Three Year Acting Diploma Level 6 - Overview

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This programme is suitable for anyone aspiring to become a professional actor wanting to work in Theatre, TV, Films and Radio.  A practical, vocational course, you will learn acting strategies and techniques for stage, screen and microphone; you will train your voice and body; you will gain an understanding of how the industry works.

Content

  • Acting: Acting Technique, Improvisation, Screen Acting, Radio
  • Voice: Voicing Text, Technical Voice, Articulation and RP, Choral
  • Movement: Creative Movement, Movement Studies, Anatomy, Period Movement, Combat
  • Context: Script Preparation, Voice Makeup, Physical Theatre, Musicianship, Critiquing, Professional Preparation, Industry Opportunities 
  • Performance: Storytelling, Epic Narrative, Contemporary, 19th Century Realism, American Classic, Tragedy, Comedy, Shakespeare 

Teaching and learning

  •  Year 1 – Play, discovery and exploration – understanding the equipment you have and how to use it
  •  Year 2 – Application of growing techniques - in the acting space, on screen and to the microphone using increasingly complex texts
  •  Year 3 – The public arena - you show your skills to a public and professional audience in films, plays, a tour and two showcases

Contact time is 36 timetabled hours a week during the first two years with professional hours worked in the third year.

ALRA tutors are both trained teachers and professional practitioners. Third year directors are visiting professional theatre or television directors.

Classes are practical involving group, pair and 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 every term, with studio presentations in Voice and Movement at the end of every term.

Extra-curricular workshops take place in weeks 5 and 11 of each term

Extra-curricular performances take place at the end of each term.

Public Productions

At the end of the year 2 you will take a Shakespeare presentation into local schools.  In the final year you will –

  • Perform in three plays in the ALRA Theatre, taking one of the plays on a short tour
  • Record a 10 minute film which will streamed on the ALRA website in conjunction with your showcase
  • Make a TV presenting showreel
  • Make an audio reel
  • Perform in a Showcase in London and Manchester to industry professionals

Qualifications

Upon successfully completing the Three Year Acting Programme you will be awarded –

  • Diploma in Professional Acting Level 6 (validated by Trinity College, London)

In addition you will be entitled to Full Equity Membership through our Drama UK accreditation and join Spotlight at the start of your final year

Entry Requirements

Selection is made by audition.  In addition you must be:

  • 18 years old at the start of the course, although we positively welcome older students 
  • Have 200 UCAS tariff points (NB – exceptional ability and/or considerable life/work experience could be taken into consideration; we would expect you to take an intensive preliminary course)
  • Fluent English – if English is not your first language (B2 CEFR  or 7.5 TEEP)

“The provision for students is outstanding. The curriculum is well integrated in providing professional training for actors for radio, film, television and theatre.” OFSTED  2012

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.