Full Time Acting & Drama BTEC National Diploma/Certificate Level 3

Acting & Drama BTEC National Diploma/Certificate Level 3 (Sept '10)

This course information relates to courses starting in September 2010.

Course code: B03444

Course category: Full-time

End Qualification: BTEC National Diploma

Starting and ending month: September to June

Starting year: 2010

Course duration: 36 weeks

Formal assessment: Formal assessment required

Course location: City College East

Course aims:
This course provides a stand alone, intensive 1 year BTEC National Certificate for students with extensive prior knowledge of Acting or an existing BTEC National Award or A Levels in related subjects. It also provides a 2nd year for graduates of the Acting & Drama BTEC National Award, allowing them to convert their qualification to a full BTEC National Diploma.
The performing arts industry offers many exciting opportunities including acting, direction, stage management and theatre and arts administration. Acting & Drama courses at City College prepare you for further training and employment in the performing arts industry. You will be given extensive support in planning for your future career and training and preparation for auditions and interviews.
By focusing on the practical application of acting skills through a series of professionally realistic, public performance projects you will advanced and practise the skills needed by this highly exciting and competitive industry.
You will be part of a very committed team, working closely with all the other students to produce your work. Students at Diploma/Certificate level are expected to show very high levels of creativity, self-discipline, and total professionalism. You must be ready to be totally committed to the idea the show must go on.
As well as providing acting training, this course emphasises the skills that all employers are looking for, including team work, self-confidence, communication skills, self-motivation and the ability to meet targets.

Course content:
You will develop acting and performance skills through a mixture of skills lessons and practical performance projects.
Skills lessons will focus on the fundamental acting skills: acting technique, voice and movement. You will have at least one session in these areas every week, giving you plenty of opportunity to develop your abilities as an actor.
In order to gain a true understanding of the skills you will be developing, through the year you will be involved in at least 5 public performances in a range of performance areas. In the past these have included:

• Contemporary Theatre looking at modern, cutting edge plays
• Classical Theatre giving you a chance to approach Shakespeare in a fresh and modern way
• Theatre in Education devising educational plays and workshops and organising tours of local primary schools
• Devised Theatre giving you the chance to create theatre as a group based on a theme
• Film & TV Acting developing the techniques specific for acting in front of a camera

At the end of the year you will be involved in a major production of a play that will be performed at the Tower Theatre in Pelham Street. This will give you the opportunity to develop an extended piece of work ready for a longer number of performances. This show is part of the college wide JAM festival and will be open to and advertised to the general public in Brighton.
The Units you will cover in your course will be chosen from:
Performance Workshop
Performing Arts Business
The Historical Context of Performance
Rehearsing for Performance
Performing to an Audience
Devising Plays
Acting Auditions
Applying Acting Styles
Film & TV Acting
Theatre in Education
Theatre for Children
Classical Theatre Performance
Contemporary Theatre Performance
Movement in Performance
This course includes opportunities for you to develop your English, Maths and/or ICT skills, as appropriate.

Facilities for students:
Based at the Performing Arts and Media Centre in Wilson Avenue, you will benefit from working in a professionally equipped studio theatre and a spacious dance studio. End of year shows are in the Tower Theatre in Pelham Street.

Tutors:
Teachers in the department include:
Andrew Hoggarth (Curriculum Team Leader and Acting Teacher)
Andrew has been a professional actor for over 15 years and taught in drama school before specialising in FE.
Siou Hannam (Movement Teacher and Director)
Siou still works professionally as a physical theatre actress in street and celebratory arts companies.
Carol Harrison (Film & TV Acting)
Carol brings to City College a wealth of experience and knowledge of acting. She played Louise Raymond in Eastenders and has previously appeared in London's Burning, Brush Strokes and many more.

Assessment: All assessment is through professionally relevant assignments. These are primarily practical units with supporting written work and documentation.

Awarding Body: Edexcel

Entry Requirements:
 BTEC Award in a relevant subject;
 or an A/S or A-level in a related subject;

Interview for entry: Interview required

Progression and links:
The Diploma is the equivalent of 3 A-levels and provides all the UCAS points needed to progress onto University or Drama School. The emphasis on practical Acting skills means that you have every opportunity to be fully prepared for Drama School and University auditions. You will be fully supported in making applications and the preparation of appropriate audition material.

Work experience opportunities:
As all assignments are modelled on professional practice, students will have the opportunity to develop a professional portfolio of work.

Costs of your Course:
There are five parts to the cost of your course:

• Tuition Fees
• College registration
• Awarding Body registration
• Resource Fee
• Exam / Assessment Fees

Tuition fees

How much will the Tuition Fees cost?

Below are the fees for 09/10.

Home/EU students tuition fees (per year) : TBC

International tuition fees (per year) : TBC

Total for 19 and over : TBC
Total for under 19 : None
Total for international students : TBC