CIENDA McNAMARA
Coaching
Cienda is based in Brisbane and has worked nationally and internationally. She has been a teaching artist and coach for over 10 years.
She provides one-on-one acting classes as well as group sessions to assist with auditions for theatre, film, ensembles, and drama schools. She is pleased to offer online coaching sessions to meet students needs.
Former Students have been accepted into Schools in the United Kingdom (Central School of Speech & Drama, Mountview, Birmingham School of Acting and Rose Bruford College) and many of the major schools in Australia including WAAPA, VCA, The Qld Conservatorium (Classical Voice, Musical Theatre and Acting ) and QUT.
My Approach
I believe in a holistic approach to the preparation and coaching process. I also believe that the physical, intellect, and mental should be balanced when preparing for any audition. I work with my coaching students to craft a program for auditions that makes them feel strong, assured and prepared going into auditions. I help students to create an integrated program that is exclusively yours and I am able to provide advice on vocal repertoire, in consultation with your vocal coach.
Testimonials
"Cienda’s coaching didn’t just teach me how to be a good actor, but how to be a well rounded performer. She inspired me to read and sing and better educate myself. She helped me believe I could do anything I put my mind to. Without her I would not be attending QCGU, and I would not have the confidence to be the performer I am today."
Jahla- Bachelor of Musical Theatre, QCGU.
"Cienda is an absolutely wonderful acting coach that I would recommend to anyone wanting serious but affordable training. She makes her students feel safe to express, take risks, and be themselves, she has helped me understand myself not just as a performer but as a person as well. Cienda has an extensive knowledge of plays, history, and the world, which aid in finding and perfecting audition monologues and whatever else you are looking for. I am extremely grateful for the things I have learned and the performer I have become through Cienda’s lessons."
Simone- Bachelor of Music Theatre,Elder Conservatory of Music University of Adelaide.
"As my teacher and mentor for over 3 years, I can confirm that Cienda is a kind, patient, passionate, teacher who will always find her students to go above and beyond what they thought they could achieve, whilst making sure that it is a safe and nurturing environment in which to do so. Not only did she work with me on my Monologues for drama school, but she also coached me with Acting through Song techniques. One of the main reasons why I got into Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts is because of Cienda’s coaching."
Laura R - Bachelor Of Musical Theatre Mountview Academy London
"It’s really difficult to summarise Cienda’s incredible teaching in a few words due to her unrivaled mentorship & amazing talent. Teaching is one thing but listening is another and Cienda brilliantly sifts through your work, listening to exactly what you need and engages in every lesson. I am truly heard, respected, and wonderfully educated with every visit."
Laura-Bachelor of Acting WAAPA
"In our lessons, I was introduced to a lot of different plays and texts, learned many different ways to connect with my characters, and was provided with opportunities to workshop with other actors as the university audition season got closer.
She encouraged me in broadening my horizons in terms of repertoire and the courses I was auditioning for, and to this day continues to send me through opportunities for work and workshopping, and helps me in continuing making industry connections.
I’m now studying a Bachelor of Acting at the Queensland Conservatorium and I regularly find skills I learned with Cienda and techniques I’m learning at university cross over in the best possible way.
I highly recommend her to anyone looking for one-on-one acting coaching whether it’s for general skills or audition prep, I wouldn’t be where I am today without these skills she taught me and the guidance she continues to provide."
Kaitlin - Bachelor of Acting, QCGU.
"Undertaking private acting lessons with Cienda gave me a confidence in my work and a thirst for learning I didn’t know I could achieve. She was nurturing and supportive, yet precise and honest in her approach to the work. I felt utterly prepared for my upcoming auditions, as she had prepared me for anything that may happen in the room. Past readying me for auditions, I gained a love for the work we were doing and could not get enough of reading plays and seeing theatre. She reignited my love for acting. I am so thankful I started working with her."
Bianca - Bachelor of Acting ,QCGU.