BA (Hons)
Acting

Your work on this unit provides the foundations on which training is established and involves an exploration into the notions of self as a basis for practical exploration and creative investigation.

This unit builds on the work of the first term by developing the areas of voice, movement and acting in such a way as to nurture an integrated and embodied approach to the practical realization of a given scene.

This unit provides a creative and supportive environment in which you can experiment with, and test out, an integrated approach to rehearsal and performance practice within the context of an edited workshop presentation of a published play.

Through this unit you will be allocated one of four pathways that addresses programme-based clusters of cognate practice areas.  As well as lectures, seminars and talks from guest speakers you will also have the opportunity to engage in visits that consider the cultural contexts and professional issues in your set discipline. 

Your studies will include lectures and seminars on topics such as:

• Histories of practice – the changing role of the artist/designer
• Key themes in cultural contexts such as identity, semiotics and the body
• Using information from a variety of sources that cover cultural, critical and professional contexts
• How to apply critical thinking in art and design
• Applying communication skills appropriately through various media

Building on the work of Year 1, this unit explores the development of an actor's craft in the context of more contemporary and experimental forms in live and recorded performance contexts.  Through the practical and embodied investigation of live theatre texts and recorded TV/Film based scripts, this unit introduces students to the interpretative demands of a range of different kinds of contemporary and experimental modes of performance. The development of a secure rehearsal process at Year 1 moves towards an increasing focus on the rehearsal and performance contexts and the demands of the audience/spectator. All students will undertake a live scene-study project and the rehearsal and recording of a scene for TV along with a devising project.

This unit develops the acting work of previous terms and introduces the linguistic, dramatic, aesthetic and interpretative demands of Shakespeare's theatre. The emphasis is on the need to be able to identify and reveal the psychological and spiritual dynamics of character, relationship and dramatic situation through the primacy of heightened language and extreme character objectives. The work of this unit is closely allied to voice and movement sessions and classes and rehearsals may well involve combined input from members of staff working in each discipline.

This unit involves the rehearsal and presentation of a classical or contemporary theatre text. The aims are to reinforce established working methods and respond to individual and/or collective developmental needs.  Sensitive to the needs of both the individual actor and those of the group, this unit affords an opportunity for students to rehearse and perform a complete play. Texts will be chosen from the classical or contemporary repertoires and may be realist and/or experimental /avant-garde. Classes and rehearsals will provide a creative space in which to enable the strengthening of existing skills and the acquisition of new ones. Close attention will be paid to the need to respond to directorial input with precision and skill and to be able to adapt/re-shape the work with imagination and technical precision.

This unit introduces students to the demands of public performance and to the need to develop their work in a context that requires high levels of discipline, interpretative skill and professionalism.  Plays are selected and students cast in the autumn season of plays at the end of the term. Students are required to undertake research and analysis as part of the preparation for rehearsals. Performance materials are selected from a wide range of genres and theatrical traditions and the choice of texts is informed by the developmental needs and strengths of the cohort as a whole. Rehearsals operate in exactly the same manner as they would in the profession and each play rehearses on a full-time basis for between 4 and 5 weeks. Students work alongside a team that includes a production manager, wardrobe supervisor, stage manager, professional designers and other technical staff. Each production is fully realised and staged and is performed in the Capitol Theatre before a paying audience and invited guests from the profession.

This unit affords students a further opportunity to encounter the demands of public performance and to further develop their work in a context that requires high levels of discipline, interpretative skill and professionalism.  Plays are selected and students are cast in the spring season of plays at the end of the previous term. Students are required to undertake research and analysis as part of the preparation for rehearsals. Performance materials are selected from a wide range of genres and theatrical traditions and the choice of texts is informed by the developmental needs/strengths of the cohort as a whole.  Rehearsals operate in exactly the same manner as they would in the profession and each play rehearses on a full-time basis for between 4 and 5 weeks. Students work alongside a team that includes a production manager, wardrobe supervisor, stage manager, professional designers and other technical staff. Each production is fully realised and is performed in the Capitol Theatre before a paying audience and invited guests from the profession. This is the companion unit to Theatre Production One.

This unit extends and develops the technical and imaginative skills needed to work in the mediums of TV and Film.  During this unit students will prepare, rehearse and record a two handed scene that will enable the acquisition and deployment of independent strategies for understanding and developing characters; you will also adopt the same approach to the dynamics of character relationships and to effectively inhabiting dramatic situations.  Students will work flexibly and responsively in accordance with directorial input under professional studio/location conditions. Students will learn how to adapt performance between different shots and to adjust the physical and vocal scale of performance in accordance with specific technical and interpretative demands.