Every term, we work towards a new performance and have a busy schedule full of opportunities outside of college, trips, and work-experience opportunities.
On recent courses, our students have worked with National Theatre Connections Oxford Lights Festival, Oxford Castle and Prison, Old Fire Station, Oxford Playhouse, Lift Off Festival at the Wilde Theatre Bracknell, Pineapple Dance Studios, BASE Dance Studios, Move It!, Disneyland Paris Performing Arts, the National Trust, and we have a resident, professional theatre company based at the college: Mandala Theatre Company.
Whether you want to be a professional actor, dancer, technician, stage manager, or work within the industry, depending on your preferred specialism, we nurture your abilities and passions to cater the course to develop you as an individual and your attributes.
What you'll learn
You will develop your practical skills in drama, dance and the whole production process from technical theatre to performance. You will also be encouraged to develop analytical skills and acquire a broad knowledge of the way the performing arts business works.
You will have the opportunity to participate in group productions. In addition, you will be encouraged to develop creative skills and strong organisational capabilities.
This one-year course enables you to do both by providing the perfect foundation year. This course focuses on three key areas:
- Practical skills in the performing arts: You will be working alongside Level 3 Performing Arts students gaining the essential skills needed to thrive in this competitive industry.
- Work skills and employability: You will develop core skills in communication, project management and studentship. These skills will make you more employable and enable you to achieve on Level 3 if you choose to progress.
- English and maths: To maximise your employment and progression opportunities, you will retake English and Maths qualifications (if you did not achieve grade C or above at GCSE). In addition, the course team will mentor you at the end of the course to help you progress onto Level 3 or into employment.
How you'll learn and be assessed
Students on this course will be helped to develop practical performance skills using voice and movement to communicate effectively to an audience.
You will also learn the importance of team work and self-discipline and gain confidence in interacting with others. These skills can be used not just in the performing arts industry but in many other areas of work.
You will undertake practical assignments performed in class and in public, small- and large-group projects, and workshops.
Progression
You will gain knowledge that links to creative industry careers in preparation for employment or progression on to one of our Level 3 courses.
Entry requirements
You need to have 4 GCSEs at Grade 3 or above including English and maths, with a keen interest and evidence in the subject (audition).
