Our Acting degree is an industry standard training programme which prepares students to work in theatre, TV and film.
Studying Acting at Chester involves working with a dynamic, international team of tutors with a wealth of industry experience. There are a range of exciting module choices, and students are encouraged to develop their employability and graduate skills throughout the course. The Department has excellent links with the professional industry: locally, nationally and internationally.
You will work closely with directors and practitioners who specialise in a range of areas, developing productions in each year of the degree, alongside studying many other practical and theoretical aspects of performance.
The staff team currently includes experienced directors and producers for both stage and screen, applied theatre practitioners, and experts in actor training and physical theatre.
The Department is a vibrant, close-knit and supportive community of performers and practitioners, working in the excellent facilitites at Creative Campus, Kingsway.
The Department boasts impressive facilities, including fully equipped rehearsal and performance studios.
We pride ourselves on the quality of support we offer, and have a range of support packages to help support students during their time at University.
Explore our study abroad opportunities and student exchange programmes
The department boasts impressive facilities, including fully equipped rehearsal and performance studios and an outdoor amphitheatre.
Covering all aspects of musical theatre skills and opportunities for creating new music theatre, this practice-based course is ideal if you are looking ahead to a career as an on-stage performer or back-stage creative.
Our musical theatre degree includes weekly drama school-style actor training, focussing on all the classic musical theatre skills including acting, singing, dance, ensemble singing and yoga. These developing skills are realised in a full-scale production in each year of the course. In addition to performing in a full-scale musical, you will also take on a production role, including stage management, design, assistant director, hair and makeup, costume, front of house and many more. By both performing and having a production role you take full ownership of your musical theatre production and gain valuable experience across a range of creative roles.
You will also be able to explore your own creativity by co-creating original pieces of musical theatre. Through engagement with a variety of contemporary musical and performance techniques, you will expand your creative frames of reference to develop and understand new ways of combining music and theatre. There are opportunities to work with visiting creatives and performers, including working with a professional director in your third year production.
Inclusivity and community, as well as safe and supportive spaces, lie at the heart of the music theatre course. Together staff and students build and nurture an environment that is thriving with the highest level of training, and develop performers who are individual, unique, professional, and great company members. Personal support and guidance are a key aspect of our delivery to students.
On the FdA Professional and Commercial Dance, you'll have the opportunity to gain core skills in ballet, jazz, contemporary and commercial dance, and develop the knowledge and practical experience needed for employment in a variety of exciting and demanding professions in the performing arts industry.
Delivered by Shockout Arts, our 2-year FdA Professional and Commercial Dance course supports you in acquiring and developing essential technical, artistic and theoretical competence through professional training to an intermediate/level 5 standard. If you're an aspiring dance artist, completing this 2-year foundation degree provides the platform to either begin your professional career or undertake a final year at the advanced level to gain a level 6 qualification. If you wish to continue your training at the level 6 BA (Hons) level with Shockout Arts, your application will be considered through assessment and interview.
You'll be based at Shockout Arts in Manchester, studying and training in their purpose-built, high-specification dance studios that are equal to professional industry standards. Alongside your intensive practical dance training, you'll have regular performance opportunities to help you develop a diverse range of performance and production skills.
In addition to exploring the core techniques, you'll be encouraged to build your skills in acting and singing, ready to take advantage of employment opportunities in musical theatre performance. You'll also be guided to develop a knowledge and understanding of the historical, cultural, societal and political factors that influence UK and international dance practice.
The teaching staff at Shockout Arts are professional practitioners and choreographers. They are keen to make your time with them as stimulating and rewarding as possible and enjoy a well-deserved reputation for being approachable and interested in your progress. As teaching often occurs in small groups, you can access individual support and guidance at every stage.
Working across disciplines of acting, music and movement, this exciting and collaborative course responds to the creative industry demands of today by developing artists who will graduate as multi-skilled creative performers and practitioners.
If you don't meet the entry requirements for a BA, you can study this course as an extended, four-year programme. You'll begin by taking a foundation year which prepares you for a successful transition to the BA degree. This means it will take you four years to complete the course full-time, and eight years to complete the course part-time.
You will study acting, dance, physical theatre and community theatre through six distinctive modules. You will participate in a variety of dynamic projects and learn about current trends in the performing arts. The course content is specifically chosen to reflect the diverse nature of our students and this is evident through the themes, practitioners and subject matter covered. You will learn in a highly supportive environment where you can develop the self-confidence, knowledge, skills and understanding for further study.
Each module focuses on developing your understanding of the techniques intrinsic to the separate disciplines and will prepare you for a successful entry onto your chosen degree pathway listed below.
BA (Hons) Dance: Urban Practice
BA (Hons) Performing Arts
BA (Hons) Drama, Applied Theatre and Performance
The foundation course is for students who:
do not yet have the entry requirements for study at level 4.
want to develop skills and confidence before embarking on study at Level 4.
are returning to study.
are changing careers and need to gain experience in the performing arts.
Working across disciplines of acting, music and movement, this exciting and collaborative course responds to the creative industry demands of today by developing artists who will graduate as multi-skilled creative performers and practitioners.
You will work collaboratively and creatively with your peers, exploring and blending the disciplines of music, movement and acting. Experiencing a range of contemporary performance methodologies, you will develop skills as both performer and performance maker, enabling you to establish your own authentic and relevant creative practice.
You will be taught by a team of academics and professional artistic practitioners with a combined wealth of experience as makers, performers and researchers. Professional guest speakers will provide lectures, tailored workshops, masterclasses and opportunities, which will provide a direct link to the creative arts industry. In the past, our students have performed or collaborated with Stratford Circus, the National Youth Theatre, English Heritage, Positive East, The Vault Festival and many more.
