Programme Content
Year 1: Building A Technique
We start with play so that we can work towards finding and freeing your expressive capabilities. Acting classes cover improvisation, scene study, textual analysis, song and non-verbal performance and run alongside classes in voice/speech and movement, with secondary skills classes in song and dance.
There are ongoing in-house practical showings to develop your performance experience. A skills “fusion” project provides an exploration of moving from spoken to sung text and its synthesis with the physical choices for the actor. The year ends with a full rehearsal process leading to in-house performance. You also learn about the context of the acting world and undertake professional development: both help you develop a critical eye for acting and an understanding of collaboration.
Year 2: The Versatile Performer
While consolidating and extending the work learned in the first year through tackling increasingly demanding material, you are encouraged to explore beyond your immediate strengths and to make bolder decisions both within and about your work. You also apply what you have learned in different mediums and styles, including Physical Storytelling, Heightened Verse Texts, Radio and Television. Voice and Movement classes continue alongside these projects and offer support for rehearsal projects. In secondary skills, you undertake Musical Theatre Workshop and can either develop your dance skills in Dance 2 or develop your own work in Creating and Facilitating Performance. You also take part in your first Public Performance Project.
Classes in The Context focus on broader conceptual aspects of the performing arts, while Professional Development prepares you for the specific demands of the market place and an understanding of employment potential, including an introductory conference day with keynote speakers and visiting alumni.
Year 3: The Professional
You practise the skills that you have developed over the first two years in a simulated professional environment, where you can gain experience in producing, directing, and developing your own work as well as performing. A variety of production projects are presented that are programmed by the year group and tutors together. You also rehearse speeches, songs and scenes to help you to create your audition portfolio. There is a strong emphasis on professional preparation, which includes your full audition portfolio and a final showcase presentation for agents in both Liverpool and London. You undertake a Final Research Project allowing you to pursue individual areas of interest in a combination of practical research and written presentation.
Teaching and Assessment
Almost all of the technique work is taught through practical class, workshop and rehearsal. You are continuously assessed in workshops and performances and you are expected to undertake some form of reflective evaluation of projects as part of this process. In the second year, the balance swings more towards the performance itself and in the final year, you are assessed entirely on performance. You are also encouraged to work on independent student productions, but these are not assessed. There is some written work including a contextual studies essay in years one and two and a Final Research Project in year three.
Potential Changes
This programme is currently being reviewed to ensure that we continue to provide the best possible content to prepare you for sustained work. The programme will be validated for 2013 entry. As a result, there may be changes to modules and delivery of classes for 2013 entry.