MA Professional Acting

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Overview

This 15 month, full time programme has three taught terms followed by two performance terms; including 2 theatre productions (one in collaboration with a professional theatre company), recording a film and 2 showcases in London and Manchester.

Focusing on skills and techniques needed by today’s professional actor, the programme encourages you to view your practice as continual development and to further your particular strengths.  

The brevity and intenseness of this programme demands a strong professional focus, a good level of stamina and an excellent level of commitment, and whilst we welcome all applicants, typical students are those with some performance experience or those seeking to change career.

Content

  • Acting and Performance Studies – Classes in Acting Technique, Acting for Camera, Acting for Radio, Improvisation. Scene Study includes – Shakespeare, Chekov, Ibsen, Greek Tragedy, and Contemporary writers. 
  • Voice Studies – Classes in Voicing Text, Technical Voice, Articulation and RP, Choral.
  • Movement Studies – Core and Alignment, Creative Movement Stage Craft and Characterisation, Period dance and movement, Combat.
  • Contextual Studies – Approach to text, Character Research, Research Methodologies Muscianship, Professional Practice, Practical Research Project.

Teaching and learning

The first three taught terms consists of practical skills classes in acting, voice and movement together with scene study rehearsals. This practical work is supported by theory in contextual studies.  The programme is designed so that you build your skills base and knowledge in a methodical way so that you are able to apply them with autonomy in the two performance terms.

Contact time is 36 timetabled hours a week through the first three terms. Contact time in the performance terms, whilst dependent on each project, is considered to be professional hours.

ALRA tutors are both trained teachers and professional practitioners.

Term 3 and 4 directors are current professional theatre or television directors.

Classes are practical involving group, pair or solo exercises; you will be asked to research, reflect and share your discoveries in occasional presentations.  Rehearsals can be workshops, script analysis and traditional rehearsals.

Scene Study presentations take place twice a term.

Extra curricula workshops take place at the end of every term.

Public Productions

In terms 4 and 5 you will:

  • Record a 10 minute film which will be streamed on the ALRA website
  • Perform in a play which will tour the local community in collaboration with a professional theatre company
  • Perform in a play in  the ALRA Theatre
  • Perform in a Showcase in both London and Manchester to industry professionals

Practical Research Project

In terms 4 and 5 students can choose to:

  •  create an original 20-25 minute live performance for theatre or a recorded piece for film, television or radio.
  • working individually or as a collective you establish a theatre company to produce a public performance

Qualifications

All students successfully completing the course will be awarded:

  • MA Professional Acting (validated by St Mary’s University College)

In addition you will be entitled to Full Equity Membership through our Drama UK accreditation.

Entry Requirements

Selection is made by audition.  See Audition Guidelines (How to Apply)

It is expected that you will have a first degree or equivalent, or

considerable work/life experience could be taken into consideration; we would ask you to attend an intensive preliminary course.

If English is not your first language you must be fluent in English -. (B2 CEFR  or 7.5 TEEP.)

International Applicants

ALRA welcomes applications from international candidates whose written and spoken English is of a level appropriate to professional actor training. This will be assessed at audition.

Non-EU applicants must obtain a student visa to cover the duration of their studies.

Attendance at a scheduled ALRA audition is compulsory. Pre-recorded audition videos are not acceptable; however ALRA can view international applicants' audition videos as a precursor to inviting them for a full audition.

ALRA does not accept students on short-term basis taking part in the Erasmus programme.