Part-time 11 Week Foundation Acting
No. of students: 14 max
Dates: 23rd September – 11th December
Times: Monday to Wednesday 10:30am – 5:30pm (plus 2 private audition classes)
Final week: Mock auditions and Presentation.
Fee: £2,700 (Concessions available on application)
Auditions February - June
Course Details
There will be a balance between skill learning and free experimentation. You will have the opportunity to play with and exercise both your imagination and your intellect so that you can interpret a range of characters in a range of situations. You will be introduced to a variety of acting styles to give you versatility and enhance your individual responses. Vocal and physical freedom coupled with an understanding of structure and meaning will help you find spontaneity and believability in your acting. Voice and movement technique will be tailored to the individual so that you are given a strong foundation for all your work in the future whether it be in acting, directing, teaching or presenting.
Course Content
VOICE AND MOVEMENT: Freeing the voice and body
A combination of experimental and technical work to enhance vocal and physical flexibility and control.
ACTING SKILLS: To act or not to act
We will look at a range of methods and practitioners but the classes will be individual led not method led so that you remain spontaneous and true to yourself as an actor and as a person.
CLASSICAL TEXT: No fear Shakespeare
Textual analysis of a range of classical texts to give you confidence in playing any Elizabethan or Jacobean text with imaginative, emotional and intellectual understanding.
CONTEMPORARY TEXT: Playing a contemporary character
Exploration of a range of works by contemporary playwrights to help you find the links between structure, meaning, character and situation.
SCENE STUDY: Acting and reacting in dialogue
Using plays by 19th and 20th century playwrights of the Naturalistic/Realism school develop skills in listening and observation.
IMPROVISATION: Time to play
Individual, pair and ensemble workshops to exercise the imaginative muscle.
AUDITIONS: Act with confidence
Help with choice of speeches, speech preparation, how to approach an audition, self-taping, where to apply. Most important you will be freed by the training not restricted by it so that you can act in the moment with spontaneity. Audition panels do not want to see students who have been coached.
Tutors
Although the majority of the teaching will be given by Helen so that the training can be focused on the individual as much as possible, RADA staff and ex students will be invited to give workshops, to broaden the scope of the training. You will have the opportunity to chat to actors about their experiences in training and in the profession. For those of you unsure whether to choose university or drama school there will be talks on the pros and cons of either.
Guest Tutors include:
Singing: Philip Raymond (RADA)
Alexander: Noriko Sakura (RADA)
Meisner: Kate Maravan (RADA)
Acting: Tony Bell (RADA)
Improvisation: Harry Kershaw (RADA)
Storytelling: Fred Gray (RADA)
Training: Nicholas Barter (RADA)
Actor Panel: Luke Thompson (Bridgerton, A Little Life)
Actor Panel: Jenna Augen (Leopoldstadt, Nachtland)
Ellora Torchia (The Gold, In the Earth)
Parth Thakarer (Brassic; Vigil)
Actor Panel: Gavin Fowler (RSC)
Emily Johnstone (RSC)
Actor Panel: Daisy Boulton (Actor, Musician, Producer)
Actor Panel: Tom Kay (Mesh Theatre)
Audition Training
Helen has sat on various audition panels and has been training students and actors for auditions for many years. While she can’t guarantee that you will get into drama school or get the part, she can give you the best possible chance.
She will make sure that you leave the course with at least 4 appropriate speeches, make sure they work for you, and guide you with regard to redirection. She will give you details of each school’s audition process and bring in ex students to talk to you about their experiences. After you leave the Academy you will be able to contact her for advice throughout the audition season January to June. Private audition coaching sessions will be offered at 50% of the normal rate for those who feel they need more guidance.
Requirements
You will be asked to learn speeches, prepare dialogue and read plays outside the contact hours. A comprehensive reading list will be given to each student to encourage research into theatre history and the development of various acting styles and methods. This is a practical course so the only writing will be directly related to preparing a role and making acting notes. These will only be seen by you and you may record sessions. A creative and committed approach to the challenges of the course and respect for fellow participants will be expected.
Daily Structure
This will have some flexibility according to the needs of the group and the availability of guest tutors.
Aims
Textual analysis of both classical and contemporary texts will be at the heart of the work, so that you build confidence in your ability to find a way into any dramatic text placed before you and learn to act always with specificity and truth. The size of the group will allow constant personalized feedback.
Follow-on Course
A follow up 10 week course will run from January to March 2 days a week focusing on Rehearsal into Performance. Enrollment for this course starts in December. Foundation students have priority booking. Max: 12 students. Fee: £1700.