Mark Westbrook is Scotland's leading professional private acting coach. He provides acting classes, professional acting masterclasses and audition coaching in Glasgow.

Mark completed his studies at the universities of Kent, Nottingham and Utrecht. Mark Westbrook went on to train as a director at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, where he won the Avrom Greenbaum Prize for Direction. He later trained in acting at the Atlantic Theater Company's Acting School in New York City. 

Mark Westbrook has directed professionally for the last ten years throughout the UK and Ireland. His production of Spoonface Steinberg at the Tron Theatre won an Arts Trust of Scotland Award. He is also a professional writer, his latest play ‘The Emotional Life of Furniture’ opened at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow in October 2008.  In 2009, he was awarded a £15,000 scholarship by Shed Media to re-train as a television fiction writer.

In the past Mark's directing credits include:  Broken Biscuits (Scottish Tour) Train Project (Coventry University), Necessary Targets (Foyle Arts Building), Caesar-'63 (Riverside Theatre), Tandem (Salisbury Playhouse), Spoonface Steinberg (Edinburgh Festival, Tron Theatre and Scottish Tour).  Of Spoonface Steinberg, the Scotsman said:

“Unpretentious… Superb… Distinctly Scottish… Unmissable” 

The Dawn (The Arches), Misterman (The Arches), Matryoshka (The Arches), Rescuers Speaking (Scottish Tour) and Oleanna (Koepalzaal Theater, NL and Foyle Arts Centre).  His most recent production is The Emotional Life of Furniture, which he also wrote, opened at Dundee's Little Theatre on the 8th October before transferring to the Tron Theatre, Glasgow on the 10th October.  

Of The Emotional Life of Furniture, Joyce McMillan of The Scotsman said:

"Impressive flair, competence and energy...real pace, passion and intelligence...sharp perceptions and memorable moments".

Mark Westbrook has lectured in acting and performance at the universities of Coventry, Glasgow and Ulster.  He also lead the acting department as Head of Acting at GAMTA, a private musical theatre conservatory based in Glasgow. He has recently been advising Queen Margaret's Acting staff on their disability support policy.  Mark is a qualified trainer, holding a postgraduate certificate in adult learning.

In his career, Mark Westbrook has taught complete beginners, young people, footballers, golfers, magicians, dance teachers, TV presenters, business people, lawyers, conservatory and university students, professional actors and three former Associates of the National Theatre of Scotland.  He has recently taught masterclasses at The Actor's Kitchen, Edinburgh and the Actor's Bothy in Glasgow. 

Mark recently introduced David Mamet's House of Games at the Edinburgh Filmhouse along with sleight of hand expert, R Paul Wilson, from BBC Three's The Real Hustle.

Photograph by Scott Cadenhead 2009.