Actor Tribe for Business

The actors’ toolkit for confidence, team building and people who present, pitch and lead.

Practical, on-your-feet training from two working actors with nearly six decades at the top end of film, TV and theatre between them. For 14 years we have trained performers and public speakers at Actor Tribe. Now we bring that expertise to your people, at your head office or chosen venue.

Book a 20-minute call See the programmes

Presence · Voice · Improvisation · Pitching · Difficult conversations · Team building · Executive coaching · Keynotes

Why learn from actors?

Public speaking is performance.

Your people know their material. What holds them back is how they land it: nerves before a pitch, a flat delivery in the boardroom, a meeting where nobody really listened, or a difficult conversation put off for weeks.

Training performers is what we do.

For 14 years, Actor Tribe has taken people from their first nervous step in front of an audience to auditions, film sets and professional careers. Our students have starred in an Oscar-winning film, and our founders are working actors with decades of film, TV, stage and live broadcast experience.

The same skills, for your workplace.

A pitch, a keynote and a results presentation demand what the stage demands: controlling nerves, using voice and body, reading the audience and telling a story people remember. Every session is practical, supportive and built around real material from their jobs. No one is asked to act.

What makes us different

Everything we do comes from a place of nurture and care.

For 14 years, Actor Tribe has helped nervous beginners feel safe enough to take risks, because that is where real confidence grows. Nobody is judged or put on the spot. Your people are supported, encouraged and brought on at their own pace.

What changes for your team

  1. 01Nerves become energy they can use, not something to hide.
  2. 02Voices carry authority without strain, in the room and on calls.
  3. 03Body language matches the message.
  4. 04Presentations become stories people remember and act on.
  5. 05People listen better, think on their feet and handle the unexpected.
  6. 06Difficult conversations get rehearsed before they happen, not regretted afterwards.

Who we are

Two working actors who genuinely care about people.

Lee Boardman and Jennifer James founded Actor Tribe 14 years ago, and now work with more than 200 people every week. What our students talk about most is the transformative effect of our classes. Our rooms are warm, funny and free of judgement, run by two people who care about everyone in them. That is what makes Actor Tribe different, and what we bring to your team.

“Their skill is in creating a safe, open, loving environment for us all to be completely free.” Sharon, 42
Lee Boardman

Lee Boardman

Executive, pitching, voice and improvisation programmes

Training
Won a scholarship to the prestigious Oxford School of Drama; trained in improvisation with practitioners from Chicago's Second City.
Screen
30+ years as an actor: MGM's Treasure Island opposite David Oyelowo, Just Play Dead opposite Samuel L. Jackson, Memory with Liam Neeson, Brexit: The Uncivil War, HBO's Rome and Outlander.
Voice
The voice of BBC Radio 5 Live for 15 years; three-time Sony Award nominee and winner.
Recognition
BAFTA voting member, represented by The Artists' Partnership. Director of FOOTPRINTS and writer of the feature HEAVY REIGN. Fronted the £25m public appeal for the new St Ann's Hospice.
His approach
Relaxed, warm and funny, with a sharp eye for what each person needs, so even the most nervous delegate feels at ease.
Jennifer James

Jennifer James

Team confidence and ensemble programmes

Training
Graduated from the Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance with a first-class degree.
Screen
27 years as an actor, including Coronation Street, Dalziel and Pascoe and Broken Biscuits.
Her approach
Jenny has a rare gift for building confidence in people who don't yet believe they have it. Her sessions are energetic, playful and full of laughter, but there is real depth underneath. She gently pushes people out of their comfort zone, encourages them to be truthful and to express themselves, and celebrates every step forward.
The difference she makes
People who arrived shy, anxious or barely able to make eye contact describe leaving confident, outgoing and proud of themselves. Parents tell us the change shows in interviews and in how their children talk to adults.
“I have never met anyone who can build a child's confidence like she can.” A parent

Our programmes

Eight ways to work with us.

Every programme is tailored after an initial call, using real presentations, pitches and scenarios from your workplace. Tap a programme to see what we cover.

01Half day · up to 12Presence & ImpactControl of nerves, voice and body; the confidence to own a room.£1,950 + VAT

Our foundation course and the best place to start. It gives anyone who presents, chairs meetings or speaks up in a room the core techniques professional actors use to feel calm and confident.

  • FormatHalf day, 3.5 hours
  • GroupUp to 12 people
  • Led byLee Boardman & Jennifer James

What we cover

  1. Nerves into energy. What adrenaline does to the body, and the breathing and grounding techniques actors use in the wings.
  2. Status and stillness. How posture, eye contact and stillness signal authority before you say a word.
  3. Owning the space. Entrances, where to stand and how to use the room.
  4. Voice basics. Breath support, slowing down and the power of the pause.
  5. Connecting with the audience. Reading the room and making people feel spoken to, not at.
  6. Practice and feedback. Each delegate delivers a short piece of their own material and receives personalised verbal feedback.

Who it's for

Anyone who dreads presenting, feels they are not taken seriously in meetings, or wants to make a stronger first impression. Ideal for new managers and graduate intakes.

Delegates leave with

A personal pre-presentation routine, three techniques to use the next day, and personalised verbal feedback.

02Half day · up to 12Voice of AuthorityBreath, pace, pitch and warmth, from the voice of BBC Radio 5 Live.£1,950 + VAT

Taught by the voice of BBC Radio 5 Live. Your voice carries your credibility, in the room, on calls and online. This course gives people a voice that is clear, warm and impossible to talk over, without shouting or strain.

  • FormatHalf day, 3.5 hours
  • GroupUp to 12 people
  • Led byLee Boardman

What we cover

  1. Breath. The foundation of a steady, supported voice that doesn't shake under pressure.
  2. Pace and pause. Why rushing kills authority, and how a pause commands attention.
  3. Pitch and range. Moving beyond monotone; using emphasis to land the key point.
  4. Resonance and warmth. Sounding confident and approachable at the same time.
  5. Voice on camera and calls. Microphone technique and keeping energy up on video.
  6. Voice care. Protecting the voice through long days of talking.

Who it's for

People who are told they are too quiet, too fast or monotone; leaders who speak at all-hands meetings; anyone whose job involves calls, webinars or video.

Delegates leave with

A five-minute daily vocal warm-up and personalised verbal feedback.

03Half day · up to 16Improv for BusinessListening, adaptability and thinking on your feet, with plenty of laughter.£1,950 + VAT

Built on improvisation technique Lee learned from practitioners of Chicago's Second City. Improv trains exactly what the modern workplace demands: listening properly, adapting fast and building on other people's ideas. It is also the most fun your team will have on a training day.

  • FormatHalf day, 3.5 hours
  • GroupUp to 16 people
  • Led byLee Boardman

What we cover

  1. Listening to respond, not to reply. Exercises that expose how little we really hear.
  2. “Yes, and…” Building on ideas instead of shutting them down.
  3. Thinking on your feet. Handling tough questions and surprises without freezing.
  4. Status and teamwork. How groups make each other look good.
  5. Comfort with failure. Turning mistakes into material, a powerful mindset for innovation.
  6. Applying it. Improvised versions of real workplace scenarios, from client questions to meetings that go off-script.

Who it's for

Teams that need to collaborate better, sales and client-facing staff who must think on their feet, and leaders handling the unexpected. Also a high-energy session for conferences and away days.

Delegates leave with

Practical tools for meetings and Q&As, a team that knows each other better, and a shared language for collaboration.

04Full day · up to 12Pitch PerfectA filmed, rehearsed and transformed version of a real pitch.£3,500 + VAT

Our most intensive group course. Delegates bring a real pitch or presentation they have coming up and leave with a rehearsed, transformed version of it. Every delegate is filmed, watched back and coached, just as an actor works with a director.

  • FormatFull day, 6.5 hours
  • GroupUp to 12 people
  • Led byLee Boardman

What we cover

  1. Story first. Turning content into a story with a clear beginning, middle and end that people remember.
  2. The opening 30 seconds. Earning attention immediately.
  3. Rehearsal like a professional. How actors prepare, and why reading slides is not rehearsing.
  4. Filmed run-through. Each delegate delivers their pitch on camera.
  5. Playback and direction. Watching back together, with specific, constructive direction.
  6. Second run. Delivering it again with the feedback applied; the difference is usually striking.
  7. Handling questions. Staying composed and credible under challenge.

Who it's for

Anyone with a high-stakes pitch, tender, investor presentation or conference talk ahead; sales teams; partners and directors winning new business.

Delegates leave with

A stronger version of a real pitch, having analysed their performance on playback with personal expert feedback.

05Half day · up to 10Difficult ConversationsRehearse hard conversations with a professional role-play actor.£2,450 + VAT

The conversations managers dread are the ones that matter most. Here they rehearse them before they happen, with a professional actor playing the colleague, client or patient so it feels real, and the chance to try again until it lands.

  • FormatHalf day, 3.5 hours
  • GroupUp to 10 people
  • Led byLee Boardman, with a professional role-play actor

What we cover

  1. Why we avoid them. What happens in the body and mind when a conversation feels threatening.
  2. Preparing. Clarifying the purpose, the message and the outcome you want.
  3. Opening well. The first sentence that sets the tone.
  4. Listening under pressure. Staying present when emotions rise.
  5. Live rehearsal. Each delegate runs a real scenario from their job with the actor, who responds as the real person might.
  6. Rewind and replay. The actor shares how it felt to be on the receiving end, then the delegate tries again.

Who it's for

Managers and team leaders; healthcare, HR and customer-facing staff; anyone who gives feedback, handles conflict or delivers bad news.

Scenarios we tailor

Performance feedback, conflict between colleagues, redundancy and restructure, complaints, breaking bad news.

Delegates leave with

A simple framework for any hard conversation, the experience of having already done theirs once, and personalised verbal feedback.

06Team day · up to 30The EnsembleTrust, listening and collaboration through ensemble exercises.£4,500 + VAT

Great casts aren't collections of stars; they are ensembles that trust each other completely. This day draws on decades of working in professional casts at the top end of the business, and on the ensemble exercises at the heart of 14 years of Actor Tribe, to build that trust in your team. Lively, inclusive and genuinely bonding, and nobody has to perform alone.

  • FormatFull team day, 6.5 hours
  • GroupUp to 30 people
  • Led byJennifer James & Lee Boardman

What we cover

  1. Warm-up and play. Energising games that break down hierarchy and nerves.
  2. Trust and attention. Exercises where the group succeeds only when everyone is listening.
  3. Status games. Understanding how power works in a team, with plenty of laughter.
  4. Collaborative storytelling. Building something together from nothing.
  5. Group scene work. Small teams create and share short pieces about their own workplace.
  6. Reflection. Turning the day's lessons into agreements for how the team will work.

Who it's for

New or merged teams, teams under pressure, leadership teams, and away days where you want more than a quiz and a meal.

Your team leaves with

Stronger relationships, a shared experience they'll talk about for months, and practical commitments for working together.

0790-minute sessions1:1 Executive CoachingPrivate preparation for a keynote, board, investor or media moment.£350 a session · £1,800 for six + VAT

Private coaching for senior people facing a big moment: the same kind of one-to-one preparation Lee does for his own roles. Entirely confidential.

  • Format90-minute sessions
  • WhereYour offices or online
  • Led byLee Boardman

What a programme includes

  1. Diagnosis. We watch you present and agree what to work on.
  2. Tailored technique. Voice, presence, nerves and story, focused on what you need most.
  3. Material work. Shaping and rehearsing your actual speech, pitch or interview answers.
  4. Rehearsal on camera. Filmed run-throughs with direct, honest direction.
  5. Final preparation. A dress rehearsal and a plan for the day itself.

Who it's for

CEOs, directors and partners preparing for a keynote, board or investor presentation, media interview, award speech or high-stakes pitch; senior leaders who want to grow their presence over time.

You leave with

A delivery you have rehearsed until it feels natural, and techniques you can use for every big moment after.

0845–60 minutes · any sizeKeynote TalkAn entertaining, practical keynote from Lee and Jenny, drawing on decades in film and TV.From £2,500 + VAT

An entertaining, practical keynote from two working actors with nearly six decades in film, TV and theatre between them. Lee and Jenny share what the best actors know about nerves, presence and staying power, with stories from set and techniques the audience can try in their seats.

  • Length45–60 minutes
  • AudienceAny size
  • SpeakersLee Boardman & Jennifer James

Ideal for

Staff conferences, leadership summits, awards dinners and team away days.

Included, and optional

Every keynote ends with an audience Q&A. For deeper impact, add a one-hour follow-on workshop for a smaller group the same day, at additional cost.

Audiences leave with

Techniques they can use, and a talk they'll remember.

We come to you. Every programme is delivered at your head office or a venue of your choice. If you'd like us to find and book a venue, we can arrange one at additional cost. 1:1 executive coaching can also run online.

How it works

From first call to session in two to four weeks.

  1. 1

    A 20-minute call

    We learn about your team, their goals and what they find hardest.

  2. 2

    A tailored plan

    We recommend a programme and confirm date, venue and price in writing.

  3. 3

    Preparation

    Delegates send a presentation or scenario to work on.

  4. 4

    The session

    Practical, supportive and on their feet. Nobody is put on the spot.

  5. 5

    Follow-up

    Personalised verbal feedback and exercises for each delegate, and a summary for you.

Investment

Clear prices, no surprises.

Prices include preparation, delivery and personalised verbal feedback for every delegate. All prices exclude VAT.

Presence & Impact Half day£1,950
Voice of Authority Half day£1,950
Improv for Business Half day£1,950
Difficult Conversations Half day, with role-play actor£2,450
Pitch Perfect Full day£3,500
The Ensemble Team day, up to 30£4,500
1:1 Executive Coaching 90-minute sessions£350 · £1,800 for six
Keynote Talk 45–60 minutesFrom £2,500

What people say

In their words.

“I have conquered my worries of standing up in front of a lot of people.”Harry, 19
“The way Lee structures the lessons with his relaxed, warm and humorous approach puts everybody at ease.”Mike, 51
“I am inspired and have begun writing again and believing in myself. No acting school, course, or college has ever done that.”Caroline, 48
“Actor Tribe is a place full of laughter, support and love. When first starting you are immediately met with Jenny and Lee's support and warmness ensuring that even the most nervous of students feel at home.”Alicia, 18
“Lee has tremendous perception and uses his considerable skills and experience to coax the best out of us all.”Jacqui, 40

Track record

  • Actor Tribe students starred in The Silent Child, winner of the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film.
  • Little Boxes, our own feature film, won awards at eight international festivals, including Best Indie Feature at the Rome Movie Awards.
  • Our actors have been directed by Emmy-winning Steve Shill (The Sopranos, The Wire, The West Wing) and Paul Norton Walker (Riviera), and have worked with Suranne Jones and Peter Kay.
  • Our patrons include Alfred Molina, who gave Actor Tribe its name.

Selected credits: Treasure Island · Just Play Dead · Memory · Brexit: The Uncivil War · Rome · Outlander · Coronation Street · Dalziel and Pascoe · Broken Biscuits

Questions we're often asked

FAQ

Will my team be made to perform or do anything embarrassing?

No. Our sessions are built on 14 years of making nervous beginners feel safe. Everything is supportive and practical, and people go at their own pace.

Do delegates need any acting experience?

None at all. Most of the people we train have never acted.

Can you tailor a session to our sector or a specific event?

Yes. Every programme is shaped after an initial call, and we can build a session around an upcoming pitch, conference or leadership event.

Can you run sessions online?

1:1 executive coaching works well online. Group programmes are live, physical training and work best in the room with you.

Where do sessions take place?

At your head office or a venue of your choice; we come to you. If you need us to find a venue, we can arrange one at additional cost.

Book a call

Let's talk about your team.

The best first step is a 20-minute conversation. We'll learn what your people need and recommend the right programme.

Lee Boardman

Co-founder

lee@actortribe.co.uk07843 036000

Jennifer James

Co-founder

jenny@actortribe.co.uk07801 357993