At The Lir Academy we believe that students learn best by doing. This three-year, full-time, intensive honours degree in acting will provide each student with all the training necessary to become a professional actor through a series of skills based courses. Acting technique, voice, movement, and singing form the core subjects taught and practiced whilst classes in Dramaturgy and Text Analysis complement this learning.

In order to emulate best practice the course is taught over nine semesters (three per annum) and over three years. Given the practical nature of the course, and the principal objective of training the actor’s body as an instrument as well as the creative imagination, the intensity of the training for actors means that a student can expect to be in class for approximately 35 hours per week and 36 weeks per annum. Additional commitment during production modules will also be required.

The Bachelor in Acting at The Lir is not part of the CAO/UCAS point’s race. Students are expected to have achieved the minimum matriculation requirements for Trinity College Dublin courses, however, exceptions may be made based on the demonstration of exceptional natural talent at auditions.

The 3 year Professional Dance & Musical Theatre Degree is a rigorous programme of vocational training for aspiring professional performers. This outstanding programme of study trains performers to a professional, audition-ready level through the delivery of a detailed technical training in Dance and Musical Theatre disciplines.

After gaining a strong grounding in all Dance and Musical Theatre skills in year 1, students have the opportunity to focus the final 2 years of their training to develop the specific skills required for their desired employment. Throughout the course the rigour and complexity of training increases so that graduates develop the skills, knowledge and expertise necessary for a long and successful performing career, as well as the security of gaining a full BA (Hons) degree qualification to pave the way for life after a performing career.

- Practical skills developed extensively in a variety of different dance genres

- Singing and Acting techniques developed through group and individual practice

- Extensive performance opportunities to showcase students' learning

- Academic studies to support and develop understanding of contextual and critical studies

- Facilitates understanding of historical and cultural developments in Dance and Musical Theatre

What's involved?

This redesigned course builds on the HNC, further developing your acting skills and giving you the opportunity to perform in two large scale productions at professional venues with designated Tech crews. As part of the updating of this course, we are introducing a new Work Placement unit allowing you to apply your skills in a professional setting. You’ll also devise your own pieces and perform them to audiences in professional environments.

We’ll do everything we can to get you ready for the industry, including arranging professional head shots for your CV/biography, and helping you prepare for auditions.

Here’s more on what you’ll be doing:

- You’ll focus on acting, voice and movement, developing your skills and techniques to a high level.
- You’ll expand your production skills, and research, rehearse and perform a role in different styles of plays.
- You’ll explore different theatre styles, including historical context, social or political functions, staging, costume and acting conventions.
- You’ll look at devising theatre, including how scripts are created for live theatre and will prepare a piece of original theatre as part of a group.
- You’ll develop your directing skills.
- You’ll focus on professional development for actors and the knowledge and skills you’ll need for working in the industry. This includes areas for employment, methods of self-promotion, taxation requirements, representation and professional bodies.

The course gives you the opportunity to devise and perform a variety of pieces in different professional environments, including a community production tour at Christmas and a summer show in our newly renovated campus theatre.

You will be taught by staff who are industry experienced and robust in their knowledge of theatre and performance skills. This will enable you to hone your performance technique and aid you in reaching your maximum potential. All of your productions will be supported by our Technical Theatre course crews, to give you a truly professional experience.

Here’s more on what you’ll be doing:

- You will develop your vocal skills to aid with diction, vocal clarity, tone and projection.
- You will develop your movement skills providing you with an awareness of physicality for characterisation.
- You will develop knowledge and understanding of a touring theatre production company by engaging in a community drama project.
- You will create and perform your own Site Specific and/or Street theatre performance and perform in a location of your choice.
- You will develop acting skills for production, from researching a text, to rehearsing techniques and performing a full length production to an audience.
- You will be introduced to singing for an actor and develop your singing skills and technique.
- You will have the opportunity to create and lead your own workshop in a Community based setting. You will be given the opportunity to work with a range of groups, including children, young people and adults.
- You will be mentored in the creation of a professional online profile and introduced to external practitioners.

What is the course about?
You will spend most of your time on this course preparing for and working towards a performance in front of a live audience. This means working creatively with text and developing skills in voice, movement, acting and stagecraft.

You will learn to work cooperatively in teams, to respond to direction and, in so doing, also develop self-awareness and a professional attitude.

READ College’s full-time, vocational Foundation Course in Musical Theatre is now entering its 13th year, and graduate destinations have included Arts Ed, Mountview, Urdang, Bird, Laine, Central, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and many more. As a registered charity, we support students from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds with bursary funding towards tuition fees through our Access to The Arts ™ programme.

Students benefit from at least 27 hours of contact time per week, and study the full range of skills required in Musical Theatre under the guidance of leading industry tutors. Dance styles taught include ballet, jazz, commercial, tap and contemporary. Acting classes include improv, classical theatre, audition repertoire and physical theatre, and our singing training is made up of weekly one-to-one classes, ensemble singing, music theory and vocal tech. Students also benefit from regular masterclasses with guest tutors from all of the major degree-level courses, to prepare them for auditions.

Our Foundation students graduate with the Level 4 ATCL Diploma in Performing, awarded by Trinity College London.

Over 98% of our Musical Theatre graduates have been offered places at leading degree-level courses since the college opened, and our alumni can now be found working throughout the industry. Courses run from September to July, and applications are now open for our 2021 intake. Open days take place throughout the year, and we also run regular taster courses in the school holidays.

To find out more, please visit the link below or contact admissions on 0118 9666275.