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BA Acting

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Introduction

The three year BA Acting Programme at RCS is one of the best professional actor training programmes in the UK. We accept 24 students with outstanding potential and commitment who are dedicated to a performing career from over 1,000 applicants each year. Graduates of the programme have progressed to work extensively in the industry and alumni includes household names such as James McAvoy, David Tennant, Elaine C Smith and Richard Madden.

Specialist education
Over the three-year programme you will work intensively with our expert teaching staff on developing your skills in acting, voice and movement to equip you for a career in film, television and theatre.

Our movement specialists are trained in Lecoq technique, and will help you acquire some of the best movement for actors in UK actor training, facilitating everything from stagecraft to understanding techniques used in CGI and green screen. You will be working with the Centre for Voice in Performance (the national centre of excellence for teaching, practice, and research) using techniques developed by voice expert Nadine George.

We are the only UK conservatoire that offers training in all performance disciplines and you will have the opportunity to collaborate with your peers, formally and informally, in dance, music, production, and film. As an acting student you will have the opportunity to collaborate on film projects with students from the Film department.

Industry partnerships
Our unrivalled professional connections result in numerous work opportunities for our students. Collaborative professional partnerships include the BBC, the National Theatre of Scotland, and the Citizens Theatre.

In your final year you are actively encouraged to seek professional work. As well as aiming to give you a full practical training, our goal is to prepare you for a long and successful career. We focus on developing you as a creative artist, giving you a sound grounding to continue that development throughout your working life. You will undertake professional development modules, ensuring that you graduate as a truly entrepreneurial industry-ready actor, with all the contacts you need, and a great deal of professional experience.

As a student you will also be invited to participate in several national competitions including the Spotlight Showcase, The Sam Wanamaker Festival, The BBC Carleton Hobbs Radio Drama Award, Sir John Gielgud Bursary, and The Laurence Olivier Bursary, all of which have been awarded to BA Acting students.

International opportunities
You will have the opportunity to participate in our European and International activities. Recently these have included performances at the International Theatre Schools Festival in Warsaw, the Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival in Taiwan, European Young Theatre at the Festival Dei Due Mondi, Spoleto, the International Festival of Theatre Schools SETKÁNÍ/ENCOUNTER in Brno and the World Theatre Games in St Petersburg, Russia. You can take advantage of our participation in the Erasmus scheme and our exchange agreement with Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania. In addition we are a member of the European Union of Theatre Schools and Academies (E:UTSA) which provides numerous possibilities for student-led work to be shared with our European partners.

Our BA Acting Showcase, held in both Glasgow and London is very highly regarded in the industry, and attended by agents, casting directors and potential employers. Additionally, North American students are offered a showcase in New York during their final term of study.

Interested?

Find out more about what to expect at your Acting audition with this short video from Acting Lecturer Ali de Souza. You can also follow the BA Acting course on Twitter.

Introduction

The three year BA Acting Programme at RCS is one of the best professional actor training programmes in the UK. We accept 24 students with outstanding potential and commitment who are dedicated to a performing career from over 1,000 applicants each year. Graduates of the programme have progressed to work extensively in the industry and alumni includes household names such as James McAvoy, David Tennant, Elaine C Smith and Richard Madden.

Specialist education
Over the three-year programme you will work intensively with our expert teaching staff on developing your skills in acting, voice and movement to equip you for a career in film, television and theatre.

Our movement specialists are trained in Lecoq technique, and will help you acquire some of the best movement for actors in UK actor training, facilitating everything from stagecraft to understanding techniques used in CGI and green screen. You will be working with the Centre for Voice in Performance (the national centre of excellence for teaching, practice, and research) using techniques developed by voice expert Nadine George.

We are the only UK conservatoire that offers training in all performance disciplines and you will have the opportunity to collaborate with your peers, formally and informally, in dance, music, production, and film. As an acting student you will have the opportunity to collaborate on film projects with students from the Film department.

Industry partnerships
Our unrivalled professional connections result in numerous work opportunities for our students. Collaborative professional partnerships include the BBC, the National Theatre of Scotland, and the Citizens Theatre.

In your final year you are actively encouraged to seek professional work. As well as aiming to give you a full practical training, our goal is to prepare you for a long and successful career. We focus on developing you as a creative artist, giving you a sound grounding to continue that development throughout your working life. You will undertake professional development modules, ensuring that you graduate as a truly entrepreneurial industry-ready actor, with all the contacts you need, and a great deal of professional experience.

As a student you will also be invited to participate in several national competitions including the Spotlight Showcase, The Sam Wanamaker Festival, The BBC Carleton Hobbs Radio Drama Award, Sir John Gielgud Bursary, and The Laurence Olivier Bursary, all of which have been awarded to BA Acting students.

International opportunities
You will have the opportunity to participate in our European and International activities. Recently these have included performances at the International Theatre Schools Festival in Warsaw, the Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival in Taiwan, European Young Theatre at the Festival Dei Due Mondi, Spoleto, the International Festival of Theatre Schools SETKÁNÍ/ENCOUNTER in Brno and the World Theatre Games in St Petersburg, Russia. You can take advantage of our participation in the Erasmus scheme and our exchange agreement with Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania. In addition we are a member of the European Union of Theatre Schools and Academies (E:UTSA) which provides numerous possibilities for student-led work to be shared with our European partners.

Our BA Acting Showcase, held in both Glasgow and London is very highly regarded in the industry, and attended by agents, casting directors and potential employers. Additionally, North American students are offered a showcase in New York during their final term of study.

Interested?

Find out more about what to expect at your Acting audition with this short video from Acting Lecturer Ali de Souza. You can also follow the BA Acting course on Twitter.

Programme structure

First year

BA Acting Level 1 explores the three main disciplines of Acting, Voice and Movement.

Acting

In acting classes and rehearsals you will:

  • be introduced to Stanislavsky theory and practice
  • investigate character, narrative, relationships and actions
  • be introduced to Shakespeare through practical classes
  • have the opportunity to share your work with staff and students in studio presentations
  • undertake additional classes in radio and screen technique

Voice

In voice classes you will:

  • develop technical skills in voice through practical application to spoken text and song
  • work on accents, dialects, and phonetics
  • be introduced to basic anatomy and physiology

Movement

In movement classes you will:

  • be introduced to a range of movement techniques: Lecoq, ballet, contemporary dance and acrobatics
  • develop strength, agility, co-ordination, balance and alignment

Acting, Voice and Movement are assessed through continuous observation of your working process and through performance.

In Level 1 you will also take classes in theatre history and reflective practice, and have the opportunity to collaborate with other first years from every discipline on offer at RCS.

Second year

BA Acting Level 2 continues your training with advanced techniques and further exploration through the integration of acting, voice and movement in three principal areas: Classical Text (Shakespeare), New Work and Acting for Radio and Screen. In addition you are introduced to the world of work through Professional Practice.

Classical Text (Shakespeare)

You will:

  • devise practical workshops on Shakespeare for schools.
  • take Shakespeare workshops into schools.
  • rehearse and perform a Shakespeare play to a public audience.

New Work

You will:

  • explore aspects of European/International theatre practice through workshops with international practitioners
  • explore New Writing work with established writers and directors
  • be given the opportunity to form small companies to explore new and devised work in our New Work festival On the Verge at the Arches theatre, as actors, writers and directors

Acting for Radio and Screen

You will develop your radio and screen technique through workshops with professional practitioners.

Professional Practice

You are introduced to the world of working as an actor through the professional practice module, and you may be able to take advantage of professional opportunities, and work in professional productions outside RCS.

You are assessed through continuous observation of your working process and through performance.

Third year

BA Acting Level 3 is your springboard into the rest of your career, as you work continuously, using all of the skills you have been developing over the first two years. In your final year of study you will:

  • work on main stage and studio productions, both classical and contemporary
  • perform in a Christmas show
  • participate in radio and screen projects

You may also:

  • benefit from various professional opportunities that come to us from across the industry
  • perform in the highly regarded BA Acting Showcase in Glasgow and London to potential employers, casting directors, agents, managers, and producers
  • continue to focus on managing your career developing your employability and entrepreneurial skills

In Levels 2 and 3 you have the opportunity to select modules from other disciplines across RCS. You are encouraged to work on collaborative projects which can be shared with students and staff in Bridge Week.

Staff and masterclasses

Head of Acting: Joyce Deans

Programme Co-ordinator and Acting Lecturer: Ali de Souza

Acting Lecturers Katya Kamotskaia

Movement Lecturers: Lucien Lindsay-MacDougall and Benedicte Seierup

Professional Practice Lecturers: Vanessa Coffey

Head of Voice: Jean Sangster

Voice Lecturers: Hilary Jones, Bill Wright and Melanie Drake

  • In addition, you will benefit from our unrivalled industry connections, with many opportunities to work with various visiting tutors, lecturers and professional directors.
  • As well as enhancing your core training, they’ll increase your networking opportunities and contacts.
  • You will also have the opportunity to work with internationally renowned artists.

Visiting Staff

Mark Stevenson (Acting)
John Kazek (Acting)
Kerry McLellan (Dance)
Lynn McLean (Alexander Technique)
Lu Kemp (New Writing)
Oliver Emmanuel (New Writing)
Finn de Hertog (New Writing)
Andrew MacGregor (Shakespeare for Schools)
Tracy Wiles (Radio Drama)
Stuart Davids (Screen Acting)
Martin McCardie (Screen Acting)
Vincent Hunter (Screen Acting)
Kenny Glenaan (Screen Acting)
Bruce Strachan (New Work)
Ewan Downie (New Work)
Vanessa Coffey (Professional Practice)
Kahleen Crawford (Professional Practice)
Maryam Hunwick (Professional Practice)
Laura Donnelly (Professional Practice)
Raymond Short (Stage Combat)
Marc Silberschatz (Stage Combat)

Visiting directors include

Tony Cownie
James Robert Carson
Peter Collins
Graham MacLaren
Guy Hollands
Matthew Lenton
Alasdair Hawthorn
Dominic Hill
Mark Thomson
Ben Harrison

Masterclasses and International Workshops include

Pascale Lecoq (Lecoq School)
Francois Lecoq (Lecoq School)
Jos Houben (Lecoq School)
Paola Rizza (Lecoq School)
Carlos García Estévez (Manifesto Poetico)
Anna-Helena McLean (Moonfool)
Nadine George (Voice Centre International)
Shawn Kinley (Loose Moose Theatre, Calgary)
Nicolas Lormeau (Comédie Francaise)

Why choose us?

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is in the World Top 5 for performing arts education

  • Industry showcases in Glasgow, London and New York
  • 86% of undergraduate respondents from the School of Drama are in employment or further study (HESA, 15/16)
  • Excellent staff-student ratio with a high level of contact hours (class sizes are usually 12 students to one member of staff)
  • Specialist voice training using the work of Nadine George
  • Specialist movement training based on the work of Jacques Lecoq
  • Unrivalled professional connections result in work opportunities for our students
  • Collaborative professional partnerships include the National Theatre of Scotland and BBC Scotland
  • International exchange opportunities include programmes with the Paris Conservatoire and Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh and the Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts
  • International performing opportunities; recently students performed work in Brno, Rome, Prague, Italy, Ludwigsburg, Moscow and Beijing

How to apply

Applications for the BA Acting programme should be made through the UCAS Conservatoires website. There is a UCAS application fee of £25 (which is in addition to the audition fee) which allows you up to six choices of programme of study.

For more information on how to apply, please visit the Apply section.

Before applying we recommend that you visit our Guide for Applicants page which provides information regarding entry requirements, and the full application and audition process.

Visit our Guide for Applicants.

Student showcase

BA Acting - Class of 2018

Olivia Barrowclough

Elliot Baxter

Chase Brown

Malcolm Cumming

Caroline Denis

Karine Dokken

Callum Douglas

Kyle Gardiner

Stine Hemmingsen

Amy Kennedy

Kip Lawson

Tom Lloyd-Kendall

Kay McAllister

Titana Muthui

Paula Nugent

Anna Russell-Martin

Jack Simpson

Edward Soper

Megan Valentine

Michael Wallace

Alice Zhang

Entry requirements

  • Scottish Highers – 3 passes (grade C or above)
  • A Levels – 2 passes
  • International Baccalaureate – minimum score of 24 with 3 subjects at Higher Level

We offer a flexible approach to students taking Highers over more than one academic year and/or who achieve their qualifications in more than one sitting.

Entrance to the Conservatoire is based on talent, potential and ability, therefore consideration will be given to relevant experience which is deemed to compensate for any traditional education. We accept a wide range of qualification, including international qualifications. If you wish to check the suitability of your qualification/experience, please contact us ( admissions@rcs.ac.uk ).

English language

The language of study is English. Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Other equivalent English Language qualifications may be considered, please contact us ( admissions@rcs.ac.uk ) for more information.

  • IELTS – 7.5 with a minimum score of 7.5 in speaking

 

 

Fees & scholarships

Tuition fees for academic year 2018-19

  • Scottish/EU Students – £1,820
  • Rest of UK (RUK) Students – £9,250
  • International (Non EU) – £16,026

Scottish/EU students

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will pay tuition fees for all eligible full-time Scottish-based and other non-UK undergraduate EU students, who are studying in Scotland at degree level for the first time. Students should apply to SAAS for payment of tuition fees even if they are not applying for any other means of support. Eligible students can also apply for student loans through SAAS . For further advice and to check eligibility contact SAAS directly on 0300 555 0505 or visit their website.

Rest of UK students

Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland studying in Scotland will be eligible for the same funding/loan package that they would benefit from if they attended an institution in their home country. For further advice please visit student finance England , student financeWales , or student finance Northern Ireland as appropriate.

International students

Students from outside the EU typically fund higher education by a variety of resources, depending on the home country. More specific information on funding options relevant to specific countries can be found here .

Scholarships

Any potential student who auditions for a place at the Royal Conservatoire will automatically be considered for a scholarship. They are awarded on a combination of talent, potential and financial need. More information about Scholarships is available here

Sources of external funding

For more information about alternative funding sources, including external scholarships and bursaries, please visit here.

The Conservatoire’s International and Student Experience team are available to advise and assist applicants and current students in respect of queries about funding your studies at the Conservatoire. Please email or telephone +44 (0)141 270 8281/ +44 (0)141 270 8223 for further information.

Graduate destinations

Our graduates work in all aspects of the performance industry, primarily as professional actors in theatre, film, television and radio. Several household names have studied with us including James McAvoy, Sam Heughan, Katie Leung, David Tennant, Alexandra Silber, Alan Cumming, Kevin Guthrie, Mark Bonnar, Emun Elliott, Ruby Wax, Laura Donnelly, John Hannah, Richard Madden, Colin Morgan, Daniela Nardini and Jack Lowden.

You can see our graduates and alumni perform at The Royal National Theatre London, National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Shakespeare Company, The Globe, London West End, Broadway, Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Tron Theatre Glasgow, Òran Mór Glasgow, Arches Theatre Glasgow, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Dundee Rep, Birds of Paradise Theatre Co., Vanishing Point Theatre Company, Traverse Theatre Edinburgh, Headlong Theatre Company, The Almeida London, The Gate London, The Royal Court London, Arcola Theatre Company London, The Young Vic London.

BBC (Radio and Screen), ITV, STV, and film production companies are also regular employers of our graduates.

Acting graduates are also found in a range of other influential roles in the industry, working as agents, directors, casting directors, writers, producers and educators.

Facilities

BA Acting students will rehearse and perform in our well-equipped rehearsal spaces and dance studios, the New Athenaeum Theatre (main stage), the Chandler Studio Theatre (black box), and our recording studios.

You will have the opportunity to rehearse in our new state of the art rehearsal spaces at The Wallace Studios at Speirs Locks (completed in 2014).

You will also have the opportunity to perform in professional theatre venues and on location on Screen and Radio projects.

Other facilities include first class IT provision and the Whittaker Library, where you’ll find endless scripts, DVDs, books, and recordings; it’s one of the most comprehensive collections of performance materials in the world.

Images and videos

The Acting Audition with Ali de Souza and Vanessa Coffey

The Snow Queen

Pleasure and Pain

Table

Simon’s Magical Christmas Socks

The House of Bernarda Alba

Macbeth

Auditions

 

Acting Auditions

Auditions can be a daunting experience but we try to make it as enjoyable a process as possible. Full details on the audition process are outlined in the Guide to Applicants journey and some details are listed below. We’ve also included a short film clip with Acting Lecturer Ali de Souza that should hopefully give you some more insight into what to expect at your audition.

 

The first audition

For your initial audition, you need to prepare two speeches to perform in character. One should be from a play by William Shakespeare, preferably in verse, and the other a contrasting contemporary* piece of your own choice. Each speech should be no less than one minute and no more than three minutes.

When you are preparing your speeches please time them carefully – the Audition Panel will stop you if the speech is too long. Read plenty of plays in order to find the best speeches for you. The panel may ask you about the play as well as the monologue you have chosen to perform. Bring copies of your scripts with you if you think you will need a steward to prompt you.

Individual Audition

Try to find a character with whom you identify – s/he does not have to be like you but you should be able to empathise with the thoughts, feelings and actions implied by the text. The panel wants to see you bring a character to life, not necessarily demonstrate great originality of choice.

Take plenty of time to prepare. Read the whole play a number of times. Learn the words perfectly and rehearse the pieces thoroughly. Do not change your mind at the last minute and try to prepare a new choice without adequate preparation time.

As you prepare, consider carefully what kind of person the character is, what they want to achieve, and how they go about getting what they want. Why do they say those particular words at that moment – how do they want to change the attitude or behaviour of the listener? What kind of tactics do they use?

The contemporary monologue

It is safe to consider anything written in the latter half of the twentieth century onwards to be contemporary. However, even a period play written in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century if it has been adapted by a living author is considered as contemporary. So, for example, Tom Stoppard’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters or Zinnie Harris’ adaptation of Strindberg’s Miss Julie would both be fine. A good rule is if the author is alive, or could theoretically still be alive if they died young (e.g. Sarah Kane), then you can consider the work as contemporary. Of course, finding a speech from a relatively new work (e.g. from the last ten years or so) gives us some indication of your knowledge, understanding and passion for theatre today, so the more recent the work, the better.

The group workshop

Applicants who proceed past the first audition day will be invited to attend a workshop recall audition at the Royal Conservatoire. Workshop dates will run on Tuesday 13 March, Monday 26 March, Tuesday 8 May, Tuesday 15 May and Tuesday 22 May. You must be able to attend a workshop audition day if you are successfully recalled.

 

The morning will involve voice, movement and acting workshops led by programme staff. You do not need to prepare anything for these workshops. If you are recalled to the afternoon session, we will ask you to perform your speeches again. There will also be an interview with the Head of Acting and a lecturer of the programme.

The interview

We are looking to find out about yourself so please answer openly and honestly.

Throughout the workshop, audition and interview, the panel will be looking for evidence that in most, if not all of the following aspects you are able to:

  • Bring a character to life with believable thoughts, feelings and actions which are appropriate to the text chosen
  • Be sufficiently relaxed and energised in performance, improvisation and interview in order to present your characters and yourself with honesty, clarity and conviction
  • Show potential in voice and body for further development of the means of expression
  • Discuss your work giving reasons for choices made
  • Respond to direction in performance and improvisation
  • Be open to others, responding creatively to their ideas, thoughts and feelings
  • Demonstrate some knowledge of theatre, film and television today
  • Show some experience of acting in public performances
  • Indicate the maturity, resilience and commitment necessary for successful completion of the programme and entry into the profession.

You will then be advised one week after your audition if you have reached the final workshop recall audition stage.

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