This course is vocational and practice-based, using our state-of-the-art workshops, studios and theatres, and making use of the extensive opportunities to work on our many public productions and showcases.
Choosing from one or two areas of technical theatre or stage management, you will build on your skills and experience from your foundation degree to gain specialist knowledge and replicate working at high-level industry standards. Alongside our experienced teaching faculty, you will be introduced to practitioners from across the industry who provide additional insights into the variety of careers open to you and the skills and experience your future employers will be looking for.
You will graduate from the course ready to take on a range of roles across theatre, film, television, radio and live events.
You will also benefit from a professional development programme, as well as the RADA Buddy mentoring scheme, which supports your transition from student to professional with graduate ‘buddies’ providing professional advice, feedback and networking opportunities.
Students who successfully complete the FdA in Technical Theatre and Stage Management with a Merit or above at RADA will now automatically be considered for the BA (Hons) progression year. We also welcome applicants with a foundation degree or equivalent from elsewhere to apply for this course.
Places are available in a number of subject areas:
- Costume supervision
- Lighting (design and/or production lighting)
- Production management
- Sound (design and/or production sound)
- Property making
- Scenic art
- Scenic construction
- Stage management
- Technical management
- Video (design and/or production video)
Combinations of subjects may also be considered, for example:
- Property making and stage management
- Technical and production management
- Scenic construction and technical management
- Scenic art and property making
Our BA (Hons) in Acting develops the talent and potential you bring with you to RADA, training you in techniques and approaches that will confidently equip you for a successful and long-term career in the industry.
You will start by building foundation skills through class work, before putting these into practice in sharings and open classes to small groups within RADA, and finally through public performances and film-making in your final year. We are currently undergoing a process of decolonising our curriculum, so there may be some changes to texts or areas of study outlined below.
The course will help you to develop a spirit of curiosity and discovery that will enrich your personal and professional development.
It is designed to help you reach your full potential through vocal, physical and imaginative techniques, and provide you with the ability to continue learning and developing beyond these three years and throughout your professional life.
Reasons to study Theatre Studies
• Our unique online programme will provide you with a gateway to specialist provision regardless of your location.
• Developed by expert tutors in theatre and performance, the course has evolved to reflect the technological developments of the industry and online learning. It has also gained a reputation for rigour and excellence.
• Our Virtual Learning Environment gives you access to a wealth of learning resources and a comprehensive choice of modules focussing on theatre making as a practice.
• You will join an online community of enthusiasts, theatre professionals, teachers and returning learners and will be guided by expert practitioner-academics.
Career opportunities
Our graduates have gone on to work across a range of theatre-related roles and in education. Some continue on to further study on postgraduate programmes at the College and elsewhere.
“I love this course because I can fit it in with my busy full-time working schedule and because of the opportunities to collaborate with others who share a passion for theatre; nationally and internationally.” Abbie Riddell, Theatre Events Assistant, Salisbury Playhouse.
Two start dates: January and September.
Reasons to study Stage and Events Management
• Experience a variety of roles on a range of productions and events both in College and in London venues.
• Develop relationships with, and an understanding of, other disciplines; including lighting, sound, set construction, costume and prop-making, marketing, outreach, venue and site management, administration and finance.
• Sharpen your creativity and management skills whilst collaborating with students from other programmes to deliver diverse performances and events.
• Extend your learning through research, secondments, work placements in the industry or a period of study abroad.
• Share classes and projects with students from other programmes to learn about the cultural, performance, arts and events industries and how to use experimentation, enquiry and creative research in your work as you prepare to build a successful career.
Career opportunities
Adaptable and creative practitioners, graduates from the Stage Management Programme, from which this programme has been developed, have gone on to work in a wide range of fields: theatre, dance, opera, television, festivals and corporate events. They have also moved into sound and video for live performance alongside arts and venue management roles.
“It prepares you very much for the industry and the way they’ve built it as a technical course, your level of training is like no other.” Anthony Norris-Watson
Deputy Production Manager, The Old Vic Theatre
Location: Sidcup
Reasons to study Scenic Arts (Construction, Props and Painting)
• Gain construction skills in wood and metal; using hand tools and machinery. Learn scenic painting techniques and explore prop making in a range of materials.
• Gain advanced skills with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D modelling using resins and silicon
• Learn in our spacious workshop which includes CAD facilities, paint frame and specialist fibreglass and plaster room.
• Hone your craft, through manufacturing scenic elements to a brief for staged productions in College and London venues, collaborating with other programmes as part of a creative team.
• Develop your own areas of specialism through individual project work, productions and work placement preparing you for a career in the theatre and performance industries.
• Share classes and projects with students from other programmes to learn about the performance, arts and events industries and how to use experimentation, enquiry and creative research in your work, and prepare to build a successful career.
Career opportunities
Our graduates have gone on to work as freelance scenic painters, prop makers, carpenters and engineers, and to work for scenery construction companies for theatre, film, television, entertainment, museums and themed attractions.
You may also be interested in:
Design for Theatre and Performance, BA (Hons)
“It is challenging but when you finish the show you can say “Yes, I built that!” It’s an enormously satisfying feeling.” Gareth Shippen Scenic Arts, 2017 Graduate
Location: Sidcup
The three-year BA (Hons) Degree in Dance (Commercial) is designed to provide individuals with the skills, knowledge, and creative ability to gain and maintain lasting careers as a professional commercial dancer.
This linked with our extensive industry contacts provides our students with all the tools to thrive in the world of dance.
Where will this course lead?
At the MGA Academy of Performing Arts, we prepare our students for sustainable successful careers within the dance industry through hands on, vocational based training.
Successful completion of this course can open doors to numerous amazing progression routes, with previous graduates finding employment opportunities in many industry roles including:
- UK & European Theatre Tours
- The Cruising Industry
- Music Concerts & Tours
- West End Musicals
- Music Videos
- Choreography
- Teaching
- Film
- Movement Director
Students have also progressed onto Postgraduate study upon completion of this course
The three-year BA (Hons) degree in Acting is designed to provide individuals with the skills, knowledge, and creative ability to gain and maintain lasting careers as a professional Actor.
This linked with our extensive industry contacts provides our students with all the tools to thrive in the world of acting.
At the MGA Academy of Performing Arts, we prepare our students for sustainable successful careers within the Acting industry through hands on, vocational based training.
Successful completion of this course can open doors to numerous amazing progression routes, with previous graduates finding employment opportunities in many industry roles including:
- Actor
- Theatre maker
- Presenter
- Director
- Producer
- Writer
- Acting/ Drama Teacher
- Casting director
- Agent
- Choreographer
Students have also progressed onto Postgraduate study upon completion of this course.
The three-year BA (Hons) degree in Musical Theatre is designed to provide individuals with the skills, knowledge, and creative ability to gain and maintain lasting careers as musical theatre professional performers.
This linked with our extensive industry contacts ensures our graduates are set to thrive in the Musical Theatre world.
At the MGA Academy of Performing Arts, we prepare our students for sustainable successful careers within the Musical Theatre industry through hands on, vocational based training.
Successful completion of a course can open doors to many amazing progression routes with previous graduates finding employment opportunities in areas including
- West End Musicals
- UK Touring Shows
- Cruise Contracts
- Rep Theatre companies
- Writing and Directing
- Film and TV
- International Performance Contracts
- Education
Students have also progressed onto Postgraduate study upon completion of this course
Acting BA (Hons) at Drama St Mary’s is a rigorous, full-time course that equips you for a career in acting.
- Drama St Mary's - unlike other drama schools - does not charge an audition fee
- Free pre-UCAS applications auditions and interviews with constructive feedback
- Central London showcases
- Drama School Training in a university context, offering personal support and tutorial supervision
Why study Acting?
This course helps you develop practical, holistic acting skills. Our new blended learning delivery model looks to maximise face-to-face contact, with the majority of work scheduled in our campus studios. Face-to-face teaching is supplemented with a full programme of online learning activity. We regularly review our offer to ensure that we can continue to work in a COVID-secure environment and students can expect in excess of 18 hours of scheduled classes each week.
Our Voice and Movement classes develop the core skills you will need as an actor. Acting classes hone your imagination, technique and stage and screen craft. In the Performance classes you can be playful, experimental, spontaneous and collaborative. The Contextual Studies stream investigates where your work fits into the wider world, both past and present.
In your first year you will build a firm base for your training. This serves as a base for developing your craft in year two through in-house productions and workshops. In your final year you begin your career with public productions, links to industry professionals and a graduate portfolio.
