Join in our new Dance & Drama Club at our North East Centre for Autism in Newton Aycliffe
The group has now finished for the summer holidays but will resume in September, we would like to hear from parents what days you would like the sessions to run.

The clubs are FREE and we welcome children and young people with autism and other special needs to attend. A formal diagnosis is not required.

If you're 15-25 and you're into art, film and theatre then HOME Young Creatives is for you.

Each year, we'll be putting an amazing series of free workshops, projects and commissioning opportunities which will be led by industry professionals. Your creative career starts here!

Our music therapy sessions use sound to create a safe environment where students can explore their feelings and memories at their own pace. The therapy is tailored to them and their specific needs, and students can access it through one-to-one sessions or as part of a group.

Our specialist music therapist works closely with our occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy teams and with education facilitators to provide the best learning environment. Sessions take place at one of our three different sensory rooms, or at a number of other locations across the campus. The therapist and student, through improvisation, will create and develop a musical language of their own. The music therapist is a full member of BAMT and is registered with the HCPC.

A typical music therapy session:

May begin with a welcome song, which may develop into an improvisation
Focuses on pre-composed music or an improvised piece, and this is directed by the student’s choice of instrument and playing style
Ends with a closing song to signal the end of the session

Our Young People's Theatres are for all young actors aged 16+. We work inclusively with learning disabled and/or autistic and neurotypical actors who perform together as equal partners.
Following the school terms, each Young People’s Theatre works towards two pieces each year created by the members and supported by professionals.

A key objective of the course is to nurture students in the development of their own thoughts and ideas, to encourage individuality of expression and foster creative confidence.

There will be chance to write, direct and perform as well as opportunities to develop original theatre work. During the course students will discover new areas of ability that will provide the foundations for future creative endeavour.

Shakespeare Awards offer the opportunity to work one-to-one with a RADA tutor to present a speech, sonnet or scene from Shakespeare and get personal feedback to develop your skills and inspire your acting.

You need to have gained your Shakespeare Gold Award to apply for Platinum. Complete your Shakespeare Awards journey by 'pitching' a Shakespeare production, performing two contrasting speeches of your own choosing, and, with 15 minutes preparation time, reading a given speech.

In addition, you will be sent a link to an archive video recording of a Shakespeare play and asked to write your responses in a review of between 500 and 700 words.

To gain the Platinum Award, an achievement of 95 marks out of 160 marks is required.

During the assessment:
- 15 minutes before your assessment, you will be given a speech to read, which you will later work on with the assessor, as the sight reading element of your Award.
- You will deliver a 10 minute presentation outlining how you would stage a Shakespeare play of your own choosing.
- You should consider where the play is to be performed, and be prepared to give your design ideas for setting and costume. It may be useful to present any research material that you have collected.
- You and your RADA tutor will have a 10-minute discussion on your presentation.
- You will then present two widely differing Shakespeare speeches of your own choosing: these can be from plays or poems.
- Each speech should be around 15 to 20 lines.
- After each piece, you will work with the assessor on developing your delivery, before you perform the piece again.
- You present your speech for the sight reading element (you are not expected to have learned the speech).
- You will work with the assessor on developing your delivery, before you perform the piece again.

After the assessment:
- You will receive your results and any feedback by post within one month.

Normally on the first Saturday of each month. Please email for details regarding availability.
Assessment time: 60 minutes
Designed for candidates 15+, however the assessment is suitable for adults of all ages
You may choose any of the speeches, regardless of gender.
You must act from memory to gain your Award (without reading a script)

Shakespeare Awards offer the opportunity to work one-to-one with a RADA tutor to present a speech, sonnet or scene from Shakespeare and get personal feedback to develop your skills and inspire your acting.

You need to have gained your Shakespeare Silver Award to apply for Gold. Challenge yourself with the penultimate Shakespeare Award level by presenting two speeches or – in pairs – a scene you have chosen from the list we provide, and a sonnet, read ‘on sight’ with 15 minutes' preparation time.

The assessment includes discussion time between you and your RADA tutor before you perform each speech. This will focus on the plays your chosen speeches are from; the nature of the characters involved; and in more general terms, Shakespeare and his works.

Feedback will be given before you have the opportunity to present each speech again.

You should aim to have some awareness of all of Shakespeare’s sonnets. For notes on understanding, we particularly recommend the Penguin Shakespeare’s Sonnets edited by John Kerrigan; and, for contemporary insights, Reading Shakespeare’s Sonnets by Don Paterson. However, the sonnets sequence is readily available in most Complete Works and in many separate editions.

To gain the Gold Award, an achievement of 85 marks out of 140 marks is required.

During the assessment:
15 minutes before your assessment you will be given a sonnet to read and work on for the sight reading element of your Award.
The assessment begins with a discussion between you and your RADA tutor.
- You perform a speech from section one. Pairs will present a scene.
- You will then be given some suggestions of things to try out to explore the text.
- You deliver your speech or scene again.
- You will then deliver a second speech. Pairs will present a scene.
- You will then be given some suggestions of things to try out to explore the text.
- You deliver your speech or scene again.
- You present your sonnet for the sight reading element (you are not expected to be ''off book'' for this part).
- You will be given some suggestions of things to try out to explore the text before delivering your sonnet again.

After the assessment
- You will receive your results and any feedback by post within one month.

Normally on the first Saturday of each month. Please email awards@rada.ac.uk for details regarding availability.
Assessment time: 45 minutes or 90 minutes for a pair
Designed for candidates 15+, however the assessment is suitable for adults of all ages
You may choose any of the speeches, regardless of gender
You must act from memory to gain your Award (without reading a script)
The next level to gain after completing the Gold Award is the Platinum Award

Shakespeare Awards offer the opportunity to work one-to-one with a RADA tutor to present a speech, sonnet or scene from Shakespeare and get personal feedback to develop your skills and inspire your acting.

You need to have gained your Shakespeare Bronze Award to apply for Silver. Continue your Shakespeare Awards journey by performing a speech or – in pairs – a scene you have chosen from the list we provide, and a sonnet that you have chosen yourself. The Silver Award includes the opportunity to discuss your sonnet with your RADA tutor, touching on the delivery and nature of the piece you have chosen.

You should aim to have some awareness of all of Shakespeare’s sonnets. For notes on understanding, we particularly recommend the Penguin Shakespeare’s Sonnets edited by John Kerrigan; and, for contemporary insights, Reading Shakespeare’s Sonnets by Don Paterson. However, the sonnets sequence is readily available in most Complete Works and in many separate editions.

To gain the Silver Award, an achievement of 40 marks out of 70 marks is required.

During the assessment:
- You perform a speech. Pairs will present a scene.
- You will then be given some suggestions of things to try out to explore the text (you will need to have read or watched the play).
- You deliver your speech or scene again.
- You present a sonnet that you have chosen yourself.
- You will then have a discussion with your RADA tutor, touching on the delivery and nature of the sonnet chosen.
- You will also be given some suggestions of things to try out to explore the text.
- You deliver your sonnet again.

After the assessment:
- You will receive your results and any feedback by post within one month.

Normally on the first Saturday of each month. Please email for details regarding availability.
Assessment time: 20 minutes or 40 minutes for a pair
Designed for candidates 12+, however the assessment is suitable for adults of all ages
You may choose any of the speeches, regardless of gender
You must act from memory to gain your Award (without reading a script)
The next level to gain after completing the Silver Award is the Gold Award

If you want to receive the high-quality education of our Degree program, but you aren’t necessarily interested in earning an accredited qualification then look no further than our Vocational Course.

In an intensive training experience, you will have the chance to study a wide range of disciplines and styles. This includes circus, physical theatre, movement, and creativity & devising with opportunities to develop performance skills for a range of different settings and audiences. You may also explore the various cultural, historical, and social contexts of circus and physical theatre.

The Vocational Course is a self-funded and non-accredited version of our Degree programme available to anyone over the age of 18. You will study alongside Degree students attending all the same classes – you just don’t have to submit the academic written work. The course aims to develop you as a well-rounded performer, giving you the opportunity to practice a range of circus disciplines. As a result, our focus is on breadth rather than encouraging you to specialise. You’ll also learn about the technical, practical and logistical elements of life as a professional circus performer, including managing and promoting your own work.

The Vocational Course can be done as a short course of three months (September – December, the first term of the FDA) or for a full year. It is possible to shadow all three years of the Degree programme as a Vocational student if you wish. Most Vocational students will begin in the first year working alongside Year 1 FDA students, however it is possible to go straight into the second year if you have a higher level of skill and experience. This option can be discussed at audition.

To apply for the Vocational Course you’ll need to demonstrate that you have the self-discipline to pursue a tough physical training regime and show prior experience in circus, dance, gymnastics, parkour/extreme sports or theatre. Beyond that, we are looking for creative and enthusiastic people willing to take risks, push themselves and be open to trying new things.

3-month short course: £3,000

Vocational course: £9,000 per year

A discount of 15% will be applied to any student who continues to a second or third year after completing one full year as a Vocational student.

Students on the one-year course are required to pay an additional annual Course Expenses fee of £100. Students on the short course pay a reduced fee of £60.

Please note that since these are private, unaccredited courses, Student Finance England (or similar) will not provide a loan for tuition fees or maintenance.