BTEC Certificate/Subsidiary Diploma in Performance - Acting (level 3)

This course is designed to enable you to:

Develop your practical acting skills

Develop your vocal technique and perform original and scripted material

Explore using masks to develop physical skills and create effective performance material

Is it for me?

This course covers a range of Acting and Drama skills and techniques. You will study different acting styles and you will look at the work of different playwrights and practitioners. There is a strong practical focus to the course, and you will develop your acting and vocal skills, and also learn to perform effectively in masks. You will prepare audition material, and you will develop your rehearsal and performance skills. The course requires a high level of self discipline and commitment, and will require you to attend rehearsals outside class times throughout the course of the year.

The course includes theory and written work based around research and textual study, and requires you to keep a creative diary of your work and to evaluate yourself both during and after practical projects. This written work is an essential part of the course and will have a direct impact on your grades, so needs to be undertaken in a thoroughly and timely fashion.

The course is taken over 1 year and is equivalent to 1 AS Level as a Certificate - and 2 years as a Subsidiary Diploma equivalent to 1 A Level - and is all coursework based. Your assessment will be through assignments in class and practical/performance projects.

This qualification is part of a suite of performance based courses at Level 3. These can be studied together in a combination that suits you. The range includes Certificates/Subsidiary Diplomas in: Dance, Acting and Performing Arts.

What’s involved?

You will look at the work of key practitioners in the Theatre, many of whom are still working today, and will use these techniques to explore text and performance work and to develop your rehearsal and performance skills.

Your assessment will be through assignments in class and practical/performance projects. This could include:

Acting games, trust work, improvisation around ideas, text and character

Acting skills and techniques, including rehearsal practice

Study of theatre practitioners and applying their ideas to your own technique in rehearsal and performance. How the voice works, vocal warm-ups, and improving your vocal technique

The history of masks and influences on performance work. Developing and Performing Mask work. How to approach text as a performer

Keeping a reflective log book to record the creative journey and evaluate your work

Work well as a member of a group, sharing ideas and exploring these practically

Watch a range of professional work and analyse this to improve your own performance and devising skills

Units may include:

(Certificate and Subsidiary Diploma)

Principles of Acting

Developing Voice for the Actor

Performing in Masks

(Subsidiary Diploma only)

Performing to an Audience

Applying Acting Styles

Voice and the Actor

Acting Audition

Entry Requirements:

· A minimum of 4 GCSEs at grades A* to C including English Language (grade C or above preferred)

Or

· Level 2 Performing Arts at Merit level (including Acting units), and English Language GCSE (grade C or above preferred).

For all students there will be an assessment of practical skills at a taster session.

If you do not have a grade C or above in English Language or Maths, you will study these subjects as an essential part of your programme of study.

Which courses go well with this?

This course is also a part of the Extended Diploma in Performing Arts, and therefore if you chose the Extended Diploma or 90 Credit Diploma in Performing Arts you will also cover the L3 Certificate or Subsidiary Diploma in Acting.

Alternatively this programme can be combined with a range of other AS or BTEC programmes such as further Certificates and Subsidiary Diplomas in Technical Theatre, Dance or Music, or A Levels from the broad range of options at the college, for example Maths and Media. This course should not be taken alongside AS Level Theatre Studies.

Progression:

This course could help you gain access to Higher Education/Specialist Institutions, and will also prepare you well for working in the industry.