This three-year honours degree is perfect for students who are interested in a career backstage and enjoy a practice-based learning environment. Please note, this course is not part of the CAO points system.
The course prepares students for many career paths including: Stage Management, Lighting Technology, Costume, Sound Technology, Prop Making, Set Construction, Scenic Art, Film & Production Management.
Previous graduates engage with work that is as diverse as the Entertainment industry itself and have secured employment in Theatre, Film, TV, Venues, Hire Companies, Production Companies, Audio Visual Companies, Corporate Entertainment, TV Stations nationally and internationally.
The course is led by a dedicated and experienced team all of whom have had successful careers in the theatre and performance industry.
The Lir Academy provides training that reflects the best practices in professional theatre. The practical training during the degree will be complemented with a range of classes including Theatre History, Principles of Stage Management, Principles of Theatre Technology and a three year Professional Development programme that covers everything from the workings of the industry to health and safety and managing a full time or freelance career.
Classes and active learning through working on productions are supported by an extensive placement programme. The course is full time and requires long working hours. As a result, students will be ready to engage with the intensive nature of the industry from the moment they graduate.
At The Lir Academy we believe that students learn best by doing. This three-year, full-time, intensive honours degree in acting will provide each student with all the training necessary to become a professional actor through a series of skills based courses. Acting technique, voice, movement, and singing form the core subjects taught and practiced whilst classes in Dramaturgy and Text Analysis complement this learning.
In order to emulate best practice the course is taught over nine semesters (three per annum) and over three years. Given the practical nature of the course, and the principal objective of training the actor’s body as an instrument as well as the creative imagination, the intensity of the training for actors means that a student can expect to be in class for approximately 35 hours per week and 36 weeks per annum. Additional commitment during production modules will also be required.
The Bachelor in Acting at The Lir is not part of the CAO/UCAS point’s race. Students are expected to have achieved the minimum matriculation requirements for Trinity College Dublin courses, however, exceptions may be made based on the demonstration of exceptional natural talent at auditions.
The 3 year Professional Dance & Musical Theatre Degree is a rigorous programme of vocational training for aspiring professional performers. This outstanding programme of study trains performers to a professional, audition-ready level through the delivery of a detailed technical training in Dance and Musical Theatre disciplines.
After gaining a strong grounding in all Dance and Musical Theatre skills in year 1, students have the opportunity to focus the final 2 years of their training to develop the specific skills required for their desired employment. Throughout the course the rigour and complexity of training increases so that graduates develop the skills, knowledge and expertise necessary for a long and successful performing career, as well as the security of gaining a full BA (Hons) degree qualification to pave the way for life after a performing career.
- Practical skills developed extensively in a variety of different dance genres
- Singing and Acting techniques developed through group and individual practice
- Extensive performance opportunities to showcase students' learning
- Academic studies to support and develop understanding of contextual and critical studies
- Facilitates understanding of historical and cultural developments in Dance and Musical Theatre
This Theatre and Drama degree invites you to explore theatre-making. You’ll integrate practise and theory, work with play texts and devise and link personal creativity with ensemble-based artistic collaboration. You’ll investigate approaches, conventions and theories connected to theatre and drama through studio practice and academic research.
Our range of modules enables you to study acting, directing, theatre and performance histories and theories, voice and movement, devising, ensemble practice, theatre production, applied drama, practice as research, and more. The flexible nature of our drama degree means you can focus on your interests and career goals.
Studying drama in Cardiff, you’ll benefit from being in the centre of a booming arts industry, from television production to independent arts venues. So, you’ll be surrounded by countless opportunities during and after your drama course.
Our Performance and Media degree invites you to explore the growing and diverse field of performance by questioning the relationship between live performance and a range of recorded media. You’ll study all major media forms such as theatre, film, television and radio through academic and practical work. You’ll also examine the production of new ideas in digital, interactive and multi-media performance practices.
Course content is designed to develop your intellectual, practical and technical skills, so you can explore global traditions, concepts and approaches to performance and media. You’ll work alongside visiting companies, professional theatre, film, and television practitioners. There are also many extracurricular activities that will look impressive on your CV, including public productions, student films and a student radio station.
Studying Performance and Media in Cardiff means you’ll have world-class venues and production companies on your doorstep, including the headquarters of BBC Wales, a major centre for production in the UK (Dr Who, Torchwood), the recently developed Pinewood Studios Wales, National Theatre Wales and the Welsh National Opera amongst others. USW's Performance and Media degree is also part of Film & TV School Wales, which provides students with the skills and opportunities needed to work in today’s exciting TV and Film industry.
