The 5 Best Acting Schools in Dublin to Cure Shy Guy Syndrome
If you’ve ever caught yourself daydreaming about stepping onto a stage, the first step is finding the right place to train. Just like scouting top dance studios or booking piano lessons to round out your artistic skills, choosing drama training takes real thought.
Luckily, the city has some fantastic acting resources to help you build your skills and confidence. To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of the best acting schools in Dublin.
So, if you’re ready to take your acting skills to the next level, read on to meet our top picks!
How much does tuition at an acting school cost in Dublin?
Acting tuition across Dublin ranges from around €140 for youth terms up to €25,330 annually for international conservatory degrees.
| Program Type | Typical Fee Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Youth & After-School Classes (10 Weeks) | €140 – €320 | Weekly group acting, vocal exercises, and performance prep |
| Adult Evening Courses (10 Weeks) | €410 – €480 | Fundamentals, scene work, and confidence building |
| Year-Long Part-Time Evening Programs | €2,300 – €3,000 | Comprehensive foundation acting and ensemble performance |
| Specialised Studio Intensives (20 Weeks) | €2,000 – €2,500 | Advanced technique, nervous system awareness, and scene study |
| Full-Time Conservatory Training (Per Year) | €6,250 – €25,330 | Full-time professional diploma or degree training |
| Private Audition Coaching (Per Hour) | €130+ | One-on-one scene study and audition prep |
1. Miss Ali Stage School
Website: https://missalistageschool.ie/
Address: Unit CSA 2.5, Building 9, Dundrum Town Centre, Dundrum
Contact: +353 86 172 2272 | [email protected]
Hours: Wednesday-Friday: 3:00 PM-6:00 PM, Saturday: 11:00 AM-2:00 PM
Miss Ali Stage School offers non-competitive, combined acting, singing, and dancing classes for children aged 4 to 17, alongside optional Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) exam prep.
We spoke directly to a parent who enrolled her shy daughter here, and she loved how fast the supportive atmosphere brought her out of her shell.
On top of that, kids get to perform in annual stage productions, giving them a taste of live theatre without unnecessary pressure.
Just keep in mind that classes are strictly for young people, so adult actors will need to look elsewhere.
Additionally, you have to commit to 10-week terms and pay upfront, with non-refundable enrolments, which limits flexibility if your family schedule changes.
Such a positive, inclusive and inspiring environment
…She looks forward to her class every single week and comes home full of excitement showing us what she has learned.
The Queen season show was outstanding. It was incredible to see the children perform with such confidence, joy and professionalism. The singing, dancing and acting were all of such a high standard, and it was clear how much care and dedication goes into every performance. We couldn’t be prouder of our little one and are so grateful to Miss Ali and the wonderful team for creating such a positive, inclusive and inspiring environment for the children.
— Elisa Coluccia | Google Review
Has grown significantly as a performer
Over the past two years, my daughter has improved tremendously. She has become much more confident and has grown significantly as a performer. Her singing, acting, and dancing have all developed beautifully. The production is absolutely wonderful, and it has been amazing to see her progress. Five stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
— Ana Caetano | Google Review
2. PlayAct Drama School
Website: https://playact.ie/
Address: Multiple locations across Dublin
Contact: +353 85 275 4057 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
PlayAct Drama School offers age-specific drama programmes for children and teens, along with Leinster School of Music and Drama (LSMD) exam preparation and lively end-of-year performances.
They teach practical skills like improvisation, mime, voice control, and scriptwriting across several Dublin locations.
Their classes also follow a clear age-based structure, with groups such as The Players Junior, The Players Senior, and ImpActors Theatre. This setup helps teens develop their acting skills without joining basic games designed for younger children.
Plus, they run holiday camps to keep kids creative during school breaks.
Unfortunately, parents should be aware of the automatic term re-enrolment policy. If you want to cancel, you must email the school at least three weeks before the next term starts, or your child will remain enrolled.
To add, they don’t offer make-up classes for missed sessions, which can be inconvenient for busy families.
Kept them fully engaged
We had an excellent workshop with Adrienne and Amy. They were so great with the children and kept them fully engaged. The children had such fun playing different games . Would highly recommend Play Act Drama School to any school.
— Anna Morley | Google Review
The team at PlayAct know children
The team at PlayAct know children. They know exactly how to gently and in the most supportive way encourage all children to reach their own potential. After a teacher recommended that our daughter try out some drama classes to boost her confidence, Play Act has been so wonderful at supporting our daughter to try new things, step into a little bit of unknown and reach for those stars, through weekly classes, undertaking exams right through to tge final show. Thanks to Adrienne, Blaithin and the Playact team, they are experts in their own right!
— Mareesa O’ Dwyer | Google Review
3. Helena Walsh Empowerment Studios
Website: https://www.helenawalshempowermentstudios.com/
Address: Castleknock
Contact: +353 86 854 8885 | [email protected] | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11:00 AM-9:30 PM, Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Saturday-Sunday: 11:00 AM-9:30 PM
Helena Walsh Empowerment Studios uses The Actor’s Practice approach, combining advanced acting craft with Organic Intelligence, Neurosystemics, and body-based awareness.
Instead of just memorising text, you learn how your nervous system handles tension and emotion under pressure.
Their 20-week intensive programmes cap class sizes at 10-12 actors. That tight setup guarantees individual attention from Helena Walsh and guest coaches like Benjamin Mathes.
Plus, they cover deep scene study, character work, and audition readiness for dedicated performers.
This isn’t a drop-in hobby class, though. Admission is selective, requires a detailed application, and doesn’t guarantee a spot.
Additionally, the 20-week duration and €2,000 to €2,500 fee also demand a big commitment that won’t suit casual actors looking for a quick evening taster.
Helena is a kind and generous coach
Imagine being truly and deeply at peace – with your mind, with your body, with your soul. That’s where a retreat with Helena Walsh takes you.
I did a weeklong acting retreat with Helena Walsh in Ireland and it was beautiful. I learned true calm and deep alignment, allowing my voice and my essence to play freely in my work. Helena is a kind and generous coach, and I highly recommend her.
— Ayelette Robinson | Google Review
Helena is a master of her craft
Helena is a master of her craft. It felt incredibly special to able to share the space with her and learn from her to not only improve my acting, but my whole self. I did the course to alleviate some performance anxieties I had and she really helped to orient me and regulate my nervous system so that I could really give the scene my all. The work was truly transformative. I left the course feeling inspired, energized and balanced. Thank you, Helena!
— Seán McMahon | Google Review
4. StageScreen Classes
Website: https://stagescreenclasses.com/
Address: Leinster Cricket Club, Observatory Lane, Rathmines
Contact: +353 86 160 7565 | [email protected]
Hours (Rathmines classes, 2026/27 class timetable): Monday: no classes; Tuesday–Wednesday: 6:30 PM–9:00 PM (Diploma); 7:30 PM–9:00 PM (Adult Performance); Thursday–Friday: no classes; Saturday: 1:00 PM–7:00 PM (StageScreen 50/50 youth classes); Sunday: 2:00 PM–4:30 PM (Screen Acting); 5:00 PM–8:00 PM (Filmmaking), for seven-week courses starting November 2026
StageScreen Classes runs a popular StageScreen 50/50 programme for youth that splits time evenly between stagecraft and hands-on camera production. Students don’t just act in front of a lens; they write, shoot, and direct their own short films.
We sat in on a student film screening here last year, and the hands-on camera skills on display were genuinely impressive.
For adults, their seven-week screen acting course teaches Stanislavski and Meisner techniques while producing two professionally shot showreel scenes. They also offer preparation for acting diplomas from Trinity College London.
The biggest catch is their strict refund policy. All course deposits and tuition fees are non-refundable unless the school cancels the class itself, and fees must be settled completely before your first class starts.
So much more than a drama class
…Our daughter Molly has been attending the acting classes in Rathmines for over two years now, and from the very first day she walked in, she came out with a beaming smile. As a teenager, finding your place and your people can be tough, but she was made feel welcome straight away and really found her tribe here.
What has truly exceeded our expectations is that it’s so much more than a drama class. Molly has been involved in both video and stage production and is learning an incredible range of skills, building confidence, creativity and self-belief along the way. …
— Amanda Delaney | Google Review
Equipped me with really useful acting techniques
I completed the Adult Performance acting classes with Conor and found it amazing. It really helped with my confidence when it came to public speaking. It also equipped me with really useful acting techniques, such as accents, script reading, and engaging with other actors on set. I look forward to enrolling in another course with Conor soon. 5 stars!
— Aideen Lyons Murphy | Google Review
5. The Gaiety School of Acting – The National Theatre School of Ireland
Website: https://gaietyschool.com/
Address: Essex Street West, Temple Bar
Contact: +353 1 679 9277 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM-10:00 PM, Saturday: 10:00 AM-6:00 PM, Sunday: Studio hire is available 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
The Gaiety School of Acting offers a prestigious two-year, full-time conservatory programme and a Master of Arts (MA) in Theatre Practice, delivered in partnership with University College Dublin (UCD).
The full-time course covers a wide range of skills, including Shakespeare, camera techniques, voice work, movement, and stage combat.
Students also get the chance to perform in front of top casting agents and industry professionals before they graduate.
Plus, the school has an impressive list of alumni, including Colin Farrell, Aidan Turner, and Sarah Greene.
However, the full-time programme requires a significant financial and personal commitment. Annual tuition costs €6,250 for European Union (EU) students and €17,000 for non-EU students, with extra fees for productions and theatre visits.
Auditions are also highly competitive, and applications often close months in advance, so early preparation is essential.
So kind, encouraging, and clearly passionate about theatre
My daughter attended the Matilda Musical theatre Easter Camp at the Gaiety School of Acting, and she absolutely loved it! The staff were so kind, encouraging, and clearly passionate about theatre. Each day she came home full of excitement, singing the songs and talking about everything she learned.
It was such a joy to see her confidence grow throughout the week. The final performance was a real treat, you could see how much effort had gone into helping each child shine.
We’re so glad we chose this camp, and we’ll definitely be back for more. …
— Kate Smyth | Google Review
Great school of acting
My Daughter goes there, has been for several years now, great people, great school of acting, she loves it and looks forward to going there every week. Totally super impressed with the Gaiety School of Acting 👍👍👍👍👍, I can’t recommend it enough 😃🎞👍
— Andries Middelkoop | Google Review