London is two hours away and our sessions cost roughly half what the capital charges. For much of the South, that maths still works.
Southern and eastern actors reach the Actors Reels studio in Manchester in around two hours from London Euston, three from Bristol or Oxford, and four to four and a half from Brighton, Southampton, Norwich or Exeter. Sessions are £195 and £295.
Everything on this page comes back to one number. A comparable director-led monologue session in central London typically starts around £450 and frequently runs past £700. Ours are £195 for one piece and £295 for three.
From London that is a two-hour train against a saving of several hundred pounds, which is not a close call. From Bristol, Oxford or Cambridge it is three hours or so and the same maths applies. From Brighton, Southampton, Norwich or Exeter it is a long day, and whether it is worth it depends entirely on how much the difference matters to you.
What you are not trading away is quality. Same cinema glass, same lighting built per piece, same director in the room, same broadcast grade. The rent is the variable, not the kit.
Around 2 hours 5 minutes to the studio. Direct from Euston, twice an hour, all day.
Around 3 hours to the studio. Direct on the cross-country route via Birmingham.
Around 3 hours to the studio. Via Birmingham on the cross-country route.
Around 4 hours 30 minutes to the studio. Via London, changing between termini or using the Thameslink route.
Around 4 hours 30 minutes to the studio. Via Peterborough or Ely and Sheffield — two changes on most routes.
Around 3 hours 30 minutes to the studio. Via Peterborough and the East Coast route, or through London.
Around 4 hours to the studio. Via Birmingham on the cross-country route — usually one change.
Around 4 hours 45 minutes to the studio. Direct on the cross-country route via Bristol and Birmingham.
Session prices and everything that is included are on sessions & pricing, and monologue showreels covers what actually happens in the room. You can watch the standard on the reels gallery before committing to a train ticket.
No, and nobody watching can tell. Casting directors judge lighting, sound, performance and grade. Postcodes do not appear in the frame.
For a three-monologue session, often yes. For a single piece, usually not — that is a long day for one two-minute film, and we will say so rather than take the booking.
Book a session or just ask us a question — we're always happy to talk through your reel.
