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.
The aim of the course is to give you all the skills and methods necessary to create a character, whilst instilling renewed confidence in your development as an actor.
The course will be predominantly text based. You will be working on soliloquies, whilst receiving feedback, direction and support in a totally un pressurised environment. This course is aimed at giving confidence, not destroying it.
By The End Of the Course You Should Be Able To:
Use all the tools that you are given to create character in a new and insightful way.
Audition Doctor provides bespoke acting classes that are tailored to your individual needs; helping build confidence for your next audition in TV, Film or Theatre.
We provide a service that is unparalleled with a proven success rate for getting actors back into the professional workplace and offer a variety of acting classes, from 121’s, groups and workshops.
Introduction To Acting gives a priceless insight into the professional tricks of the trade from a working actress’s perspective. The course will be led by Tilly Blackwood, a working Actress in the Industry for the last 20 years. She teaches weekly audition master classes at the renowned Actors Centre in Central London and has founded Audition Doctor in order to meet overwhelming demand. Participants will be encouraged to give constructive feedback to one another as part of the learning process.
Introduction to Acting is open to anyone who has always had a secret desire to be an actor or for anyone who didn’t feel confident enough to ever give it a try.
West End Stage is the ultimate theatre summer school for 8 - 21 year olds.
This amazing week-long course, based in the heart of London, is led by West End stars and gives you the chance to make your West End debut at a world-famous West End theatre.
If you love performing, musical theatre, drama, singing and dance, this is the summer school for you.
Throughout the week you will be working towards your big performance, while taking part in an exciting mix of drama, singing and dance classes! You will also attend exclusive West End masterclasses and a trip to a West End musical.
Build your confidence, have fun and make friends for life!
Trinity Specialist College engages the services of a qualified Music Therapist from Music Therapy Works. The therapist works within the multi-agency team to assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities and cognitive skills through musical responses. The therapeutic process enables growth and development.
