BA (Hons) — 2025 entry Acting

This Module introduces the core acting fundamentals that underpin the programme. Following two interdependent strands, Acting Technique and Text Analysis, the student will experience a range of psycho-physical processes designed to develop the actor’s expressive and analytical skills. 

This module introduces students to a range of key movement and voice practices designed to develop embodied awareness and understanding, expand their physical and vocal literacy and capability, and support students to embody a range of movement possibilities. Through the year students are encouraged to become self-reflective and independent, developing their confidence, clarity, and range of movement expression.

Research and preparation will be necessary in pursuit of some of the modules aims. Students are required to be punctual, to warm up, and dress appropriately for classes. The Actor in Rehearsal 1 offers an opportunity for integration of principles and skills from across the programme. Like a canvas the actor may use the rehearsal room to experiment with and apply their training in relation to different theatrical forms and rehearsal processes.  Students engage with two rehearsal projects in this module, each led by a tutor in the role of a director.  The first rehearsal project incorporates scenes from one or more plays belonging to the Naturalism tradition. The second rehearsal project incorporates scenes from one or more Shakespeare plays.

This module introduces students to a range of collaborative strategies and practices towards the generation of new, original work in a variety of forms. Rooted in explorations of play, risk, impulse and trust, the module allows students to work as an ensemble, and to develop their creativity through listening, observation, reflection, problem-solving, and an increasing sensitivity towards the needs of others.

EVM2 builds on EVM1, inviting students to apply their holistic movement knowledge gained in Level 4 to character and text in a range of ways. Through the year students focus on specific skills to support the development and realization of embodied, specific characters; and to work with greater criticality and awareness of the dialogue between inner impulse and outer form.

This module builds on the work of Level 4 Acting Fundamentals. Students will apply and develop their skills in a range of new contexts, including screen acting, film making, comedy, and plays by a range of international playwrights. Students will be expect to be punctual, to warm up, and to dress in suitable clothing for each session. Screen Acting classes will introduce the basics of screen acting technique, and introduce students to a range of different styles of scripts. Filmmaking classes will introduce the principles of filmmaking, and explore different filmmaking techniques, including collaborative short film projects. Editing workshops will support the work of the short film projects. Classes in scene study and comedy will extend students¿ experience in a range of different performance styles.

Research and preparation will be necessary in pursuit of some of the modules aims. Students are required to be punctual, to warm up, and dress appropriately for classes. The Actor in Rehearsal 2 offers further opportunities for the application and refining of principles skills from across the programme. Students engage with two rehearsal projects in this module, each led by a tutor in the role of a director: A devised/adaptation project, producing an original ensemble piece, in response to a provocation, or non-dramatic source material. A rehearsal project incorporating heightened text.

This module prepares students for work with freelance and in-house directors on mid and large scale public productions at Level 6. The module includes basic (unarmed) stage combat classes and an in-house production, rehearsed full time with a tutor-director over 5 weeks, and performed in a GSA studio for an invited audience, with no technical support.

This module builds on Collaborative Principles (Level 4) and Screen/Acting Fundamentals (Level 5) and offers opportunities for students to gain confidence in a range of media, including (but not limited to) TV, radio, voice-over, motion-capture, gaming, film and live solo performance. The module also brings students into working collaborations with digital industry creatives, filmmakers, agents, directors and actors working in different live, audio and digital media. Live performances of short monologues will be shared with agents at a special industry event. Showreels will be scripted and shot by freelance creatives, before being edited by students.

This module is in many ways the culmination of all the previous work undertaken throughout the students' training, drawing upon the wide range of skills developed through levels 4 and 5.

This module provides opportunities for students to use knowledge, principles and skills from across the programme in a fully-supported industry-facing season of self-generated work. The modules offers time to explore collaborative practice, artistic autonomy, and self-made work. From inception, through pitching/funding, into performance, the module provides the experience of producing self-generated work in live theatre, film, or recorded media, which is shared in an industry-facing season at the end of the module.