HOW TO HIRE · LESSONS & TUTORING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an acting coach in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A drama & acting lessons in Ireland costs €25–€80 per hour, typically around €45. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an acting coach in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers acting coach work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — theatre Production Insights — lessons may include insights into the broader aspects of theatre production, such as stagecraft and collaboration with directors and other actors.
- How does instructor's experience change the price?The better known the provider, the less they need to discount. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does lesson length change the price?The length of the visit is agreed before the work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does basic Acting Techniques change the price?Two jobs that look alike can differ here by hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Audition Preparation — specialised coaching for auditions is commonly offered, focusing on monologue selection and performance techniques — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a acting coach job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Garda vetting, shown to you, with its date; A subject qualification, and how much of their work is this subject at this level; Whether lessons are one-to-one or shared, and where they happen; For online lessons, whether sessions are recorded and who holds the recording; Cancellation and payment terms in writing — block-paid lessons are the commonest dispute; Two references from current families.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers acting coach work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — theatre Production Insights — lessons may include insights into the broader aspects of theatre production, such as stagecraft and collaboration with directors and other actors.
A good answer: The better known the provider, the less they need to discount. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The length of the visit is agreed before the work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Two jobs that look alike can differ here by hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Audition Preparation — specialised coaching for auditions is commonly offered, focusing on monologue selection and performance techniques — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a acting coach job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy — scene Study — students analyze and perform scenes from plays or films to understand character development and dialogue delivery.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the acting coach starts, and an itemised invoice after — basic Acting Techniques — lessons often cover foundational skills such as voice projection, body language, and improvisation.
Booking by the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: instructor's experience — the better known the provider, the less they need to discount
- They will not talk about it: lesson length — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts
- They will not talk about it: basic Acting Techniques — two jobs that look alike can differ here by hours
- A price for the acting coach before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the acting coach has begun
What an acting coach costs: €25–€80 per hour
Most acting coachs quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Individual acting lessons and Group drama classes each carry their own band. Drama & Acting Lessons price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Acting coaches near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstInstructor's experience — the better known the provider, the less they need to discount — that is what the acting coach is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLesson length — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfBasic Acting Techniques — two jobs that look alike can differ here by hours — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherScene Study — it decides how much of the day the job takes — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the acting coach is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, audition Preparation — it is worth getting a second opinion on before you commit.
- Basic Acting Techniques
- Lessons often cover foundational skills such as voice projection, body language, and improvisation.
- Scene Study
- Students analyze and perform scenes from plays or films to understand character development and dialogue delivery.
- Audition Preparation
- Specialised coaching for auditions is commonly offered, focusing on monologue selection and performance techniques.
- Theatre Production Insights
- Lessons may include insights into the broader aspects of theatre production, such as stagecraft and collaboration with directors and other actors.
- Group Drama Classes
- Collaborative sessions that foster teamwork and enhance social skills through shared performance experiences.
- Improvisation Workshops
- Sessions designed to boost spontaneity and creativity through unscripted performances and games.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an acting coach: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the instructor's experience, lesson length, and location. More experienced professionals or specialised classes may command higher rates.
Most lessons are usually one hour long, but they can vary depending on the program or the specific needs of the student. Longer sessions may be available for intensive training.
While a general acting coach can provide valuable insights, a qualified specialist may be beneficial for advanced techniques or specific goals, such as preparing for professional auditions. Look for instructors with relevant qualifications, such as acting degrees or professional experience in theatre or film.
Same-day availability depends on the instructor's schedule. Many professionals require advance notice, but some may offer last-minute slots, particularly in urban areas.
Yes, many instructors offer packages that include multiple lessons or workshops at a discounted rate. This can be a great way to enhance your skills comprehensively.
Lessons generally focus on performance techniques and may not include aspects such as script writing or production management. Students seeking these skills may need to pursue separate courses.
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