Acting for Stage and Screen with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

This module will be taught alongside Voice and Movement for Performance. This module will introduce you to the art of storytelling, both live and through introductory screen acting classes. You will explore a variety of approaches to developing and performing stories. Through practical exercises, you will experiment with form, ritual, and narrative. The emphasis in this module will be on the actor’s role in storytelling, focusing on nonverbal behaviour and ensemble working in both live and recorded mediums. 

In this module, you will work with other members of your group and a professional theatre director to create original performance material, drawing on a range of practical disciplines and also incorporating global storytelling practices; drawing from culturally diverse material. Alongside your rehearsals for the devised work, you will participate in classes to develop your acting, voice and movement skills which will help you to build and develop your performance for assessment.

In this module you’ll begin to explore character creation, working with both stage and screen approaches. We’ll be working on intercultural approaches to building character here, considering the ethics involved in creating and performing a character, and how to take on and release a character performance safely. You will have the opportunity to work on a range of contemporary text, written for both stage and screen. We’ll begin by working on characters ‘closer’ to the self (in terms of age and context) and then build away from the self toward more challenging characters and circumstances. This module supports your work on the Responding to Text project which follows.

This module continues the work of the Voice and Movement for Performance module in semester one. The focus here will be on character creation and in developing the ability to respond in character to the given circumstances, vocally and physically. It continues the focus on inclusive working practices, team-building and collaboration. In this module you will additionally be supported in reflecting on your practice, and identifying how you might improve less efficient habits.

You will be learning about adaptation in this module. In the first half you’ll work on a core play, such as A Doll’s House by Henrick Ibsen, exploring different adaptations of the text and how to make a play relevant today.

During each session there will be opportunities to perform and verbal feedback will be given continuously during this process. In the second half, you will be working in smaller groups on a section of the play which you will adapt for the assessment. You will also be working on a short film project which will complement your live performance. You will continue to develop skills-based training within the project module with regular classes in acting, voice, and movement training delivered alongside your rehearsals.

In this module, you’ll have the opportunity to work on heightened text such as Shakespeare or Restoration Comedy.  You will learn about the associated performance styles and how to approach the language form in performance.  Working with a professional director, you will have the opportunity to perform in a (cut) full-length production of a heightened text that will be performed to external audiences in schools or community centres.

Having looked at storytelling and then at creating character, in this module we ask, how does the actor embody and respond to emotion in performance? We will explore a variety of approaches from different practitioners, looking at how emotion works in both drama and comedy. This module will have a screen-acting focus.

In this integrated voice and movement module you will learn techniques which complement Performing with Emotion by looking at the embodied actor in the context of heritage and culture. You will begin by examining your own identity position vocally and physically, and then develop this to adopt an accent and physicality dissimilar to yourself.

This module introduces you to research methods and performance as research, supporting you as you progress to your creative project in level 6. You will be guided to explore documentary theatre methodologies, such as verbatim theatre or autobiographical theatre. Working with a professional director, the group will use their own research on a given subject to devise a piece of documentary theatre that you will then perform for an external audience (school or community centre).

This module introduces you to different pathways within the industry to supplement your actor training and support you in becoming proactive creative entrepreneurs.

You will take classes in multiple additional industry roles which might include: writing, directing, producing, or casting. You will be encouraged to critically reflect upon current industry practices, commercial procedures, and the role of creativity and inclusivity within this.

In this integrated acting, voice and movement module you will learn techniques which complement your ‘Performing with Technology’ and ‘Creative Project’ modules in Level 6. You will be focusing on adapting your performance skills to the space or medium, which may include screen, stage, motion capture, and /or audio acting.

In this module you will create audio and film clips and edit these into your own voice reel and showreel to use as key marketing tools in the industry.

To create these pieces, you will need to identify your casting type and USP and find text to showcase this.

You will perform in a full-length public production, following industry standards, with an external director.

You will audition for the production and proceed through a full rehearsal process before opening the production to a public audience, giving you a full experience of how this process would work professionally. This will also act as a further opportunity to showcase your work to the industry, as well as friends and family

In this integrated voice and movement module you will learn techniques which complement ‘Entering the Industry’ by looking at the embodied actor in the profession.

This will involve continued work in voice and movement disciplines, in addition to masterclasses on intimacy training and stage combat. You will also receive holistic training in de-roling practices, managing rejection, and mental health management to best support you moving into the industry.

This module supports you in understanding how to navigate your career after graduation. It will involve a series of taught sessions where the module tutor(s) and /or industry experts will lead practical workshops and seminar-style learning on key industry practices, such as: auditioning (live and recorded), networking, approaching agents and casting directors, choosing the ‘right’ agent, as well as online marketing, and completing tax returns.

We will interrogate what it means to be a self-employed actor today and consider how one might actively forward one’s own career. This module culminates in a public showcasing of work for invited industry guests.