This Master’s programme is based at USW’s purpose-built campus, in the creative centre of Cardiff.
The MA Songwriting and Production course is delivered in the context of a thriving contemporary music and cultural scene in Wales. This innovative Songwriting and Production programme will inspire you to develop your own artistic voice, and make serious connections within the world of songwriting.
As well as offering numerous opportunities for collaboration, the course embraces the DIY philosophy of being able to fully produce your own original songs.
Designed for those interested in songcraft and studio production, you’ll learn a range of traditional and contemporary songwriting approaches, and have access to our well-equipped studios, rehearsal and writing rooms.
Your major project is reviewed and judged by an industry panel that includes our course ambassador, Gruff Owen CEO of Libertino Records.
Songwriting & Production and Blended Learning:
In most cases we prefer to be on campus, experiencing our songwriting workshops and creative events in real time. However, just like the rest of the music industry, we have had to rethink our approach and embrace new models to help minimise the risk. This has been an invigorating refresh, and one that has brought about new habits to embrace more permanently such as asynchronous songwriting co-writes, overseas guests beamed in via satellite, remote mixing and mastering etc.
This course is designed to encourage, nurture and promote the individual voice of the developing writer.
The theatrical landscape is constantly being moulded by theatre makers who are presenting original works or reimagining classics. Critical to this process is new writings and adaptations. On the Master in Fine Art degree in Playwriting at The Lir Academy, we offer every student the opportunity to develop and hone their unique writing skill so that each play written is the best it can be.
Modules in contemporary theatre practice, dramaturgy and workshops in writing, are supplemented with one-to-one training and development, so that each individual student has quality time with playwrights, directors and designers. The training culminates with the students writing a full-length play whilst being mentored by the Head of Playwriting, Graham Whybrow. Graham brings a wealth of experience to this role, including twelve years as Literary Manager of the Royal Court Theatre.
Excerpts of these final works are shared in a public event with an invited audience of industry professionals.
The course is designed to complement the existing Master in Fine Theatre Directing and the Master in Fine Art Stage Design including Lighting Design, Costume Design and Set Design. Students on all three programmes will work together in collaboration, developing a shared understanding of contemporary theatre practice and a collective appreciation of the dedication and commitment required to make innovative performances happen.
On completion of this postgraduate degree, you will qualify and graduate from Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin.
The MFA in Stage Design is a one-year programme with a practical focus for professionals looking to specialise in lighting, costume or set design.
The Stage Design programme is purposely designed to allow students to either specialise on one area of stage design (set, costume or lighting design) or to combine disciplines as desired for example, set and costume design or set AND lighting design.
The course is designed to complement the Master in Fine Art in Playwriting and the Master in Fine Art in Theatre Directing. Students on all three programmes will work together in collaboration, developing a shared understanding of contemporary theatre practice and a collective appreciation of the dedication and commitment required to make innovative performances happen.
In addition to the core classes and workshops, individual and group tuition from The Lir’s Head of Design will be a key feature of the training. In addition, master classes by visiting practitioners will supplement the student experience. Professional placements are a key feature of the programme and all students will showcase their work in public productions at the culmination of the course. Students can opt to take this course either part-time (24 months) or full-time (12 months).
Full-time and part-time students will take three concurrent modules in the first two terms. The final module (Production Design) will be taught in the third term and subsequent summer months (for full-time students) or in the second year of the course (for part-time students) and will culminate with a professional production staged in one of The Lir’s performance studios. Term Three will be supplemented by an ongoing series of master classes from professional directors and theatre makers.
Students on the Master in Fine Art (Stage Design) will take two compulsory modules and choose two of four elective modules.
On completion of this postgraduate degree, you will qualify and graduate from Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin.
This diploma is devised for talented students of 16 years and over who want to be successful in Musical Theatre and is a level six qualification validated by Trinity College, London.
The aim of the course is to develop our students into triple threats that can make it in the West End. We instil the versatile and dedicated work ethic into our students so they are able to achieve in the extremely demanding musical theatre industry.
We make sure students get the attention they deserve by making sure none of our class sizes exceed 16 students. This works in tandem with our intensive, exciting and extensive teaching of singing, acting and dancing.
Students will have weekly performance workshops, audition preparation and career development sessions. Every week students will take part in individual singing lessons that will develop their technique and repertoire. Keeping fit is an important aspect of performing at the highest level we ensure you have an excellent level of health and fitness through diagnostics, body conditioning, Pilates and nutrition sessions.
Expert teaching staff, guest lecturers and visiting directors ensure you continuously strive to meet your personal challenges. To help you maintain your high standards, individual progress is closely monitored. Regular tutorials and assessments ensure you receive continual feedback and support.
As a Stage Management and Technical Theatre student, you will learn hands-on skills and techniques that will prepare you for a career in theatre production; whether you are aspiring to become a multi-skilled theatre maker, or build specialist abilities such as rigging, prop sourcing, technical drawing or show-calling. Building on core knowledge of stage management, stage technologies, lighting, and sound, the flexible course structure then enables you to tailor your learning experiences to suit your ambitions.
- Intensive training in stage management and theatre technology
- Career preparation for backstage work in theatre, with extensive transferable skills for the live events industry
- Collaborate with teams of designers, makers, performers, technicians, engineers and artists
- Discover the theories, processes and practices that underpin contemporary performance and production arts
This course has been devised in response to industry and student-led demand for practical training in make-up and hairdressing techniques for theatre, film, TV, fashion, festival, carnival and entertainment arenas.
Key features
- All tutors are industry specialists
- Campus facilities include a working theatre and photographic studios
- Students gain work experience on high profile films, TV series and West End shows
- Graduates are now working on major films, TV series, adverts, West End shows and magazine shoots
An exciting course combining strong technical training, creative opportunities and industry experience. The course programme involves the study and practice of both traditional and innovative areas of musical performance. It includes in-depth vocal training, a wide range of acting techniques and technical dance training in jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, pas de deux and commercial.
Key features
- Taught by professional performers, directors and choreographers
- 11 rehearsal studios, five with sprung dance floors and mirrors
- Professional-standard theatre with industry-level equipment, recently over-hauled with new lighting and sound systems
- Collaboration with make-up, costume and technical theatre students
- Alumni have been working in West End and UK touring shows, TV and film, and for many of the leading cruise ship entertainment companies
Recent alumni include Helen Woolf, who has been starring as Glinda on the Wicked UK tour having previously played the role in London’s West End; Alfie Parker, who has been performing in Kinky Boots having previously performed in School of Rock in London’s West End covering the lead role; and Blake Patrick Anderson who was in Starlight Express.
A dynamic and exciting course combining strong technical training, creative opportunities and industry experience. You will have the opportunity to train in acting and explore your own artistic practice.
The BA in Acting allows you to develop acting techniques through a series of different approaches to ensure that you are most employable and well placed to critique and contribute to the cultural landscape. The training focuses on different aspects of acting; the actor performer, the actor-director, the actor-activist, the actor-producer, the actor on film.
There are opportunities to collaborate with our theatre design, make up, props, technical and music students. In the second and third-year students will have the opportunity to specialise in writing, directing, producing, film, transmedia or comedy and design their own projects.
You will benefit from a variety of visiting practitioners and specialised workshops throughout the three years. This academic year we have had over 15 different practitioners run projects and workshops, including an audition workshop with David Gyasi.
The Year will cover the core acting principles and the craft of the actor, from a range of different practitioners and directors perspectives, both through theatre and screen practice. Students will cover, voice, movement, characterisation, text work, improvisation and impulse, presence, rehearsal process through to performance and audition technique, industry preparation.
We believe in an integrated and holistic approach to actor training, and that an actor never really concludes their learning, its is simply a continuous cycle of research, doing and reflection from workshop to workshop, job to job and year to year... So the course is content fluid and reflects a year cycle of doing, reflecting and learning suitable for all backgrounds and experiences.
To enable this we have articulated six key core elements of the actors craft or we like to refer to as the six DNA strands that make up the actor. These strands will be the focal point of the training and are also the same strands we work on in 'The Actor's Gym' with our professional actor network.
