This course is for people who are passionate about acting and performance. The course is mainly practical where you learn through daily classes, professional workshops and performances. You learn by completing projects and assignments that are based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands. You will also be required to attend theory based classes which develop your knowledge and understanding of the acting industry.
The course aims to provide suitable training and educations for progression to get you to University, Drama school or into employment.
The BTEC National Extended Diploma is a nationally recognised qualification which is the equivalent to three A Levels.
You will normally need to have at least one of the following: a BTEC First Certificate or Diploma in a related subject, an Intermediate GNVQ in a related subject, at least four GCSEs at grades A*-C, appropriate work experience. You will also be expected to attend an audition/interview workshop day, where you will be required to participate in practical activities, perform a prepared audition piece and undertake a short interview. Dates and venue for the audition/interview workshops will be given to you by the Admissions team once you have made your application.
There are 17 modules, covering broad aspects of the skills associated with acting and performance. The main focus is on acting skills, contemporary and classical plays and creating theatre for external commissions.
All units are assessed and graded and an overall grade for the qualification is awarded. Assessment is on-going throughout the course, and requires you to complete projects and assignments based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands. Assessment activities that you may undertake include participating in practical workshops, rehearsals, performances, coursework, research, keeping journals, writing essays, giving presentations, discussing work.
BTEC National Extended Diplomas are valued by employers and higher education (universities, colleges and accredited drama schools). If you want to get a job straight away you could work in theatres in a supporting role. If you decide to go to university or college you could take a degree, Foundation degree or drama training.
The acting course team engage with a range of drama schools and universities throughout the year, this includes visits to the institutions themselves and representatives from accredited drama schools working with students here at the college.
Successful completion of this course serves as preparation for a career in the arts and entertainment industries. This may be subject to further training at drama school, university or via an apprenticeship
The course is made up of seventeen units which cover a range of subjects, the programme is arranged into a mixture of weekly lessons and performance projects. The aim is to provide a broad range of skills and experiences to enable you to progress onto drama school, university or a career in the arts.
All students take the following units:
How the course is structured
The course is structured to allow students to experience what life is like as an actor. The units specified above are arranged into projects. Therefore, instead of the traditional model of weekly lessons on diverse subject, participants will work intensively on preparation and rehearsal, culminating in regular performances.
Through participation in these projects you will develop your acting and performance skills as well as your understanding of the performing arts as a whole.
The projects are often commissioned by outside agencies, as they would a professional acting company. This offers you the opportunity to create work for real stakeholders which gives a feel for working in the current arts scene.
You will spend approximately fifteen hours a week at College and at The Garage with your tutors having taught sessions. You will be expected to match this time with your own rehearsal, preparation, research and homework per week. During production periods you will be expected to spend more time at the College in order to undertake and keep to rehearsal schedules.
It is essential as an acting student that you see as much theatre as you can; therefore we arrange regular trips to theatres across the county to see a variety of work produced. We also arrange a yearly residential trip, and in the past we have visited London, Italy and New York.
Please contact the Advice Shop for details of costs and start dates.
Please note that although the information given is believed to be correct at the time of publication, course information, costs where applicable and attendance details may change.
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