 2015.
Nita has created and designed the Actors Academy's Trainings as the optimal courses for varied level acting students who share a readiness and authentic desire to dive into the work with depth and expand both professionally as personally. The One Year and the Advanced Trainings both combine the expertise Nita and the other coaches have gathered around the world in an empowering way.
OTHER TRAINING COACHES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
CLASS TIME TABLE
The training consists of seven intensive 3-4 -day training Modules, eight 2-hour online sessions between Modules, and a professional Headshot session.
The exact teaching hours during Modules will vary.
WEEKEND MODULE EXAMPLE TIME-TABLE*
Friday: 16:30 - 21:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 17:30
Sunday: 9:00 - 15:00
*Please note that due to possible flight changes and restricted availability, some weekend Modules might run from Saturday to Sunday, e.g. 9:00-18:00. Students are recommended to keep their schedule flexible during the Module weekend. Students will be informed about any changes in schedule as early as possible.
1/ MODULE - FOUR DAYS
28 - 31 AUGUST 2025
NITA ARPIAINEN & ASHLIE WALKER
Meisner Technique, Repetition, Actors Mindset
Emotional Preparation & The Actor’s Craft
2/ MODULE
12 - 14 SEPTEMBER 2025
BEN JOINER
The Power of Voice, Text & Truthful Performance
3/ MODULE
17 - 19 OCTOBER 2025
ASHLIE WALKER
Scene Analysis & The Actor’s Craft & Impediments
4/ MODULE
14 - 16 NOVEMBER 2025
BEN JOINER
Embodying the Character: A Physical & Emotional Transformation
5/ MODULE
16 - 18 JANUARY 2026
TIM KENT
Screen Acting, Scene Work, Filming, Industry Expertise & Career Strategy for Screen
6/ MODULE
13 - 15 FEBRUARY 2026
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Stage Combat & Singing for Actors
7/ MODULE
13 - 15 MARCH 2026
ASHLIE WALKER
Scene Work & Filming, Industry Exposure & Final Showcase
ONLINE CLASSES
8 x 2H WEEKNIGHT ONLINE CLASSES WITH COURSE COACHES AND OTHER VISITING TEACHERS - 5 - 7pm:
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16th September
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7th October
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28th October
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18th November
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9th December
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20th January
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3rd February
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24th February
HEADSHOT SESSION
Fresh Professional Headshots
Date and time to be announced
*All rights to schedule changes reserved.
*In the case of a teacher being unavailable for health or other serious reasons, AAF will always substitute the teacher with one of equal professional capacity.
*All rights to changes reserved.
*In the case of a teacher being unavailable for health or other serious reasons, AAF will always substitute said teacher with one of equal professional credit.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications are now open.
Apply by June 4th to be considered.
To apply, please fill out the application form linked below and email us a clear headshot and other requested links to your materials. If you are not an Actors Academy One Year Training alumnus, we will contact you after reviewing your application.
Actors who do not yet have the required level of Meisner Technique experience will be asked to attend a two-evening Meisner Technique Workshop on August 26th–27th (not included in the main tuition). This introductory workshop will provide the essential foundation needed to fully participate in the Advanced Training.
Please note, you are expected to approach the training with a highly professional attitude and a strong commitment to both the program, the group and your growth as an actor.
Once accepted into the Training, you will be asked to confirm your enrolment by paying the deposit.
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Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
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A strong understanding of English is required.
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Applicants must either be professional actors, trained actors, or alumni of Actors Academy’s One Year Training.
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If you do not yet have a solid foundation in the Meisner Technique, you will be asked to participate in a two-day intensive Meisner Technique Workshop to ensure you’re prepared for the Advanced Lab Training.
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A serious commitment to focused study and committed attendance throughout the program is expected.
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To graduate and receive a certificate, students must attend at least 90% of the training and rehearsal sessions.
TUITION & PAYMENT OPTIONS
The tuition for the Advanced Training is 5.950 euros, incl. VAT 25,5%.
Payment:
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Pay a deposit of 1.500€ after you have been accepted into the training to confirm your place
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Pay training in full by August 1st 2025 or ask for part payment possibilities
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Payment options to choose from via our tuition payment link: credit card, direct bank transfer, mobile pay or part payments for ie. 200€ per month via an outside part-payment/ consumer loan provider (OP Laina or Alisa - please pre-check your eligibility directly with them.