BA (Hons) Acting for Stage, Screen & Digital Media
UCAS Code: W700
Institution Code: B39
The BA (Hons) Acting for Stage, Screen & Digital Media undergraduate course offers a rigorous and multi-faceted practical training that will prepare you for the demands of the professional acting industry.
Our range of specialist creative and artistic modules have been designed to reflect the ever-evolving and diverse requirements placed upon the contemporary actor.
During our vocational and practically focused course, you will experience a wide variety of actor training methodologies and approaches to ensure you graduate as a flexible and adaptable artist, ready to embrace our multi-media profession.
You will undertake an intensive programme of technical development that will include in-depth training in acting for theatre, film, TV and recorded media.
Through our optional modules, you will also have the opportunity to create a bespoke pathway of learning that allows you time to explore your specific areas of interest.
Our vibrant and innovative course continuously develops your individual artistry; performance opportunities may include short films, documentaries, music videos, radio drama, community theatre, contemporary and classical plays, plus the opportunity to take part in our college podcast which will be available on Spotify and iTunes.
Specialist masterclasses and workshops include mask work, puppetry, TV presenting, stage combat and many more.
The course culminates in an exciting red-carpet screening of short films, plus a fully produced play. Both events will be attended by industry guests to help provide you with a springboard into the profession.
At Performers College, we believe the opportunity to work in the performing arts profession should be available to all and not prevented by monetary, physical or cultural restrictions. The three years are underpinned by a curriculum spine that develops both transferable and life skills essential for longevity within your chosen career path.
On successful completion of the BA (Hons) Acting for Stage, Screen & Digital Media graduates will be equipped with the necessary skills to access a variety of roles with optimum technique and a suitable level of autonomy to enter the world of theatre and film.
Performers College is exceptionally proud of the success and longevity of its alumni. Graduates of Performers College can be seen in feature films, plays, on prestigious television programmes and performing in tours nationally and internationally.
Course Specification
Mode of Attendance: Full-time
Length of course: Three years
Awarding institution: BIMM University
Campus delivery: Birmingham & Essex
Language of study: English
Final award: Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
Minimum Requirements
Entry requirements are 80 UCAS points from three A-Levels at CDD (or an equivalent level 3 qualification), plus four GCSEs at C/4 or above, including English Language.
For applicants with significant prior professional experience, offers may be made under the BIMM University Recognition of Prior Practice Policy.
Audition: Candidates will be required to attend an audition and demonstrate ability in acting. Applicants with high levels of skills may be considered for entry with a lower UCAS point requirement.
Progression
Graduates can progress directly to employment in theatre and related creative industries.
Course Fees
Student loan finance is available for BA (Hons) Acting for Stage, Screen & Digital Media. Please visit our Fees page for information on access to Student Loans.
Please note, UK students eligible for Student Loans are able to borrow the full course fee for Performers College degrees.
Year 1
All students take the following core modules in their first year of study. Full module information is subject to approval. Students can select four optional modules during their three year course; three in the second year, and one in their final year.
The aim of this module is to introduce you to the different styles of vocal and character work that you will cover during your time at Performers College. Fundamental elements of vocal technique will be clarified and developed. Respectful and healthy exploration of each individual voice and voice type will be promoted. You will gain a fundamental knowledge of appropriate working practices necessary for professional acting work in all forms of live performance.
You will explore a variety of play texts, practitioners and characterisation approaches, building storytelling techniques essential for theatrical performance.
This module aims to build basic good practice by breaking down inhibition, freeing up imagination and creativity and facilitating confidence. During this module you will develop an initial understanding of basic dramatic principles including the rules of improvisation, physicality and body language and character development and status.
You will learn to address individual physical characteristics to enable you to reach your full potential alongside an understanding of how to perceive and express concepts and personal responses in order to develop aesthetically and artistically. There will be direct connection to promote the capacity of personal evaluation to develop technically and to encourage an understanding of the performer as an individual artist.
Movement classes will free up the body allowing you to express yourself as an actor using variety and flexibility.
During this module you will begin to explore the specific techniques required when acting for screen. You will learn the essential elements a professional actor needs to master to deliver a realistic and truthful performance while negotiating the technical demands of a television or film set.
The unique requirements of acting and performance within contemporary digital media such as radio, podcasts, YouTube, TikTok and much more will also be introduced.
The first Creative Industries module will introduce you to the strategies and tools to set you on the right path toward pursuing a successful career. Whether focused on a particular career goal or considering several future possibilities, you will broaden your knowledge of the opportunities available to you as a future creative industry professional.
You will build your skills working with text, being introduced to new playwrights, genres of writing and their related theatrical performance styles. You will further your exploration of different styles of vocal and character work, including accent training. You will continue to develop your knowledge of appropriate working practices necessary for professional acting work in all forms of live performance.
This module is intended to build on the technical skills already achieved but with strong emphasis on performance quality and expression, developing the student as an individual artist. You will undertake technical and artistic classes in improvisation and movement. The module ensures continued development of fundamental acting skills, building upon any existing knowledge and developing individual progress.
You will continue to develop an actor’s mind and body with reference to increasing flexibility and variety of characterisation. You will be able to address individual physical and emotional characteristics to enable character development to reach full potential alongside an understanding of how to perceive and express concepts and personal responses in order to develop aesthetically and artistically. There will be direct connection to promote the capacity of personal evaluation to develop technically and to encourage an understanding of the performer as an individual artist.
This module builds upon the key skills needed for acting for screen and digital media. You will work towards delivering sustained and varied performances across a range of genres and styles. You will perform on increasingly public platform levels when appropriate: small class groups, large class groups, year groups, and to the whole college. You will be encouraged to use the appropriate terminology and conduct background research of all material in order to develop a wider understanding of different genres, context and key practitioners.
In this module, you will further develop your investigative skills, exploring relevant underlying concepts and principles and interpreting these within the context of your area of study. You will explore the nature of creativity, the wider context of the industry and practice reflective techniques.
You will also evaluate sources and consider issues such as potential biases and cultural diversity. This evaluation will contribute to developing an enhanced awareness of your creative identity and greater insight into the topics that inspire and motivate you. In addition, you will improve your understanding of how your area of interest intersects with the wider creative industry.
Using academic enquiry, you will develop a reflective journal to evaluate your strengths and areas for self-development in relation to your studies, careers and personal aspirations. This investigative work will help establish a connection between the skills you have identified concerning specific careers and areas of the industry, enhancing your understanding of what is required to be a successful professional practitioner.
Year 2
A range of option modules can be selected in Year 2 subject to availability and student demand. Full module information is also subject to approval.
Students pick three optional modules from: Applied Directing, Community Theatre, Digital Media Performance, Film Studies, Musical Theatre Performance, Practical Learning & Teaching in the Creative Arts (1), Working in the Creative Arts, and Writing for Stage and Screen.
During this module will fully realise a character through the performance of a contemporary text. Key skills and techniques essential for contemporary performance will be explored practically and embedded throughout the module, culminating in a staged performance of a contemporary play to an invited audience.
This module focuses on the application of your acting technique for a multi-cam setup. It aims to establish core skills and techniques and build upon the groundwork from your first year of training. You will explore the audition process, including audition etiquette, technical understanding, research & preparation and self-taping.
The creative arts have the power to bring people together, unite communities, support mental wellbeing, raise awareness of social issues and above all, bring joy to many people around the world. In Creative Industries & You 2, you will discover how you can turn your passion and talent into a collaborative project with a positive impact on society. Employing research and networking skills, you will develop a greater understanding of a charity, cause or campaign. In teams of students from all courses, you‘ll select a cause and identify a way to support its key objectives, either by raising awareness, raising funds or contributing as volunteers. You will be introduced to your college’s partner charities but you are also able to find your own, or work independently of an existing organisation.
Through this collaborative project, you’ll develop essential interpersonal and communication skills, experimenting with various digital tools for enterprise. You’ll reflect on your own values, applying theories of human psychology to explore how to get the best out of yourself and each other. Building on your industry research skills, you will assess your target audience and define clear SMART targets for your project that will enable you to execute an element of the strategy and evaluate its success. In teams, you will spend time working on your project both in class and in your own time, developing effective collaborative working methods.
You’ll record your project activity in your Personal and Professional Development Plan, reflecting on how you have developed and changed over the course of your first year and a half at Performers College
This module continues the exploratory work you began in Context & Culture of the Creative Industries. You will directly apply ideas to your own discipline and development, selecting an area of investigation relevant to your own practice, and communicating your argument via your medium of choice.
The concepts you encounter will actively critique claims to authenticity and originality; themes you will encounter frequently throughout your career as a Creative Professional. You will debate artistic production, the motivations for it, and the problems of creative autonomy.
You will investigate relevant contemporary cultural issues and theories relating to society, race, gender, technology, and the environment to develop your contextual understanding of how these relate to your own creative practice, professional values, and sense of personal agency.
You will be encouraged to meet with your Personal Adviser in a 1:1 tutorial to help you reflect on the strengths and areas for development identified in your PPDP in the first year, tracking your academic progress and setting new actions that will support you to achieve your best work. The research methods and study habits you develop throughout this module will prepare you for next year’s Final Project, in which you will self-direct a significant piece of academic, creative and/or professional practice.
. Working with your Personal Adviser you will identify objectives, opportunities and actions that will help you stay on the path to success for the second half of your journey towards becoming a Creative Industries Professional.
This module will hone your skills in the delivery of classical text. Key skills and techniques essential for classical performance will be explored practically and embedded throughout the module, culminating in a staged performance of a Shakespeare play to an invited audience.
This module continues the exploratory work you began in Context & Culture of the Creative Industries. You will directly apply ideas to your own discipline and development, selecting an area of investigation relevant to your own practice, and communicating your argument via your medium of choice.
The concepts you encounter will actively critique claims to authenticity and originality; themes you will encounter frequently throughout your career as a Creative Professional. You will debate artistic production, the motivations for it, and the problems of creative autonomy.
You will investigate relevant contemporary cultural issues and theories relating to society, race, gender, technology, and the environment to develop your contextual understanding of how these relate to your own creative practice, professional values, and sense of personal agency.
You will be encouraged to meet with your Personal Adviser in a 1:1 tutorial to help you reflect on the strengths and areas for development identified in your PPDP in the first year, tracking your academic progress and setting new actions that will support you to achieve your best work. The research methods and study habits you develop throughout this module will prepare you for next year’s Final Project, in which you will self-direct a significant piece of academic, creative and/or professional practice.
This module is the final step in your journey and will support you as you look to enter your chosen field as a creative professional. Drawing on evidence from throughout your time here. you will critically self-evaluate your personal learning journey and industry engagements to date. You will explore concepts and theories of personal and professional development to support, challenge and test your assumptions, to determine your readiness for work in the creative industries. You will have the opportunity to discuss this with your peers and learn from your collective experiences in both small degree path groups and large mixed discipline sessions.
With this position in mind, you will then be challenged to create and consolidate creative assets to give you the edge over the competition in your chosen field. Specialist workshops will be offered throughout the module, informed and delivered by our wide-reaching connections and specialist lecturers in the creative industries. This culminates in the creation of a portfolio which tells the story of your personal and professional journey so far, communicating your unique professional identity and future career plans in the creative industries.
Year 3
A range of optional modules can be selected in Year 3 subject to availability and student demand. Full module information is also subject to approval.
Students pick one optional modules from: Devised Theatre Performance, Film Studies, Practical Learning & Teaching in the Creative Arts (2), and Short Film Production.
In this module, you will undertake a significant project of your own choosing. It’s your chance to explore your passion within the industry and creative arts: experiment, take risks, strengthen your skills and create a product/cohesive portfolio of work that you are proud to showcase at the end of your degree. This module will support you in consolidating the broad learning and development from the course so far, building a bridge into the industry, the workplace and future opportunities. You will be supported to self-direct your own learning through a series of lectures, seminars and 1:1 tutorials with expert supervisors.
This module is the final step in your journey and will support you as you look to enter your chosen field as a creative professional. Drawing on evidence from throughout your time here. you will critically self-evaluate your personal learning journey and industry engagements to date. You will explore concepts and theories of personal and professional development to support, challenge and test your assumptions, to determine your readiness for work in the creative industries. You will have the opportunity to discuss this with your peers and learn from your collective experiences in both small degree path groups and large mixed discipline sessions.
With this position in mind, you will then be challenged to create and consolidate creative assets to give you the edge over the competition in your chosen field. Specialist workshops will be offered throughout the module, informed and delivered by our wide-reaching connections and specialist lecturers in the creative industries. This culminates in the creation of a portfolio that tells the story of your personal and professional journey so far, communicating your unique professional identity and future career plans in the creative industries.
This module is intended to extend and solidify a range of performance and technical skills acquired throughout Level 4 and 5. You will continue to undertake technical and artistic classes in acting, voice, and movement. The module ensures a progressive and challenging development of acting skills, building upon existing knowledge and developing individual progress and establishment as a well-rounded actor. You will display active practice in understanding professional convention within stage and screen acting and will appreciate the correlation and interdisciplinary qualities and skills needed in technical and performance skills.
You will be immersed in a professional film set environment, appearing in a short film to be screened at the Everyman Theatre. You will gain experience of film set etiquette and the demands placed upon the actor during a shoot. You will have an active role in creating the film and be involved in storyboarding, pre- and post-production.
You will demonstrate your text, vocal and physical skills in a showcase of your stage acting techniques through script analysis, building the world around your character and working with physical, behavioural, and psychological characteristics.
You will be equipped to address individual physical and emotional characteristics to enable you to enter the professional environment as a well-rounded and skilled artist. You will be able to perceive and express concepts and personal responses in order to develop aesthetically and artistically. There will be direct connection to promote the capacity of personal evaluation to develop technically and to encourage an understanding of oneself as a performer and individual artist in a mature fashion.
This module consists of audition, development, rehearsals and performance of a production in a professional theatre. You will audition for your role in line with current industry practice. In the auditions you will be expected to choose and perform your material with an intelligent understanding of necessary style and a confident and accomplished delivery. You would be expected to have studied the given material and be able to perform it with the ability to convey character, style, and intention. All auditions will be performed in front of the artistic team for the productions, in keeping with industry practice.
You will engage creatively and critically with the skills and processes of performance and production. You will be expected to demonstrate a highly skilled, engaging, and sophisticated performance with a clear ability to convey storytelling to the audience. This module adheres to a professional working environment; the audition process, rehearsal period and the performance will replicate, as far as possible, a professional engagement.
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