BA (Hons) Acting

Course Overview

Immerse yourself in acting and develop a versatile skillset in line with the demands of the modern industry. Our cutting-edge vocational acting degree combines theory with practice in the well-appointed surrounds of the purpose-built Marjon Arts Centre.

With a grand 300-seat theatre and black box studio theatre, you’ll enjoy weekly skills classes in voice and movement, as well as plenty of opportunities to secure parts in professional public performances and touring productions for valuable first-hand experience. Our strong working links with respected bodies including Theatre Royal Plymouth and the Barbican Theatre among others, help our Acting BA students build valuable links for a prosperous future in the arts.

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You'll be a member of our theatre company, learning not just how to a theatre company makes amazing theatre but also how it makes money. You'll work in live theatre and location-based film, with classes in voice and movement, and dealing with texts from Shakespeare to new works.

The course marries a range of technical disciplines with intensive, practical learning. From live theatre to location-based film, you’ll absorb masses of process-driven skill, plus you’ll be given a timely opportunity to select your specialist area.

Why this course at Marjon?

Experience creating and producing your own performances.
Opportunities to tour your work, getting you used to the demands of creating, publicising and performing new and innovative theatre.
Strong working links with Theatre Royal Plymouth, the Barbican Theatre and Symbiotic Theatre among others.
Work in our 300-seat theatre and black box studio theatre.
Combines directing opportunities, scene study, behind the scenes skills and core acting skills.

Perfect if you're curious about:

How do I make a career out of acting?
How does the industry work?
What do I want to say to the world?
What is the role of the actor?
Is film acting and theatre acting as different as people think?
Why are some actors more convincing than others?

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Modules

All modules are compulsory and build each year upon your knowledge and skills:

1st Year

The complicit actor
You will practically explore a range of approaches to Improvisation, develop an understanding of a number of methods which use spontaneity on stage, in rehearsal and for character development.
The roots of theatre
A practical exploration into key historical theatrical genres, understanding how they have influenced current industry practice.
Academic skills
A preparatory module to introduce you to all things regarding research, writing, structuring arguments and developing critical thought.
The Shakespearean actor 1
A practical introduction to Shakespearean text exploring script the way it was initially intended as performance rather than literature.
20th century text in performance
Detailed script exploration of key play texts and influential playwrights from early to mid 20th Century.
The Shakespearean actor 2
More detailed work with Shakespearean texts culminating in a production open to the public.
Acting for camera
You will work on camera, creating short scenes and short films, practically exploring scale and the world of film from an actors perspective.

2nd Year

Popular forms
A practical study of key popular theatre forms including, Musical Theatre, Pantomime, Music Hall/Variety, Slapstick, Puppetry and Clowning.
The community centred actor
You will explore a range of key community focused work, including Forum Theatre, Political Theatre, TIE, and Street Theatre.
The creative actor
This module is focused on the devising process and gives you the opportunity to create your own work from scratch.
The global actor
A practical exploration into a range of world theatre practices, with a focus on the ensemble.
Contemporary text in performance
Detailed script exploration of key play texts and influential playwrights from late 20th Century and the turn of the century.
Actors specialism
An opportunity for you to select an area of study you are passionate about and explore further with guidance from your tutor.

3rd Year

Professional profile
A focused module on preparing you for the industry. How to find work, apply for jobs and navigate the audition/casting process.
New writing in performance
Detailed script exploration of key play texts and influential playwrights from the last 10 years.
Theatre production
You will create your own company, and develop a full scale production including marketing, designing and producing.
The working actor
You will be cast in a directed production open to the public to help launch you into your future career.

What might you become?

This acting degree is aimed at helping you become an actor, working across diverse roles. This course has very strong industry links and will prepare you for working in a highly competitive market, with practical experience of alternative approaches to finding and creating work. You will gain a degree, a working CV, a show reel, a voice reel, as well as numerous contacts with industry professionals. Recent graduates have gained work in acting in films, theatre or in international tours, technical work, stage management and teaching.

"Due to the course, I was offered the part of Helena in A Midsummer Nights Dream at the Barbican Theatre. It was an amazing experience, one that I will never forget. I experienced working with professional actors, different directing styles and adapting to different venues. The Actors Wheel has been the root to all vital tools that were needed and I cannot thank everyone who allowed me to be a part of this enough as it truly was a life changing experience."

"It’s been an amazing course & the best time I’ve ever had in my life. I feel physically in tune, I know how my body works on stage as an actor, I know how to work with other people and I feel brave. Every element of our degree has been so well thought out. I definitely feel I have developed so much as an actor. The support and dedication from all the lecturers is brilliant and extremely helpful, both on a personal level and the whole group. I value it. I’m so happy I went there."

“The Actors Wheel is amazing, all of the elements combine to make you into a total actor. It really hones all your skills in and we got the chance to work with outside directors and make fantastic connections through the course. That kind of relationship is something that is missing from other degrees and that relationship is key for when you enter the big wide world… there’s someone there that can give you a hand.”

How will you be taught?

Every lecturer teaching on the course is also a practicing professional in their field, which ensures students are taught the most current trends in the industry and enables students to start creating their incredibly important professional network. We firmly believe in learning through praxis (a cyclical learning through ‘doing’ and reflecting – a merging of theory and practice) therefore the majority of the course is taught practically through workshops and followed by reflective discussion.

Weekly contact hours with staff vary greatly dependent on whether in rehearsal for a production or developing your own work. The average weekly hours of contact time across the year is approximately 23 hours. Sometimes this is less and other times (such as production weeks and touring) in excess of 40 hours. In quieter periods students are fully expected to make up the hours with their own independent studio practice.

How will you be assessed?

The vast majority of assessments are practical assignments, which are often supported by some written reflection either in the form of a journal, an essay or portfolio. There are no written exams.

Current Students

“Marjon is definitely geared up for supporting you through University life, especially the academic side of it and there’s a lot of empathy and support for mature students. The course and being part of the Actor's Wheel is unbelievable. What it gives me every day means I learn something new, for example that way of understanding things; psychology and the way of communicating."

"What is great about the course is that throughout the whole time we're here we're constantly performing and I think that's just the best way you can gain experience... we're always performing and going on tours."

"This course gives me the opportunity to tour not only regionally and later, the country, but to experience performing internationally. With a wide range of industry experience inbetween; from camera work to physical theatre; Shakespeare to Beckett. The course gives me the time to find my strengths and weaknesses, what I like and dislike doing within the industry."

"Touring was an unforgettable experience. It challenged my perceptions of the career I’ve chosen and taught me how to adapt to new situations. When I applied for this course, before I knew about the brilliant standard of tutoring and the valuable lessons I would learn along the way, the prospect of an international tour was one of the largest draws for me. I had no idea then that it would also be one of the most enlightening experiences of my personal and professional life. It was incredible."

Lecturers

Amanda Collins

Lecturer in Acting

Amanda is an Associate Director at Bred In The Bone Theatre Company. She has directed professionally in the UK and overseas as well as at the Edinburgh and Brighton Fringe Festivals. Her interests include physical theatre and new writing.

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Training Company Model

By studying with us students automatically become a company member, as well as a student on the programme.

We aim to recruit between 16-24 trainee actors in each cohort, creating a small supportive ensemble. We intentionally keep numbers small in order to enable our person centred approach to training, each student benefits from regular one to one tutorials in order to ensure their progression is tailored to the individual.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

In addition to the structured course elements there will be numerous additional opportunities to develop your practice and CV which are actively encouraged.

Numerous additional workshops from visiting specialists and companies.
Castings and auditions for film and theatre roles as they arrive.
Theatre visits and film screenings.
Numerous work experience opportunities as and when they arrive.

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