Acting and Performance with Foundation Year

This a year-long module that contains the four strands of the Foundation Year (Experience, Discover, Self-Leadership and Subject Toolkit). It is designed to give you a broad foundation of knowledge and skills to help accelerate your learning throughout the rest of your chosen degree course. Some elements of the module will be taught alongside students who wish to go to study other specialist areas, within the Department of Humanities, and so by studying side by side you will get to know a wider range of other students and staff, which will immediately make you feel part of a community. 

The different strands of the module focus on different areas of development. 

• The Experience strand will enable you to visit different cultural institutions (such as museums, theatre and cinemas) to appreciate their relevance to the contemporary study of your degree. You will then be given projects to work on in teams. 
• The Discovery strand will tackle different core concepts, such as an understanding of Culture or the history of ideas. You will interrogate these ideas and present your thoughts.  
• In the self-leadership strand, you will develop your own learning skills, such as time management, understanding how to research and where to locate resources. 
• In the subject tool kit, you will be with like-minded students to look at more specific areas of study.

All the work you do, throughout the year, will be gathered together into a Portfolio, which you will submit at the end of the second semester

Module Aim:

This module prepares you for acting and performance for recorded media through exposure to industry specific ways of working. You will develop acting techniques associated with screen monologues, audio clips, voice-overs, self-tapes, and social media content. This module builds on acting techniques developed elsewhere in the course, and introduces the requirements of careers in film, TV, and voice-over while also supporting you in the creation of a digital actors’ CV. 

Indicative Content:

• Practical workshops, including screen acting techniques, self-tapes, audio clips, animation voice-overs, and social media content
• Collaborative live briefs commissioned by industry partners
• Lectures on the theory and practice of acting and performance for recorded media
• Creation of an actors’ CV
• Guest speakers from the industry

Module Aim:

Through this module you develop a deeper understanding of the social and cultural implications of acting, theatre and performance by examining real-world case studies and exploring global perspectives. This module supports you to articulate your own personal motivations and connect these with the political contexts and motivations of established practitioners. The module places an emphasis on equality, diversity and inclusion, enabling you to find your unique voice and thrive as actors and performers in a changing world.  

Indicative Content:

• Engagement with real world case studies including a range of diverse performance practices

• Group discussions about current debates

• Exploration of personal motivations

• Collaborative and individual research

• Development and delivery of individual presentations

Module Aim 

In this module, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of acting and performance. You will develop knowledge and skills in vocal and physical techniques, spatial awareness and staging conventions, and the ability to analyse texts. You will gain basic experience of technical theatre operations and learn how to work collaboratively and inclusively in the creation of performance for an audience. 

Indicative Content: 

• Practical voice, movement, staging and text analysis workshops

• Lectures introducing the global histories of acting and performance, diverse acting techniques, approaches to character development, use of space in performance, and dramatic structure

• Individual and group tasks and training exercises designed to enhance physicality, vocal technique, spatial awareness and text analysis skills

• Experience of rehearsal room practice

• Introduction to basic technical theatre operations

• Flexibility for guest lectures, collaborative projects, and global perspectives

Module Aim:

You will be introduced to models for collective creation that place an emphasis on devising, self-authored group work, and writing for performance. You are enabled to generate innovative ideas, and demonstrate effective teamwork skills as you collaboratively create performances from a range of starting points. The module fosters peer working through technical theatre support, and encourages students to think about ways of making performances that are accessible to different audiences.  

Indicative Content:

• Practical workshops exploring techniques for collective creation

• Specialist training, research and tasks supporting skill development

• Lectures exploring diverse global approaches to making

• Guest workshops and theatre visits

• Guided devising processes leading to performance for an audience

• Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration

Module Aim:

You will build on prior learning as you explore ancient, classic, contemporary, non-western, and self-authored texts, and apply text analysis and advanced acting techniques to bring them to life in performance. Collaborative working also includes peer technical support and attention to other creative production practices.   

Indicative Content:

• Practical workshops and text analysis

• Creation of monologues and group performances

• Lectures exploring the theory, history and context of global acting techniques

• Individual tasks, including research, character development, and rehearsal

• Design and application of technical and creative production processes

• Group rehearsal and performance

Module Aim:

You will explore diverse contemporary performance theory and practice and draw from their discoveries as you create individual or group performances that enable you to refine your artistic voice and showcase your creativity. You will develop a deeper understanding of your own practice and contemporary performance by maintaining a critical reflective journal as you work collaboratively to create innovative new work.  

Indicative Content:

• Practical workshops exploring contemporary performance techniques. 

• Theoretical lectures on contemporary performance. 

• Creation and presentation of a project pitch. 

• Completion of a festival application. 

• Devising, rehearsal, and presentation of performance to an audience 

• Peer support through technical theatre operations. 

Module Aim: 

You will expand your skills and knowledge for acting and performance for recorded media by collaborating in groups and by working individually to create unique audio and video projects. You will develop new technical competencies in planning, production and post-production, and demonstrate these through the creation of a digital portfolio that showcases your professional ability and evidences your capacity to meet the digital demands of the industry.  

Indicative Content:

• Technical workshops including working with cameras and editing for video and audio

• Analysis of professional examples

• Guest speakers from the industry

• Collaborative projects enhancing industry relevance

• Identifying career goals and professional planning

• Creation of a digital CV

Module Aim:

You will explore participatory performance practices and receive live briefs that engage with diverse contexts and audiences. You create projects, which might include performance presentations, audio walks, or participatory workshops, integrated with theory and context. Through this work, you will engage with the wider community and address societal needs. Inclusivity is a central part of this module and you will consider the need for flexible implementation, accessibility and equal opportunities. 

Indicative Content:

• Lectures about participatory practice

• Workshops exploring participatory techniques

• Individual and collaborative research  

• Exploring case study examples of participatory practice

• Developing knowledge and skills required to create and deliver performed essays 

• Live briefs with industry partners

Module aim:    

The aim of this module is to enhance students’ professional development through the completion of and reflection on meaningful work placement(s).  

A work placement will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting. The placement will: 

• Allow student to apply the skills, theories and behaviours relevant and in addition to their course 
• Enable students to enhance their interpersonal skills in demand by graduate employers – communication, problem-solving, creativity, resilience, team work etc.  
• Grow their student network and relationship building skills. 
• Provide student with insights into the industry and sector in which their placement occurs 
• Help student make informed graduate careers choices. 

Indicative Content:  

In this module students undertake a sandwich placement (min 24 weeks / min 21 hours per week) which is integrated, assessed and aligned to their studies.  

Their personal Placement Academic Supervisor (PAS) will be their key point of contact during their placement and will encourage and support students to reflect on their experience, learning and contribution to the organisation they work for.  

To demonstrate gains in professional development, students will be required to share their progress, learning and achievements with their Placement Academic Supervisor and reflect on these for the summative piece of work. 

Module Aim:

You will develop and refine your skills in text-based acting as you prepare performances for presentation as part of an industry-facing actor showcase. You are challenged to explore and apply diverse acting techniques to texts from different cultures, time periods and genres. Through performance, critical reflection, and peer technical support, you will demonstrate your ability to contribute to the performing arts industry as fully rounded actors. 

Indicative Content:

• Practical workshops exploring and applying diverse acting techniques

• Theoretical lectures exploring global approaches to acting

• Individual training to achieve high levels of physicality, vocal technique, and text analysis

• Rehearsal

• Application of production processes

• Peer technical theatre support for production

• Performance to an audience

Module Aim:

You will push boundaries and undertake innovative creative media production in areas that include Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Motion Capture, interactive websites, and new app technology. You will respond to live briefs as you engage with real world challenges and work individually or in groups to plan and implement digital works of performance. Through the creation of a digital portfolio, you will reflect on your experimentation and learning and demonstrate your professional ability as content producers, storytellers, and performers who can work within the fast-moving world of digital media.  

Indicative Content:

• Lectures exploring the theory and practice of digital performance

• Practical workshops exploring digital performance techniques (VR, AI, motion capture, interactive websites, multi-media installation)

• Design and delivery of individual creative projects

• Guest speakers from the industry 

• Collaborative projects enhancing industry relevance

• Creation of a digital reflective portfolio

Module Aim:

You will work independently or in groups to develop a major self-created performance for an industry showcase. Through the process of pitching, funding applications, research and development, rehearsal, and by attending to all aspects of production (including design, technical theatre, and marketing), you will demonstrate your capacity to operate independently and collaboratively within the performance industry. You will ensure your work is future-ready by preparing a funding application for its future development and/or presentation. 

Indicative Content:

• Practical workshops focussed on the creation of new work from diverse starting points 

• Lectures on creation of work for presentation in professional festival contexts

• Developing and pitching ideas

• Writing funding applications

• Research and Development

• Creation of marketing materials

• Attention to all aspects of production (including peer technical support)

• Rehearsal and presentation to an audience

• Maintaining a critical reflective journal

Module Aim:

You will prepare for careers in the performance industries and beyond by developing career plans and digital portfolios that reflect your professional intentions. You are encouraged to align your academic learning with future professional goals as you create comprehensive professional websites that draw from your experiences across the degree to showcase your skills, experiences, and readiness for professional work or postgraduate training. 

Indicative Content:

• Lectures exploring industry practice

• Guest speakers offering insights into professional contexts 

• Analysis of professional digital portfolios

• Creation of unique website portfolios 

• Career planning and postgraduate planning