Undergraduate Course
BA Acting and Community Theatre
Overview
The details
Acting and Community Theatre
W496
October 2019
Full-time
If you believe that theatre is for all and you want to use the power of drama to influence the world, our BA Acting and Community Theatre is a dynamic, practical and professionally orientated course that provides a complete training for careers in participatory theatre in the wider community.
Alongside becoming a professional performer, you develop vital skills for contemporary community practice. This includes workshop facilitation and leadership, project management, as well as musical, technical, video and web-based experience, which you gain through working on projects with local communities and external partners.
Why we're great.
- Intensive acting skill training by leading UK and international faculty.
- Theatre making and creating skills.
- Professional industry community placement during study.
Your future
Since the course was established in 2005, our graduates have worked as actors, project leaders and facilitators in communities all over the world. Several companies formed by graduates are now well established, respected and funded in an increasingly competitive industry.
“This course doesn’t only teach you to be an actor/actress but also equips you with a very handy bag of tricks ranging from circus skills to clowning to Commedia. I have worked with a huge range of people from different theatre companies and with people in the community. I’ve also learned how you can put your own company together.”
Dale Curran, BA Acting and Community Theatre
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
Successful audition/physical workshop, plus
A-levels: CDD, or the equivalent in UCAS tariff points, to include 2 full A Levels
BTEC Extended Diploma: MMP (in relevant subject).
For Acting and Community Theatre, please note that a satisfactory enhanced DBS check will be required prior to starting any placement(s) for this course. This will be organised by the University.
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here.Please select your country page where you'll find this information.
English language requirements
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall. Different requirements apply for second year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications
If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Structure
Example structure
We offer dynamic and unique course for actors, directors, technical theatre specialists and students of theatre practice. Training at East 15 draws upon 50 years of tradition combined with a keen sense of the world of stage and screen today.
Our carefully selected modules will give you the chance to explore and develop your specialist training.
Teaching
Year 1
Your first year focuses on introductory acting, voice, articulation, singing and movement. You explore individual creativity and responsiveness to other actors, as well as learning how to engage and collaborate with a range of different community groups. In addition you will:
- Develop skills in observation and self-assessment
- Create individual character studies
- Learn to re-create through reflection, research and improvisation
- Participate productively in shared group experience and larger community based projects
Your first year culminates in a unique Living History Project, in which you research, identify with and experience the lives of others through different periods of conflict.
Year 2
Your second year provides key practical and public experience. This includes working in partnership with practicing professionals to create theatre based on the stories of local people alongside a range of other opportunities:
- Collaborate with young people to make new dramatic works
- Create and edit your own videos
- Develop workshop facilitation and leadership skills
- Learn clowning, puppetry and circus skills
- Managing our annual Southend Street Theatre Festival
You also undertake an internship with a professional company, which enhances your practical understanding of the community theatre industry and helps you to forge useful links for your future.
Final year
Your third year involves extensive work with communities and professionals to help you make a seamless transition into professional life. Projects include:
- Facilitating theatre projects within health, justice and social services settings
- Developing a political theatre project
- Organising a site-specific performance
- Creating your own community play
- Developing skills in production, marketing and evaluation
The year culminates with students showcasing their graduation projects to theatre companies and industry professionals.
Fees and funding
Home/EU fee
TBC
Additional costs for materials and field trips of up to approximately £650 per academic year. Equipment lists are reviewed annually.International fee
£15,750
Additional costs for materials and field trips of up to approximately £650 per academic year. Equipment lists are reviewed annually.Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
What's next
Applying
Applications for our full-time undergraduate courses should be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Applications are online at: www.ucas.com. Full details on this process can be obtained from the UCAS website in the how to apply section.
Our UK students, and some of our EU and international students, who are still at school or college, can apply through their school. Your school will be able to check and then submit your completed application to UCAS. Our other international applicants (EU or worldwide) or independent applicants in the UK can also apply online through UCAS Apply.
The UCAS code for our University of Essex is ESSEX E70. The individual campus codes for our Loughton and Southend Campuses are ‘L’ and ‘S’ respectively.
You also need to complete and send us a completed East 15 application form, including a copy of your audition payment receipt so that we can arrange your audition.
For full details, please see the East 15 website.
Auditioning
Applicants to this course will need to book an audition. If you apply to us through UCAS we will send you information on how to do this. Alternatively, you can apply to East 15 directly. If you’re resident in the UK you’ll visit our campus to take part in the audition, where you’ll meet some of our staff and sample our teaching. You’ll need to prepare three pieces of around two minutes each; one classic, one contemporary (post-1950), and one that contrasts well with the contemporary speech. You may also be asked to take part in a group workshop.
Our staff travel the world auditioning applicants so if you’re not resident in the UK, it’s likely that we’ll be in a location near you at some point. This will be a one-to-one audition. If you still can’t make a physical audition, we are sometimes able to accept video auditions.
Offers for these courses will only be made after a successful audition.
For full details, please see the East 15 website.
Application requirements
All students on the BA Acting and Community Theatre course are required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check because you will come into contact with children and/or vulnerable adults through a work placement undertaken as part of your course. DBS checks must be completed prior to commencement of the relevant work placement or activity.
You are required to declare a criminal record at the time of applying for the course and/or prior to completing a DBS check application. A student with a DBS disclosure certificate containing details of a criminal record will be referred to the University’s DBS Review Panel who will determine whether or not the student can be admitted to the course or permitted to continue on the course.
Visit Southend Campus
Famous for its beach resort and pier, Southend-on-Sea stretches along seven miles of award-winning coastline, providing plenty of opportunities for a wide range of water sports and leisure activities.
If you're joining our School of Health and Social Care, East 15 Acting School, Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, or Essex Business School, you may well be studying at our Southend Campus.
With its lively, state-of-the-art facilities and a close-knit international community, Southend is the perfect environment for living and learning.
Open Days
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:
- tour our campus and accommodation
- find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
- meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
Virtual tours
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
Exhibitions
Our staff travel the world to speak to people about the courses on offer at Essex. Take a look at our list of exhibition dates to see if we’ll be near you in the future.
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