Are you thinking about going to drama school? Want to be an actor? Maybe you have ambitions to work in production or set up your own theatre company one day. If this sounds like you, then dont miss this opportunity to forge ahead with your ambitions. This course develops your talent, extending existing skills in order to prepare you for a career in a variety of media, including theatre, screen and creative technologies.

You will take part in skills classes in acting, voice and physical theatre as well as drama workshops, rehearsals and productions. There will be many opportunities to perform a range of scripted plays on stage in a variety of theatre styles. Youll also develop skills and techniques in acting for the camera by creating short films that will be screened in front of a public audience.

You will be involved in devised and scripted drama ranging from the varied realms of contemporary theatre to classical texts. You will create performance work in a range of styles and contexts and reflect upon your developments and learning in a digital portfolio. You will work collaboratively, creatively and reflectively throughout the course.

In addition you'll benefit from trips to Shakespeare's Globe, the West End and regional theatres to see examples of theatre practice and benefit from tours, talks and professional workshops. HSDC is proud to be working in partnership with the University of Winchester to support our Performing Arts students with masterclasses, audition preparation, collaboration projects and progression opportunities.

This course provides an exciting opportunity to study and perform a wide range of theatrical styles, practitioners and texts, from Ibsen’s ‘Hedda Gabler’ to contemporary plays such as ‘That Face’.

You will work in specialist facilities to understand how playwrights are influenced by contextual factors such as society, economics, culture and politics. Design and staging techniques are also studied to gain the essential theatrical skills required to create your own dramatic work for an audience. Devising within your first year is student-generated and collaboratively directed, with teaching to support you creating a vibrant and original piece of theatre.

You will be practically assessed on group and monologue or duologue scripted work, carefully selected by your teacher. You will experience live theatre and learn the essential skills to analyse and evaluate the techniques employed by professional theatre companies. Ultimately, you will assume the role of director and generate an overall concept for a modern production of a classical text.

The Extended Diploma in Performing Arts allows you to choose a unique pathway which is tailored to your existing skills and those you wish to develop further. This course will appeal to talented and versatile performers who wish to study on a flexible study programme to suit their own individual requirements.

This is a highly practical programme which allows for study over a variety of disciplines.

The course includes:

Acting units will focus on works by different practitioners, including Brecht, Stanislavski, Berkoff, and Shakespeare, as well as the application of techniques such as physical theatre, voice-over acting, devising and interpreting texts, commedia dellÕarte, and character development. You will also train in directing performances, for those who wish to create their own company.

This course offers the chance to study all aspects of the performing arts from specific training in performance styles to front-of-house operations as part of the BoxedUp Theatre Company. As a company member you will study musical theatre, acting techniques, dance and singing in a range of styles and participate in numerous performances throughout the year.

Your classes will take place in the College’s dedicated performance studios and theatre, where you will explore a wide variety of approaches to becoming a performer in the professional world of performing arts. Workshops will also be provided by visiting performing arts professionals.

We will help you to develop your performance skills including voice and speech, singing, movement and musical theatre. Workshops will also be provided by visiting performing arts professionals.

You will have many opportunities to get involved in productions and to see professional stage shows, both locally and in London.

Are you a creative person who is passionate about performing drama, dance and music? If so, you will definitely feel at home studying this Performing Arts Extended Diploma.

As a student you will benefit from a wide range of practical opportunities to create, develop and perform your work. You will also learn and develop skills through a variety of approaches, projects and productions.

From day one you will be encouraged to apply yourself to projects with motivation and a sense of ownership.

Although largely practical, this course contains a coursework element through which you will explore contemporary and classical performance.

A Level Drama & Theatre Studies is a practical and challenging course, which covers every aspect of theatre production

You and your peers will take leading roles in incorporating essential aspects of stagecraft into the creative process.

You will also evaluate how to reach out and communicate with audiences using your unique voice and ideas.

Naturally, you will spend some of your time at the theatre as well, which is a great opportunity to analyse other people’s ideas.

Indeed, you will analyse everything from acting and costume, through to lighting, effects, setting, characterisation and interpretation.

This intensive, full-time course focuses on combining the three disciplines of acting, dance and singing in order to create the all-round performer.

You will be continually supported as you extend your technique in a range of styles and will be given the opportunity to take part in a number of public performances, some that you may audition for and others that you will automatically be cast in as part of your course.

You will also be taught the skills you need to pass auditions so that you can continue your training at one of the top conservatoires or universities in the UK.

We take the best young performers in the North West and help them to develop the skills that allow them to progress on to the most prestigious conservatoires and universities in the UK.

This intensive, full-time course focuses primarily on acting and drama, along with additional classes in dance and singing technique

You will be continually supported as you extend your performance skills in a range of styles and will be given the opportunity to take part in a number of public shows, some that you may audition for and others that you will automatically be cast in as part of your course. We often take some of these shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

You will also be taught the skills you need to pass auditions so that you can continue your training at one of the top drama schools or universities in the UK.

91% of students who apply, gain places at accredited dance and drama schools.

We take the best young performers in the North West and help them to develop the skills that allow them to progress on to the most prestigious drama schools and universities in the UK.

Entertainment is one of the largest industries in the UK with a wide range of careers spanning:

This varied industry includes a wide range of specialities including sound work, lighting design and programming, AV design, stage management, set design and prop making.

Production Arts is the ideal course if you are looking for an exciting creative and technical career working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

You will be taught by industry professionals and will benefit from our outstanding facilities, gaining hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art hub theatre as well as external venues. The course is designed for students of all ages and abilities – we just ask you have a passion for the industry.

This two-year course has a 100% pass rate, is equivalent to three A Levels and successful completion will provide you with the same UCAS points to enter university.

UCAS Tariff – Earn up to 168 UCAS points for university entry Spotlight on Production Arts booklet cover 1st Choice College in the area logo. Source: Vector Rankings 2022

Equivalent to one A Level

This is a two year applied-learning course for those who have experience and are interested in developing acting, singing and dance skills for musicals as well as a broader understanding of the genre.

This course is equivalent to one A Level qualification.

Please note that this course cannot be combined with BTEC Dance.

You will study performance with an emphasis on the Musical Theatre genre. This study includes understanding key practitioners within the field. You will develop your acting, dancing and singing skills as part of the course as well as other transferable skills such as research, communication and team-work skills.

You will learn how to create new, and interpret existing, performance material. You will rehearse, perform and evaluate your work throughout the year. Assessment is a combination of performance and written work with both internal and external assessment units.

Topics Covered

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