Acting - Foundation

The RADA Foundation Course is a two term course of full time study. Each term lasts 12 weeks. It is primarily intended for those students leaving the senior year of secondary school who are contemplating a ‘gap’ year before undertaking either a drama degree or a vocational training for the theatre.

One of the main aims of the course is to provide the students with an insight into life at drama school and ask them to reflect on whether they are suited to this training and this career.

The foundation course is taught entirely by RADA staff and runs from September to March.

The Programme

The curriculum offers foundation acting classes based on Stanislavsky and some of his later exponents.

Additional skills classes are:

• Movement for actors including Laban and Animal Studies
• Dance covering a wide range of periods
• Voice
• Text and sight reading
• Music and group singing
• Clowning

Theatre History and Dramaturgy

The students receive a solid introduction to theatre history in the form of a practical devising class covering modes and genres from Greek Tragedy to Kitchen Sink realism.

Throughout the year there will be frequent theatre visits to a variety of different productions, each with a follow up dramaturgy class and discussion.

Project Work

Over the two terms of 12 weeks each in duration, three major projects will be undertaken. The skills classes will be tailored to the period or theatrical style of each project. The projects will get a ‘work in progress’ presentation before teachers who will be able to assess students’ progress and give individual feedback. The three projects will cover:

• Shakespeare
• Contemporary text
• Devising from a shared source text

Group size for projects and skills classes will be no more than 16.

Careers

In the first term students are given the opportunity to explore other careers in theatre and film, as guest speakers come in to discuss the roles of casting director, theatre director, film director, designer, and stage manager.

The guest speakers in the second term are all professional actors.