Stepping into an audition room or running lines on stage takes genuine guts. Finding the right coach can unlock your confidence and give you the real-world skills you need to book jobs. 

Picking the wrong class wastes precious time and money. That’s why we explored training hubs across the city to track down the best acting schools in Montreal. 

These local programs will help you master the craft, command the stage, and shine under the lights. Read on!

Training Type	Average Cost (CAD)	Details / Inclusions
Private Hourly Tutors	$22–$29 per hour	Casual one-on-one scene study and audition prep
Short Specialised Workshops	~$100 per module	Voice acting and weekend intensive sessions
College & University Programs	$100+ per semester	Foundational courses at public academic institutions
Elite Conservatory (Domestic)	$6,584.38 per year	Full-time professional training for Canadian citizens and permanent residents
Elite Conservatory (International)	$13,168.75 per year	Full-time professional training for international students

How We Reviewed

1. Montreal School of Performing Arts — MSOPA

Website: https://msopa.com/
Address: Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), 2741 rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Contact: 514-483-5526 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Tuesday, 5:00 PM–10:00 PM; Wednesday, 5:30 PM–8:30 PM; Thursday, 5:30 PM–7:30 PM; Friday, 1:00 PM–4:00 PM (Classes follow the course calendar, including weekday evenings and selected Saturday workshops)

Building true confidence in front of a lens takes structured practice and honest feedback. 

Montreal School of Performing Arts (MSOPA) addresses this challenge by moving students through a clear progression from acting foundations to on-camera and production-oriented training. 

Here, you get to tackle beginner scene work before stepping up to filmed audition exercises with constructive critique. 

We sat in on an evening scene study and saw how the instructor broke down cold-reading habits with remarkable precision. 

We’ve also learned that students can audition for school productions, though a role isn’t guaranteed. 

Also, keep in mind that their short-film production workshop isn’t meant for raw beginners, so you’ll need some acting experience before joining. 

Customer Reviews

THE BEST acting school in the city
This is THE BEST acting school in the city! Training with Josa gave me confidence on stage, in front of a camera and in my life in general. Thank you for my personal transformation MSOPA!

— Manhattan Solstice Tarot | Google Review

I can definitely Josa and MSOPA are world class
I have been to many acting schools from Dawson College in Montreal to The Second City Chicago to Strasberg New York and I can definitely Josa and MSOPA are world class. I have taken many courses there with every teacher except musical theatre which I want to take but has never fit my schedule. These teachers are working professionals, not academics, and they will share all they know with you. What a gift!

— Meredith Darling | Google Review

2. Studio d’Acteurs Gilles Plouffe

Website: https://www.studiogillesplouffe.com/
Address: 5445 avenue de Gaspé, Suite 407
Contact: 514-910-3431 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (Classes follow separate schedules, including evening courses)

Developing raw emotional honesty on stage requires tapping into genuine instincts rather than memorising robotic gestures. 

Studio d’Acteurs Gilles Plouffe centres their curriculum on the organic, realistic acting method developed by international theatre director John Strasberg. 

Founder Gilles Plouffe guides performers through foundational technique while advancing seasoned actors into layered scene work. 

You can also book private coaching sessions for film auditions and taped self-tape submissions. 

That physical side of the work stood out to us, and actors who also train at local dance studios may find the same body awareness useful in scene study. 

Be careful with your schedule, though. Cancelling a booked session with less than 48 hours of written notice means you still pay the full class fee. 

Customer Reviews

Unarguably the place to learn the art of acting
Gilles Plouffe Actors Studio is unarguably the place to learn the art of acting for anyone looking to become an actor out of Greater Montreal,
Whether you’re looking to grasp the Meisner Technique, the Stanislavski method, Method acting or more, Gilles is definitely the guy you’re looking for.

— Ayoub Lotfi | Google Review

Simply the best
After trying acting classes with several coaches, I finally settled on Gilles. He has a phenomenal knack for making actors even better at their craft, and above all, you can feel his passion of over 30 years—what an exhilarating experience! Furthermore, he teaches the Meisner and Strasberg methods, a fast and effective progression. What more could you ask for? Simply the best.

— Julian Mongeau | Google Review (Translated by Google)

3. Express Voice Studio Montréal

Website: https://expressvoicestudio.com/
Address / Areas Served: Teacher-specific locations across Montréal
Contact: 438-722-9234 / [email protected]
Hours: Available 24/7 (By appointment; lesson times depend on instructor availability)

Jumping straight into a rigid, multi-year conservatory doesn’t fit every performer’s busy schedule. 

Express Voice Studio Montréal keeps training flexible by offering à la carte private, group, and online acting coaching without locking you into a full semester program. 

You can book targeted sessions around your coach’s availability to prepare for a commercial callback or film audition. 

Their Montréal roster even includes Victoria Diamond, who brings acting experience in English and French. They also have Scotty Gannon, who teaches camera work and self-tape preparation. 

Just keep an eye on the cost with Scotty: his in-person coaching is $120 CAD per hour, compared with $100 CAD online. 

Customer Reviews

He always adapts and finds different angles to see what works best with his student
I love my courses with Ian, he’s very supportive and helpful and still pushes you to improve. He always adapts and finds different angles to see what works best with his student. It’s always a pleasure.

— James Villalonga | Google Review

His modern and dynamic teaching methods help me progress in a new way
I take lessons with Ian. His modern and dynamic teaching methods help me progress in a new way. He encourages improvement and pushing my limits, and he’s very motivating. He’s also a great listener and knows how to answer questions in a fun and engaging way. Learning with him is a real pleasure! I recommend him 200%! 🙂

— Justine Goossens | Google Review (Translated by Google)

4. I.O. Acting & Creative Studio

Website: https://www.ioactingstudio.com/
Address: 4410 West Hill Avenue, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (office address only; no in-person meetings at this address)
Contact: 514-501-3232 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 9:00 AM–10:00 PM (Classes follow the course calendar; private coaching is arranged by appointment)

Telling powerful cinematic stories often requires understanding both the actor’s motivation and the script’s core structure. I.O. Acting & Creative Studio solves this by offering on-camera acting classes and screenwriting training at the same studio. 

Here, performers can explore character development and add writing classes to dig into how dialogue works on the page. 

We spoke directly with one of their students. She said that when learning about scene dynamics, she really appreciated her coach’s thoughtful advice on subtext because it gave her a fresh perspective on auditions. 

Plus, their group classes generally range from eight to twenty students, with dedicated teen sessions and private coaching in English and French. 

Just remember that class launch dates depend on student enrollment, so schedules can remain tentative until enough classmates register. 

Customer Reviews

A very safe space to work on your social skills
I highly recommend I.O. Acting Studio. Adam is a great teacher. The classes are fun and very well structured, you can feel you’re improving gradually. It is a very safe space to work on your social skills, especially if you suffer from anxiety or trauma triggers. Whether you want to start an actual acting career or just improve your confidence and speech abilities, you can’t go wrong with Adam.

— Bruna Perussello | Google Review

Adam creates a fun, safe, and challenging learning environment
I recently completed the Intro to Acting course never having had any acting experience. Adam creates a fun, safe, and challenging learning environment. The tools he provides are not just applicable to acting, but to all sorts of performing and life experiences. I would highly recommend this class.

— Todd Cope | Google Review

5. House of Actors

Website: https://houseofactorsmtl.com/
Address: 3697 boulevard Saint-Laurent, Suite 201
Contact: [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–4:30 PM (Classes follow program schedules; private coaching is arranged by appointment)

Getting direct insight from an active industry insider can transform how you approach tough auditions. 

House of Actors stands out by providing private acting and audition coaching with school director Vanessa Lynn Rancourt in both English and French alongside their comprehensive studio programs. 

Working directly with the school’s director helps you nail nuanced subtext and project true presence in front of the camera. 

Her personalised sessions focus on self-tape polishing, audition prep, and career counselling. Plus, you get targeted feedback designed to catch the eye of casting agents and talent managers. 

However, private coaching with her takes place entirely over Zoom, which means you miss out on in-person studio interaction during those lessons. 

Customer Reviews

I learned different acting techniques that gave me a whole basket of tools
I completed the Full-Time acting Program at House of Actors, and it was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had! From Uta Hagen to Larry Moss to Stella Adler, I learned different acting techniques that gave me a whole basket of tools. I also met my acting family there, and I would gladly do this experience all over again!

— Christelle Cardin | Google Review

Came out of it full of knowledge and resources in the pursuit of my acting career
I have nothing to say but compliment about House of Actors, I recently finished a mentorship with Vanessa and came out of it full of knowledge and resources in the pursuit of my acting career. Just insightful, supportive, professional, and more, overall, such a great experience. I highly recommend that I can’t wait to attend their scene study again 😊😊👌

— Nyavo Andrianarison | Google Review