Orla Finnegan
Lead Acting Instructor
Orla trained at NIDA and spent eight years in theatre before moving into teaching. She focuses on text analysis and physical presence — two things that are often taught separately but rarely together.
About Claimvelvet
Acting taught
by people who
still do it.
Since 2019, Claimvelvet has connected learners across Australia with working professionals who teach from lived experience — not theory alone.
What we are
A platform built on craft, not credentials.
Claimvelvet is a remote masterclass platform focused exclusively on acting fundamentals — designed for learners who want practical training from professionals still working in the industry.
6+ Years running
We've been refining how we teach acting online since our first cohort in 2019.
12 Masterclass formats
From monologue technique to ensemble dynamics — each format is built for a specific skill gap.
AU-wide Remote access
Learners join from Darwin, Hobart, Broken Hill — location is never a barrier here.
3 Core instructors
Each instructor maintains an active performance or directing career alongside teaching.
Physicality
Voice
Scene work
Character
Improvisation
The people
teaching here.
Each instructor brings a different background — theatre, film, voice coaching — and all of them are still performing or directing in some capacity.
Dmitri Vasilev
Scene Study Coach
Dmitri came to Australia from a background in European ensemble theatre. His sessions tend to be slow and detailed — he'll spend 40 minutes on a single exchange until the behaviour feels earned, not performed.
Priya Nambiar
Voice and Movement Specialist
Priya works across both disciplines because she thinks separating them creates artificial habits. Her approach draws on Laban movement study and resonance-based vocal work, adapted for online delivery.