At Open Door, our Behind the Scenes Access Programme supports participants aged 17-30 who are passionate about a career in Technical Theatre and Productions Arts and who want to apply to study at one of our partner schools. Technical Theatre and Productions Arts careers can include the likes of scenic art, theatre technology, set construction, costume construction, prop-making, set/costume design and more!

Our current partner schools are Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, LAMDA, Royal Welsh College of Music, and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. We can give you the support you need to approach your interviews with confidence, knowing that you have benefited from the advice and mentoring from our selected industry professionals.

The Behind the Scenes Access programme provides participants with:

• Free interviews at our current partner schools: Guildhall School of Music and Drama, LAMDA, Royal Welsh College of Music, and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• Travel expenses to all to interviews
• Free theatre tickets throughout the programme from theatres such as Royal Court, Donmar Warehouse, National Theatre and more!
• A series of creative workshops
• Five hours of one-to-one tutoring
• Access to our hardship fund to cover any expenses relating to being part of Open Door or your audition process
• All UCAS and UCAS Conservatoire fees paid for
• Pastoral support and mentoring from the Open Door team

The course is a two-year A-Level programme

We follow the AQA specification at Bilborough Sixth Form College. You’ll be taught in a dedicated dance studio, with a sprung floor, mirrored walls, and portable sound and lighting equipment. Practical exams take place in our wonderfully equipped Theatre. It is desirable, but not essential, that you have dance experience – and you must show enthusiasm, passion and a willingness to experiment with different styles. To strengthen your love for dance we facilitate workshops with companies such as Rambert Dance Company, Netherlands Dance Theatre and West End performers and theatre visits throughout the year, such as Move It, Amsterdam and London. If you’re serious about a career on the stage, or behind the scenes, this course may be taken alongside Drama and BTEC Extended Certificate in Performing Arts Level 3.

This course will provide you with the opportunity to explore, develop and test your creativity within a qualification structure which is stimulating, demanding and supportive. It will offer you an excellent opportunity to develop all-round and transferable skills in all aspect of the make-up industry.

You will explore SFX, Prosthetics, Stage Make-Up and Hair, Period Make-Up and Hair, Body Art, Fashion and Fantasy. Alongside these specialisms you will also work on both small and large scale productions throughout the year, such as musicals and plays to design and realise the make-up and hair designs.

This will support your experience and expertise when planning and executing your Final Major Project, where you take on ownership and responsibility of managing the success of a collaborative performance.

This course is fully funded for 16 to 18-year-olds.

Successful completion of this course will allow you to progress to the HND in Performing Arts at The Eastern School of Performing Arts or study at prestigious performing arts schools.

Previous students have gone on to study at establishments such as: Arts Ed, Guildford School of Acting, Urdang, Performers College, Bird College, Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama, Italia Conti, Liverpool Theatre School, Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and Stella Mann.

Progression to year 2 is subject to successful completion of year 1.