NINE MONTH MEISNER PROGRAM

Australia’s premier 9-month Meisner program offers an unparalleled journey in actor development, focused on cultivating emotional depth and technical precision.

Limited places available.

 
 

9 MONTHS OF INTENSIVE TRAINING

For the first time, JL Studio presents a nine-month Meisner program in Australia. Grounded in one specific technique and guided by a clear, unified vision, this program is designed to build a strong technical foundation while developing your acting instrument.

The Meisner Technique emphasises imagination and emotional truth, achieving two things simultaneously: it develops your emotional core by helping you release your defences to discover what lives in your gut, while simultaneously strengthening your technical abilities.. You’ll learn how to set things up to create a rich, specific life in your work. There’s no other technique like this, and no other exercise engages your instrument in quite the same way.

Learn to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances and get ready for the journey of your life!

Key Dates:
17th February - 17th December 2025

Location:
Justin Lehmann Studio - 263 Barkly St, Footscray

Cost:
Program cost - $7500

Payment Plans Available

How to apply:
Please submit a form via the application link below.

 

CLASSES

The nine months will compromise of 2 x Technique classes per week. Students will also be expected to meet regularly for rehearsal outside of class.

The weekly schedule will consist of the following:

  • Monday 7pm -10pm Technique Class

  • Wednesday 7pm - 10pm Technique Class

COURSE BREAK DOWN

The nine-month program is organised into three stages, with each step building on the last and layering in every element as it’s introduced.

The program is designed to facilitate and expedite artistic growth by providing an intensive space for the actor to train in a proven technique two times a week. This program offers the actor the opportunity to really hone their skill set and deepen their experience of what is considered to be one of the most concrete and safest ways to learn the craft of acting. It is curated to support those who seek to build a strong foundation and sharpen their skill set.

A great technique is based upon a process which demands a continuity of contact. The nine month program naturally emerges from this understanding. This program will compromise of two classes per week as well as rehearsals in between classes, providing consistent contact with the work but also flexibility for the student to continue with other commitments alongside.

Stage 1 | Repetition to Text

The Meisner Technique begins with Repetition, teaching actors to actively listen and respond authentically. As this foundation strengthens, additional elements are gradually layered in, ultimately leading to work with text.

  • Repetition

  • Independent Activity/Door

  • Text

    '“My favourite kind of acting scenes, or at least where I think people shine the brightest, are odes to Meisner technique scenes where people are face-to-face, and it’s almost like a repetition exercise.”
    -Timothée Chalamet.

Stage 2 | Saying Goodbye to Repetition

Although the Meisner Technique is best known for the repetition exercise, this is just a small part of the overall approach. In this next phase, we take a crucial step forward by moving beyond repetition and focusing on a deeper exploration of emotional temperament and emotional preparation.

  • Introducing the Expecting

  • Letting Go of Repetition

  • Expanded Independent Activity

  • Emotional Preparation

    “I’ve studied a technique called the Sanford Meisner technique, that teaches you how to focus. It’s mainly about daydreaming. And the technique’s really about imaginary circumstances. Using your imagination to sort of daydream about stuff. It makes you emotional in a scene.” 
    -Sam Rockwell

Stage 3 | Returning to Text

In this final stage, actors explore complex relationships, deepen their craft through the Domestic Exercise, and apply these layers to text work.

  • Relationships

  • The Domestic Exercise

  • Text

    '“You prepare yourself as best you can and then when you start you’ve got to throw it all out the window and just talk and listen and listen and talk. To me, thats the beginning and end of it. Acting is talking and listening. Very simple . But if you do it purely and you don’t cheat it, it will lead you to good surprises emotionally.”
    — Robert Duval.

For any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch via info@justinlehmannstudio.com.