Our students say that studying Contemporary Performance Practice (CPP) at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is like nothing you could ever imagine. It’s total immersion in a challenging programme with a central philosophy that human beings make art in order to understand better the world in which they live. This programme is for aspiring performance makers who wish to develop their skills as innovative and socially engaged performers, directors, teachers, and cultural leaders, who can realise their aspirations to create and shape the future of new work. This could be the programme for you if you are passionate about creating performance, but you’re unsure of what you’d specifically like to do in the field.

You will be able to explore realisation of your ideas through the disciplines of performance, education, installation, movement, research, and documentation. We will help you to develop your performance skills in our world-class facilities working with our staff, visiting practitioners, directors and lecturers. You will have regular opportunities to take part in specialist workshops and masterclasses, you will push yourself and push boundaries, creating new works with image, action, sound, and text.

You will leave RCS as an independent and entrepreneurial self-managing ‘eco-centric’ artist with an awareness of the aesthetic, intellectual, social, emotional, political, and ecological considerations of a holistic and sustainable arts practice.

Follow our BA CPP course on Facebook.

Year One
In the first year the focus is autobiographical – you learn about yourself and what you are bringing to a space as a performer. You will learn about the methods and strategies of making performance using autobiography as your material. You are encouraged to question your attitudes, values and understandings and translate these discoveries into original performance work.

Year Two
In your second year you begin to explore how to apply your arts practice in social and participatory contexts including community and educational contexts. You will take part in a residency in a community which will result in an original piece of performance work. This stage of the programme focuses on your development as a socio-centric artist and how you engage with other people.

Year Three
The emphasis is on the researching artist. You will learn how to create text for performance, supported through individual mentoring by a performance tutor. You will study the ‘researching artist’ culminating in a dissertation exploring an idea relevant to your own performance practice. You can also undertake a professional placement and create an original collaborative performance.

Year Four
In your final year the focus is on ‘The Ecocentric Artist”, you will work towards developing a sustainable arts practice that will support your transition into your chosen professional field. You will make an original performance work for the Into The New festival staged in a performance venue in Glasgow. You will have the opportunity to select projects which focus on directing, arts in participatory contexts, arts in criminal justice settings, site-specific work or an international professional secondment.

CPP Choice Modules offered include Arts and Medicine and Somatic Practices.

 

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

• Excellent staff-student ratio and small class sizes ensuring individual attention
• Opportunities for artistic collaboration across RCS
• 86% of undergraduate respondents from the School of Drama are in employment or further study (HESA, 15/16)
• World-class facilities and performing venues
• Emphasis on preparing you for diverse careers in professional practice
• Annual, sector-leading festival Into the New features student performance alongside international artists
• Work opportunities include performance and professional collaborations with cutting-edge practitioners, companies, festivals and arts venues. Recent projects have included work with Imaginate, National Theatre of Scotland, Glas(s) Performance, Tramway, Buzzcut, Corali, Ruth Mills Dance, Caroline Bowditch, ArtsAdmin and Nic Green

The CPP programme is delivered by a core staff team and a large number of visiting artists, choreographers, designers and educationalists. Unlike many other higher education institutions, contact time between students and staff is very high at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. You can expect to be working in RCS five days a week upon joining the programme.

We place great emphasis upon preparing you for professional practice and to do this you must achieve an ‘exit velocity’ by drawing upon your own fascinations and ingenuity.

Programme Team
Deborah Richardson-Webb – Head of Performance Pedagogy

Dr Laura Bissell

Gary Gardiner

Laura Bradshaw

Rachel O’Neill

Josh Armstrong

Centre for Voice in Performance

CPP students have full access to the Royal Conservatoire’s award-winning facilities, including the Wallace Studios at Speirs Locks and the practice rooms and performance spaces in the Renfrew Street Building. Including five professional performing arts venues, a student IT Suite, dance studios and drama rehearsal rooms. The Whittaker library has one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of performance materials and you will also have access to thousands of electronic resources which you will find useful for the Critical and Contextual Studies strand of the programme.

CPP students will also often use rehearsal space at UKTheatre School and Scottish Youth Theatre and in 2016 CPP held the annual graduate showcase and festival, Into the New, in the historic Pearce Institute.

We place great emphasis upon preparing you for a range of diverse careers in professional practice, the programme is packed with work opportunities. Performance and professional collaborations with national and international cutting-edge practitioners, companies, festivals, and arts venues are central to the programme. Recent projects have included work with The Arches, the Macrobert, Libellule Theatre, Janice Parker, National Theatre of Scotland, Glas(s) Performance, the Tramway, Fish and Game, the British Red Cross, and Nic Green. Several students have gone on secondment to international locations such as the USA, Switzerland, Germany, India, and Zambia.

Our graduates are working as solo artists in the live arts sector; directors and performers in devised, community, or educational performance, and as freelance drama workers. A significant number of graduates have set up  their own companies. Other graduates have undertaken further study at masters and doctoral level and also become drama teachers and specialists. Alumni from the programme include:

• Nic Green
• Jess Thorpe
• Tashi Gore
• Peter McMaster
• Becki Gerrard
• Gary McNair
• Johnny McKnight

All of whom produce performance work internationally, and frequently teach or give workshops at RCS.

Into the New 2017

The Into the New 2017 symposium, I only went out for a walk is inspired by the writings of 19th century naturalist and environmental philosopher, John Muir.

“I only went out for a walk

and finally concluded to stay

out till sundown,

for going out, I found,

was really going in.”

John Muir

Through a series of performance lectures, practitioners from an array of disciplines share their experiences of what can happen when an artist ventures out into the landscape beyond ‘the studio’. How does landscape shape the artist, the work, and the community? Can the ‘outside’ be brought back into the studio? Is it possible for the artist to break down the studio walls and inhabit a place of natural vulnerability? How do we create the potential for ecological change within the audience, the community and ourselves? What happens when we shift our perspective from ‘visiting the wild’ to ‘being wild’?

The Jones

Enconium

 Into the New

Terrible News, Terrible Weather

One Night Only

 

 

Tuition fees for academic year 2018-19

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.

Our admissions processes are designed to be fair, transparent and efficient. The audition/interview approach serves the dual nature of allowing the panel to assess first-hand an applicant’s suitability for their chosen programme and it also affords the applicant the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the nature of that programme and the opportunities offered by the RCS.

In arriving at its recommendation, the audition/interview panel will take account of all aspects of the applicant’s profile i.e.:

• Performance at audition/interview
• Commitment to the particular programme
• Potential to benefit from the programme
• Academic qualifications
• Personal statement
• Performance qualifications
• Performance/practical experience
• References
• Contextualised data

General Academic entrance 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
• Recognised equivalences (EU and International Entry Requirements)

We welcome the Scottish Baccalaureate and will accept combinations of Highers and Advanced Highers.

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

Subjects required

Within the minimum academic entrance requirements listed above, the subjects required are:

• English or Drama at Higher, Advanced Higher or Advanced level or equivalent

Language of Study

The language of study is English. Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 7.5 (with a score of 7.5 in speaking) is required.

Direct Entry

Applications for direct entry beyond Year 1 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Royal Conservatoire’s Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning policy. If you wish to apply for direct entry, please mark the point of entry on UCAS Conservatoires application as 2 or 3.

Non-standard Entry

We welcome applications from individuals whose academic qualifications or English language qualifications do not match (in terms of equivalence) or fall short of the normal entrance requirements, where specified*. Having satisfied the Audition Panel that they meet the selection criteria and demonstrated that they have the capacity to pursue the proposed course of study, such applicants will be considered through examination of contextualised data provided in accordance with the Non-Standard Entry Policy. The appropriate Head of Department/ Programme will make a case in support of the applicant for consideration by the Directors of the Schools and Convener of the Quality and Standards Committee.

*Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Mature Students

RCS welcomes applications from mature students, i.e. students over the age of 21 at entry to the programme. Whilst the selection procedures will still be applied, consideration will be given to appropriate artistic experience not normally expected in school leavers, which is deemed to compensate for any lack of traditional entrance qualifications. Successful mature applicants, as for all other applicants, must convince auditioning panels that they have the ability and potential to cope with the demands of the programme. Their progress, especially in the early stages of the programme, will be closely monitored and appropriate advice and support given.

The BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice is a practical programme so entry is dependent upon a practical audition as well as academic qualifications. These notes are intended to give you some helpful information and advice – please read them carefully.

You may also be interested in the Contemporary Performance Practice Audition Preparation course which is offered through our Centre for Lifelong Learning. Please click here for more details.

The selection process

The selection process has three stages: the workshop, the written exercise and the interview. Each stage is concerned with gathering information which will give us the best possible indication of your suitability for the programme. It also gives you time to discover whether we are right for you! The timetable for the day is as follows:

10am-1pm

Group workshop with all candidates
Selection panel members: The Head of Performance Pedagogy and other CPP lecturers.

1pm-2pm

Lunch

2pm-5pm

Individual interview for those selected Selection panel members: The Head of Performance Pedagogy and other CPP lecturers.

The written exercise

On the day of the audition you should bring a short performance analysis that you have written. You should submit your performance analysis when you arrive at RCS. You are invited to write about a live performance event you have seen recently, saying what you found effective about it and why. You are asked to explain why this performance was an important experience for you. The written performance analysis will give us an indication of your ability to communicate your ideas about performance in good written English. You are advised to write about a live performance event which you feel strongly about. Your performance analysis should be no longer than 500 words and must be all your own work.

The workshop

The workshop will take place in the morning. It lasts approximately three hours and involves all candidates. Three lecturers, normally including the Head of Performance Pedagogy, will work with you. We try to make this stage as non-competitive as possible, because we would like the opportunity to see you working with other people. You cannot prepare for this session other than by being determined to participate and enjoy yourself! The workshop will include exercises and activities, which will allow us to see some of the following:

• your performance skills
• your vocal skills
• your movement skills
• your listening skills
• your ability to work co-operatively and collaboratively with others
• your creativity and imagination

During the workshop you will also be invited to present a short pre-prepared performance piece.

The performance

You will be invited to prepare an original, devised performance piece, using as a starting point, your selection from a number of pictures which will be sent to you with your invitation to attend for an audition. You may, if you wish, choose elements from any or all of the pictures. They are random pictures but you may see a connection between them and wish to explore that.

The piece must last no more than three minutes, so rehearse and time yourself.

It does not have to be naturalistic or ‘tell a ‘story’.

The main thing to avoid is performing a ‘talking head’. In other words, don’t just perform a spoken monologue in character without any of the ideas below. Try, as far as possible to turn your ideas into performed images.

Try to give your piece a structure (even though it’s only three minutes) for example, you may begin and end with the same ‘moment’ in time.

Your piece may include one, some or all of the following:

• Real objects: e.g. teapot, iron, hat, suitcase, clothing, etc.
• Symbolic objects: e.g. cross, flower, mask, etc.
• Spoken word: e.g. text you’ve written yourself, text from a play, text from a poem, a newspaper article, a politician’s speech, etc.
• Action and movement: e.g. gestures, everyday activity, found activity (copying the way someone you see in the street walks, an air hostess giving emergency instructions, someone dancing in a club etc.), dance etc.
• Music: e.g. a song sung live, music and/or sound recorded onto MP3 or CD, music played by you on an instrument, etc.

It may not include any flames, candles or burning of items. If you anticipate that your performance will be messy, it is essential that you bring everything that you will need to clean up after yourself quickly and effectively.

Following the workshop you will be given time to have lunch, to see the School of Drama’s facilities and to talk to students about life at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Over lunch a list will be posted indicating those we would like to see for an interview.

The interview

The interview will take place during the afternoon of the same day, normally conducted by the Head of Performance Pedagogy and other CPP lecturers. The interview will look for, amongst other things:

• your ability to communicate your ideas about performance
• your understanding of contemporary performance work
• what you want to do in performance in the future
• what your previous experiences of performance have been
• why you think performance matters in the world today

You will also be given the opportunity to present a portfolio or other evidence of your experience and interest. In the interview don’t try to give the replies that you think we want or think will impress us. Be yourself, and answer honestly. This is also your opportunity to see if this programme suits you, so please ask us questions.

Audition Recordings

If you are auditioning via video recording, please read the following information before sending us your material. Prior to submitting a recorded audition, you must apply via UCAS Conservatoires. Recorded auditions can be easily submitted online using Acceptd.

You will need to create an account, but then you can easily upload the recordings you wish to be considered. Recordings will not be considered until a UCAS Conservatoires application has been submitted. Once you have completed the UCAS Conservatoires application, you should proceed to Acceptd to submit your video recording. We will only accept recordings submitted via Acceptd and will not accept any other format, i.e. DVDs.  Recordings should arrive by the 15 January 2019 (EU applicants) and 31 March 2019 (International – non EU).

Once you submit your application via UCAS Conservatoires, you will be emailed to submit your audition video recording. This will include what to prepare for the written performance analysis and the photographs for your performance piece. Your audition recording should contain the following:

• A recording of a personal statement (straight to camera). This should include a brief overview of your background and why you are interested in studying the CPP programme at the Royal Conservatoire.
• A recording of yourself performing a short performance piece.
• A written performance analysis.

Apply via UCAS conservatoires

Applications are made through UCAS Conservatoires website. The UCAS Conservatoires application system is separate from the main UCAS undergraduate application system. If you wish to apply to conservatoires and universities within UCAS, you will need to register for both services.

There is a UCAS application fee of £25 to register to use UCAS Conservatoires.

To begin a new UCAS Conservatoires application, you will need to register. You can read the UCAS Conservatoires’ advice on completing the UCAS Conservatoires application.

If you need assistance with your application, you can contact UCAS Conservatoires team by telephoning (Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 18.00). Phone 0371 468 0470 from within the UK or +44 330 3330 232 if you are calling from overseas.

Application deadline date

The closing date for all on time undergraduate applications from the UK and EU is 15 January 2019. If you submit your application after this date, we cannot guarantee that you will be invited to audition.

The closing date for international applications (non EU) is 31 March 2019. If you do consider to submit a late application, please contact admissions@rcs.ac.uk in the first instance to check we are accepting late applications. Late applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

We do not offer deferred entry. If you wish to commence in 2020, you must apply next year.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland institution code is R58.

You will also require the following programme code to apply:

BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice: W310 – Drama Performance

Application fee

There is a UCAS Conservatoires application fee of £25. In addition to the application fee, each conservatoire charges an audition fee. For RCS, the audition fee is £55 per programme applied for. Fees are not refundable. The fees are paid via the UCAS Conservatoires website and not directly to RCS.

Audition fee

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland charges an audition administration fee of £55 per course.

We recognise that auditioning and interviewing for conservatoires, drama and ballet schools can be costly. The audition fee charge allows us to offer a thorough and positive experience to all applicants and we encourage you to ask the panel questions and find out more about the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to see if it is the best place for you.

We are committed to ensuring fair access to a conservatoire education for students who have the talent and potential to benefit from it, regardless of their background. In support of this, audition fee waivers are offered to applicants whom financial hardship may be a barrier to auditioning. Please see the audition fee waivers document for more information.

References

It is your responsibility to ask two separate referees to write references and ensure that these are sent to RCS.

The references must be written by two different people and we will not accept references from family, other relatives or close friends. You can submit your UCAS Conservatoires application form and send your references at a later date, but they must be received prior to your audition date.

UCAS Conservatoires provides reference forms for you to download and send to your referees for completion.

Entrance requirements

Our admissions processes are designed to be fair, transparent and efficient. The audition/interview approach serves the dual nature of allowing the panel to assess first-hand an applicant’s suitability for their chosen programme and it also affords the applicant the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the nature of that programme and the opportunities offered by the RCS.

In arriving at its recommendation, the audition/interview panel will take account of all aspects of the applicant’s profile i.e.:

• Performance at audition/interview
• Commitment to the particular programme
• Potential to benefit from the programme
• Academic qualifications
• Personal statement
• Performance qualifications
• Performance/practical experience
• References
• Contextualised data

General Academic entrance 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
• Recognised equivalences (EU and International Entry Requirements)

We welcome the Scottish Baccalaureate and will accept combinations of Highers and Advanced Highers.

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

Subjects required

Within the minimum academic entrance requirements listed above, the subjects required are:

• English or Drama at Higher, Advanced Higher or Advanced level or equivalent

Language of Study

The language of study is English. Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 7.5 (with a score of 7.5 in speaking) is required.

Direct Entry

Applications for direct entry beyond Year 1 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Royal Conservatoire’s Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning policy. If you wish to apply for direct entry, please mark the point of entry on UCAS Conservatoires application as 2 or 3.

Non-standard Entry

We welcome applications from individuals whose academic qualifications or English language qualifications do not match (in terms of equivalence) or fall short of the normal entrance requirements, where specified*. Having satisfied the Audition Panel that they meet the selection criteria and demonstrated that they have the capacity to pursue the proposed course of study, such applicants will be considered through examination of contextualised data provided in accordance with the Non-Standard Entry Policy. The appropriate Head of Department/ Programme will make a case in support of the applicant for consideration by the Directors of the Schools and Convener of the Quality and Standards Committee.

*Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Mature Students

RCS welcomes applications from mature students, i.e. students over the age of 21 at entry to the programme. Whilst the selection procedures will still be applied, consideration will be given to appropriate artistic experience not normally expected in school leavers, which is deemed to compensate for any lack of traditional entrance qualifications. Successful mature applicants, as for all other applicants, must convince auditioning panels that they have the ability and potential to cope with the demands of the programme. Their progress, especially in the early stages of the programme, will be closely monitored and appropriate advice and support given.

Selection process

Applicants who apply on time (before 15 January) are invited by email, approximately three weeks before the audition date, to RCS to undertake an audition/interview. All auditions/interviews will take place at RCS in Glasgow unless you have chosen another location.

Please note that RCS is only obliged to offer one audition/interview date per application. Alternative dates will only be provided (subject to availability) in exceptional circumstances. If you are unable to make your allocated audition date, you should email us immediately stating the reason.

BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice auditions will take place from December to May.

Where we audition

Whilst most auditions take place at the Conservatoire, we do hold some auditions internationally. If you wish to audition at any of the locations below, please submit your application at least one month in advance of the audition date. If you apply less than a month in advance, we cannot guarantee to audition you in person, and we may ask you to submit a recording instead.

If you select ‘RCS’, your audition will be in Glasgow. We welcome recorded auditions from non UK applicants. If you wish to audition by recording, please select ‘recording’. If you require further information about auditioning in the locations below, please email hello@rcs.ac.uk.

Audition Locations

Where	When
New York	January 2019
Chicago	February 2019

London Auditions

We also be hold auditions in London for BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice (date to be confirmed). To audition in London, you must apply via UCAS Conservatoires by 15 January 2019.  Audition spaces are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Recorded audition

f you are auditioning via video recording, please read the following information before sending us your material. Prior to submitting a recorded audition, you must apply via UCAS Conservatoires. Recorded auditions can be easily submitted online using Acceptd.

You will need to create an account, but then you can easily upload the recordings you wish to be considered. Recordings will not be considered until a UCAS Conservatoires application has been submitted. Once you have completed the UCAS Conservatoires application, you should proceed to Acceptd to submit your video recording. We will only accept recordings submitted via Acceptd and will not accept any other format, i.e. DVDs.

Once you submit your application via UCAS Conservatoires, you will be emailed to submit your audition video recording. This will include what to prepare for the written performance analysis and the photographs for your performance piece. Your audition recording should contain the following:

• A recording of a personal statement (straight to camera). This should include a brief overview of your background and why you are interested in studying the CPP programme at the Royal Conservatoire.
• A recording of yourself performing a short performance piece.
• A written performance analysis.

Audition recordings are submitted online using Acceptd. We will only accept recording submitted via Acceptd and will not accept any other format, i.e. DVDs. Following your recording, you may be contacted for a Skype interview.

Audition

The BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice is a practical programme so entry is dependent upon a practical audition as well as academic qualifications. These notes are intended to give you some helpful information and advice – please read them carefully.

The selection process

The selection process has three stages: the workshop, the written exercise and the interview. Each stage is concerned with gathering information which will give us the best possible indication of your suitability for the programme. It also gives you time to discover whether we are right for you! The timetable for the day is as follows:

10am-1pm

Group workshop with all candidates
Selection panel members: The Head of Performance Pedagogy and other CPP lecturers.

1pm-2pm

Lunch

2pm-5pm

Individual interview for those selected Selection panel members: The Head of Performance Pedagogy and other CPP lecturers.

The written exercise

On the day of the audition you should bring a short performance analysis that you have written. You should submit your performance analysis when you arrive at RCS. You are invited to write about a live performance event you have seen recently, saying what you found effective about it and why. You are asked to explain why this performance was an important experience for you. The written performance analysis will give us an indication of your ability to communicate your ideas about performance in good written English. You are advised to write about a live performance event which you feel strongly about. Your performance analysis should be no longer than 500 words and must be all your own work.

The workshop

The workshop will take place in the morning. It lasts approximately three hours and involves all candidates. Three lecturers, normally including the Head of Performance Pedagogy, will work with you. We try to make this stage as non-competitive as possible, because we would like the opportunity to see you working with other people. You cannot prepare for this session other than by being determined to participate and enjoy yourself! The workshop will include exercises and activities, which will allow us to see some of the following:

• your performance skills
• your vocal skills
• your movement skills
• your listening skills
• your ability to work co-operatively and collaboratively with others
• your creativity and imagination

During the workshop you will also be invited to present a short pre-prepared performance piece.

The performance

You will be invited to prepare an original, devised performance piece, using as a starting point, your selection from a number of pictures which will be sent to you with your invitation to attend for an audition. You may, if you wish, choose elements from any or all of the pictures. They are random pictures but you may see a connection between them and wish to explore that.

The piece must last no more than three minutes, so rehearse and time yourself.

It does not have to be naturalistic or ‘tell a ‘story’.

The main thing to avoid is performing a ‘talking head’. In other words, don’t just perform a spoken monologue in character without any of the ideas below. Try, as far as possible to turn your ideas into performed images.

Try to give your piece a structure (even though it’s only three minutes) for example, you may begin and end with the same ‘moment’ in time.

Your piece may include one, some or all of the following:

• Real objects: e.g. teapot, iron, hat, suitcase, clothing, etc.
• Symbolic objects: e.g. cross, flower, mask, etc.
• Spoken word: e.g. text you’ve written yourself, text from a play, text from a poem, a newspaper article, a politician’s speech, etc.
• Action and movement: e.g. gestures, everyday activity, found activity (copying the way someone you see in the street walks, an air hostess giving emergency instructions, someone dancing in a club etc.), dance etc.
• Music: e.g. a song sung live, music and/or sound recorded onto MP3 or CD, music played by you on an instrument, etc.

It may not include any flames, candles or burning of items. If you anticipate that your performance will be messy, it is essential that you bring everything that you will need to clean up after yourself quickly and effectively.

Following the workshop you will be given time to have lunch, to see the School of Drama’s facilities and to talk to students about life at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Over lunch a list will be posted indicating those we would like to see for an interview.

The interview

The interview will take place during the afternoon of the same day, normally conducted by the Head of Performance Pedagogy and other CPP lecturers. The interview will look for, amongst other things:

• your ability to communicate your ideas about performance
• your understanding of contemporary performance work
• what you want to do in performance in the future
• what your previous experiences of performance have been
• why you think performance matters in the world today

You will also be given the opportunity to present a portfolio or other evidence of your experience and interest. In the interview don’t try to give the replies that you think we want or think will impress us. Be yourself, and answer honestly. This is also your opportunity to see if this programme suits you, so please ask us questions.

 

Following your audition

All decisions will be posted on UCAS Conservatoires following your audition via UCAS Conservatoires Track,  (you will need your username and password). You will also receive notification from UCAS Conservatoires when decisions on all your choices are available.

Please see below for an explanation of UCAS Conservatoires codes:

Guaranteed Unconditional (GU) RCS is satisfied from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry. Unless your application and/or qualification are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, a guaranteed unconditional offer is binding.

Guaranteed Conditional (GC) RCS has made the offer subject to you meeting certain conditions such as examination results. Conditions can be viewed via UCAS Conservatoires Track. Unless your application and/or qualifications are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, the offer is binding if you accept the offer and meet the conditions. You must meet the conditions of the offer by 31 August 2019, unless an earlier date is specified. If your conditions include obtaining IELTS (English Language test), you must meet this condition by 31 May 2019.

Reserve Unconditional (VU) RCS is satisfied from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry and you have been offered a place on our reserve pool.

Reserve Conditional (VC) RCS has offered a place on its reserve pool subject to you meeting certain conditions such as examination results. Conditions can be viewed via UCAS Conservatoires Track.

Unsuccessful (R) RCS does not wish to offer you any type of a place.

Replying to offers

As soon as a decision is made, UCAS Conservatoires will let you know. You must reply online via UCAS Conservatoires Track. Your reply date is displayed on Track. If you do not reply by the date given, your offers will be declined automatically. The reply date may be different to other applicants as it is based on when you receive your last decision.

Last decision by	Your reply date is
4 January 2019	30 January 2019
16 March 2019	16 April 2019
16 July 2019	30 July 2019
6 August 2019	9 September 2019
After 6 August 2019	25 September 2019

Please see the UCAS Conservatoires website for more information on replying to offers. If you make an application through UCAS Conservatoires, UCAS or UCAS Teacher Training, you cannot hold more than one confirmed place. A confirmed place in UCAS Conservatoires is a guaranteed unconditional offer as your first choice (GU1) and in UCAS and UCAS Teacher Training it is an unconditional firm (UF) place. If you receive more than one confirmed place, UCAS will ask you to accept one offer and withdraw from any others.

Policy

We have a number of policies and statements which you should read when applying to study at the Royal Conservatoire.

Please select the links below to read each policy.

• Feedback policy
• Equality and diversity
• Applicants with disabilities
• Guidance for applicants with criminal convictions
• Admissions policy