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BA (Hons) Acting

The BA (Hons) Acting programme prepares professional actors working in today’s theatre, television, film and audio industries. This highly practical course aims to challenge, expand and ignite your creativity and craft and equip you to operate with flexibility and skill. At ALRA we want to train authentic, generous, and passionate artists, and recognise each student is a unique learner.

Course Leaders Lucy Curtis and Yusuf Khamisa
Course Location Wandsworth (London), Wigan (Greater Manchester)
Study Level Undergraduate
Study Mode Full-time
Course Length 3 years
Awarding Body Arts University Bournemouth* from 2023 (*subject to validation)

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The first two years provide you with the essential skills required to become a professional actor who is able to work across all disciplines. The training is rigorous and intensive to give you time to develop, practice and hone your craft and to allow for maximum individual attention. You will receive classes in acting, movement, voice, acting for camera, musicianship, radio and reflective practice. Each term includes rehearsal projects, which provide a practical opportunity to integrate and apply the techniques you have acquired, aiding the formation of an independent, holistic and personal creative process.
The final year of study focuses on industry-facing projects. During this year you will:
– Attend a mock audition panel with agents and casting directors
– Perform in a Showcase in front of relevant industry figures
– Present three public theatre productions
– Record a showreel and audio reel to a professional standard

Rehearsal
This strand introduces you to the process of rehearsal, providing the opportunity to develop characterisation, interrogate a range of texts and styles, work with experienced directors, build an awareness and connection to the ensemble and explore your own instrument, instincts and creative practice.

Acting
During this module you will embody a range of methods, approaches and practitioners to aid you in exploring and developing your own acting craft. Classes encourage a sense of play, bravery and curiosity, ultimately enabling you to build your own individual acting toolkit, transferable to any rehearsal process. A mastery of screen work is increasingly important, often making up the majority of a working actor’s auditions and the reason many actors are able to sustain a career in the arts. Camera classes are embedded throughout your training. You will learn how to act truthfully and spontaneously in front of a lens, explore screen craft on and off camera, and look at a range of film/TV scripts to prepare you to be adaptable and confident on set.

Actor Voice
The process of exploring the fundamental skill of vocal production in connection to complex text is developed through experiential skills classes.

Actor Movement
The process of relaxing and energising the actor’s body is explored. Detailed physical characterisation is explored encouraging an autonomous physical process that is linked to vocal delivery.

Contextual Studies
Fundamental skills in analysis, reflection and knowledge of the acting industry are explored throughout this module. In the third year you will create a personal research project developing your own play, radio play or film.

Industry-Facing Year
The third year includes:
– Performances in three public productions
– A showcase attended by industry professionals including agents and casting directors
– A mock audition to a panel of industry professionals
– Rehearsing and filming showreel material with a professional crew
– Rehearsing and recording a voice-reel

You must be 18 years old at the start of the course, although we positively welcome older students.

You should have 96 UCAS tariff points, however exceptional ability and/or considerable life/work experience can be taken into consideration. Those without 96 points we will be expected to attend an assessment day as part of the alternative academic admissions route. We will assess each student’s needs at the point of offer.

If English is not your first language you must be fluent in English (you may be asked for proof of this. We need a level 6.5 in the IELTS (International English Language Test System)

Selection is made by audition. Find out more here.

Funding Information for the BA (Hons) Acting and all ALRA courses can be found in Fees and Funding.

Fees for 2021 entry
Term
Annual
Registration Fee
Total
BA (Hons) Acting North
£3,367
£10,100
£400
£10,500
BA (Hons) Acting South
£4,500
£13,500
£400
£13,900

 

Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
27th Sept 2021

10th Dec 2021
10th Jan 2022

25th March 2022
25th April 2022

15th July 2022

 

Admission follows successful audition and interview – see the Application Guidelines for more information. Your audition will assess which acting course is most suitable to you.

Academy of Live and Recorded Arts