MA Acting

You will undertake rigorous movement and voice classes, integrating into the development of your acting technique. This is applied in an integrated scenic presentation of text-based work. We provide technical acting principles rooted in the conventions of Stanislavskian practice, including twentieth century and modern exponents, to unearth the basis for your own independent acting process. (For example, Michael Chekhov and Viewpoints). You will use your personal methodology to investigate imaginative approaches to character and environment in contemporary new writing and scene-work, as well as nineteenth century, naturalistic texts for both stage and screen. This provides the fundamentals on which you can base your more advanced technical acting skills. The movement practitioner approaches that we use include Rudolf Laban and Jacques Lecoq, which are combined with vocal approaches from Kristin Linklater and Catherine Fitzmaurice.

In term two, we deepen your understanding of performance conventions by presenting you with challenging non-naturalistic texts, such as German expressionism, French farce or TV sitcom. You will examine the nuances of expansive theatrical live performance and heightened film work and investigate approaches to solo and ensemble work through character archetypes and commedia dellarte in Epic or Greek texts. Your vocal expression is developed through working on animal studies and expanding your physical range. This helps you to further develop a fluent embodiment of acting techniques and integrate skills in a staged Shakespearean work, demonstrating heightened physical and vocal skills. This is presented in one of our studio spaces to students and staff.

In this module the training focuses upon an intensive rehearsal, technical and production process, as you embark upon a fully supported production with technical crew, set, costume, lighting, and sound design in one of the main performance venues to a public audience. Working with a professional director to further develop creative and technical skills within a professionally simulated production environment you will continue to develop an acute understanding of the industry standards required of the contemporary professional creative artist.

The industry showcase provides an opportunity to present yourself to an invited audience of agents, casting directors and creative organisations, at leading performance venues in London and Manchester. You will create and generate digital and live material across a range of genres. Under the guidance of a professional director material will be selected to showcase your versatility, casting, and marketability and introduce you to members of the creative industries.

This year-long module is a sustained Independent Research Project which forms the dissertation or practice research element of your course. Across the intensive year-long training, you will undertake research and development to identify analytical and critical components, as well as cultural perspectives, to integrate, consolidate and produce an original short-film or staged performance. The process is documented to establish your understanding of the rigours of self-generated work, as well as the creative and technical skills you will bring to the industry for the start of your professional career. This documentation contextualises your final presentation of work, exhibiting an intelligent and original engagement with your chosen subject area of an inventive, and imaginative work.