Introduction to Actor Training

Applicants must be 16 years or over and  should have:

• 6 Standard Grades/4 GCSEs or equivalent
• prior knowledge and experience of drama and acting

Entry to the course is by audition only. All auditions will be via video applications.

Application deadline: 10 July 2022 *for enquiries about late applications please email credit-rated@rcs.ac.uk

Please submit the following through our online booking system:

• one classical and one contemporary monologue*, each monologue should last no longer than two minutes each.
• short two minute video of you introducing yourself your background and why you wish to study on the Introduction to Actor Training course.
• a passport sized photograph of yourself suitable for a student card
• A personal reference (this is not essential at point of application and can be provided at a later date if accepted onto the course)

At the beginning of your monologue videos please introduce yourself and tell us the name of your character and the play that your monologue is from.

Here is a short video from Ali de Souza, lecturer on the BA Acting with some tips on filming your audition.

Your monologues will be assessed by our lecturers and if successful you will be invited to an interview via Zoom. These will take place the week beginning the 24 July 2023. We aim to let you know the outcome within 7 days after your interview.

In exceptional cases, applicants may be admitted to the course whose qualifications do not match the entry requirements, but who clearly satisfy the selection procedures and indicate they have the capacity to complete the course successfully.

* 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

Under the expert guidance of staff from the Royal Conservatoire, you will explore the notion of the self as the actor’s main resource and learn to use voice and movement to create genuine characters. You will also work with staff from the Centre for Voice in Performance as well as movement specialists to learn the technical movement and voice skills required of an aspiring actor.

As well as focusing on performance, you will be introduced to textual analysis and will use this to explore characterisation and relationships in your performance work.

By the end of this credit-rated short course, you should be able to:

• access, analyse and communicate a character’s inner thoughts, feelings and behaviour to scene partners and an audience
• use voice and movement appropriately in the further exploration of character
• demonstrate the foundations of autonomous and collaborative practice in acting, voice and movement contexts
• evidence reflection on your personal development as an aspiring actor

Teaching will take the form of lectures, seminars and group workshops. Independent study is required to fulfill the course requirements.

This course offers students a bespoke opportunity to study acting intensively at conservatoire level. The style of engagement with this short course is open, supportive and fun, yet it is also challenging and hard work.

• Plan and prepare to attend all classes.
• Dress comfortably in clothes which are suitable for the activity you are taking part in.
• Bring a notepad and pen/pencil in case you wish to make notes.
• Please bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during your class.

Term dates:

Sundays: 24 September 2023 – 17 December 2023 (13 weeks)

Sundays: 7 January 2024 – 24 March 2024 (12 weeks)

Sundays: 21 April 2024 – 2 June 2024 (7 weeks)*

*Saturday: 25 May 2024 – Exam rehearsal

Sunday: 26 May 2024 – Exam

Sunday: 2 June 2024 – Tutorials

Wednesday: 7 June 2024 – Summative essay deadline

The course fees for the full year (32 weeks) are £2145 which can be paid in full or instalments throughout the year.

The termly fee breakdown for this course is:

• Term 1 (13 weeks) = £871
• Term 2 (12 weeks) = £804
• Term 3 (7 weeks) = £470

This course will run weekly on Sundays. Please find the term dates below:

• Term 1: 24 September – 17 December 2023
• Term 2: 7 January – 24 March 2024
• Term 3: 21 April – 2 June 2024

There will be a short sharing on the 26 May 2024 for invited friends and family.

Credit-rated short courses are designed in accordance with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

By studying a credit-rated short course, students can benchmark their learning against national standards, and credits may be used towards further education programmes at many institutions throughout the world.

The course consists of 160 contact hours as well as additional independent study. It is worth 20 SCQF credits and 10 ECTS credits. This course is set at SCQF level 6.

As this is a credit-rated course, students will be assessed in three components; continuous observation of your working process, a presentation of completed work on set scenes and monologues, and a written Summative Statement. Students must pass all areas to achieve the credits for Introduction to Actor Training.

Students will receive oral feedback from staff and peers throughout the course to inform both learning and reflection.

This will include both instantaneous oral feedback from staff and peers arising continuously during the working process and evaluative oral feedback and discussion, shared in one-to-one tutorials.

On completion of the coursework, students will receive an overall module grade and written report after the exam results have been ratified by the next Exam Board following the course.