In your first year you'll examine the interconnection between stage and screen. The three perspectives and practice units integrate historical and theoretical enquiries by examining early cinema's relationship to theatrical traditions of the time and conversely contemporary theatre that incorporates film and digital techniques.

Acting Skills 1

The unit comprises: Movement and Voice studies; Acting Skills for Stage and Screen; Approaches to Text and Acting and Recording. Together these areas will introduce you to a basic set of skills which will provide a robust foundation for the course and underpin a life-long process of learning for the professional actor and performer. 

Stage Screen Connections

You'll explore the development of early cinema and its origins in theatre, and examine the effect of early advances in film technology on performance style and practice. In parallel, you will study contemporary theatre-makers who incorporate film and digital techniques into their work.

Approaches to Acting

Introduces you to some of the theoretical and practical approaches to creating a role, looking at the theories of Stanislavski and contrasting them to those of Mamet, this will be accompanied by the practical exploration of scenes from Chekov in rehearsal.

Year 2 revolves around the themes of making stories and finding voices. The three perspective and practice units explore these themes across stage and screen.

Acting Skills 2

This unit covers: Movement and Voice Studies; Improvisation and Creative Writing; Radio Techniques and Sight Reading. Developing further the practical approach to acting and performance skills introduced in year one, you will advance your creative and technical skills and focus on remote as well as live performer/audience relationships.

Social Realism

You will explore different aspects of social realism in film, theatre and television. Through the units you will investigate different approaches to realism through a series of case studies and performance works for stage or screen. This unit also explores the historical development of social realism and its relationship to filmed drama and how as an actor you prepare and work for the screen.

American Classics

This unit expands on the work that you have undertaken in Perspectives and Practice 2: Social Realism. Using examples of scenes from the plays of American writers you will explore the underlying themes, subtexts and metaphors that writers employ to create meaning and depth in their work and how as an actor you interpret and translate these intentions into a performance.

This course offers the opportunity to study abroad for part of your second year. To find out more about studying abroad as part of your course please see the Study Abroad section:

• Study abroad information

Taught by lecturers with professional acting or directing experience, you’ll quickly learn what it takes to be an industry professional. Our degree course is designed by professionals to train contemporary actors, and our valuable industry links include:

• Farnham Maltings
• British Actors’ Equity
• Drama UK (the body that oversees drama training across the country)
• West End venues for showcase presentations.

Alongside (or as an alternative to) theatre, TV, radio or film work, a portfolio career for the professional freelance actor may also include:

• Acting in corporate films, and live role-play in business training
• Forming a company to create and stage your own work
• Commercials (film or audio)
• Voicing computer games and animations
• Creating original material for Image Capture projects
• Community projects such as theatre in schools
• Teaching, running workshops, rehearsed readings and workshop productions of new plays.