FdA Performing Arts: Performance, Production and Industry

All applicants must pass an audition and interview. For the audition, you must learn a 1-2 minute contemporary monologue from a play published between 1990-present day, and a 1-2 minute contrasting Shakespeare monologue. In the audition, you will receive redirection, and be interviewed by the course leader.

You will also require one of the following:

• BTEC Level 3 qualification or equivalent (such as A-Levels)
• An Access to Higher Education certificate received from an approved Further Education institution
• Related work experience

Mature learners may present a more varied profile of achievement that is likely to include extensive work experience and/or achievement of a range of professional qualifications in their work sector.

A guidance of 48 UCAS points is needed to apply for the course.

You will learn through a variety of formats, including:

• Practical classes/rehearsals
• External projects and performances
• 1:1 tutorials and support
• Self-directed study and group work
• Interactive lectures

The course involves no formal exams. The majority of your timetable is spent on practical classes and rehearsals to reflect the weighting of assignments. Although there are elements of academic work for each module, the majority of your grade is weighted to practical elements. Furthermore, academic work also takes many different forms, such as:

• Videos/documentary making
• Verbal presentations
• Script submissions
• Visual portfolios
• Essays

It is desirable that you have at least a Level 2 qualification in English (for example, a grade 4 or C at GCSE), though if you do not, this may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you do not have a Level 2 English qualification, you may be asked to pass a small written task to demonstrate your ability to cope with the level of the course.

A level 2 in Maths is desirable but not essential.

Work placement are not a compulsory element of this course, gaining practical experience is strongly encouraged. Volunteering within the sector provides valuable insight into real-world practice, helping you apply your knowledge, build confidence and develop essential professional skills. It also enhances your CV and can support progression into employment. Students are advised to actively seek out relevant opportunities alongside their studies to maximise their experience and career prospects.

Lecturers bring industry in to lead workshops and Q&As each year for you. Some notable guest speakers have included:

• Laura Elphinstone – Actor who has appeared in ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Line of Duty’, and ‘Chernobyl’.
• Jay Olpin – Actor who has appeared in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’, ‘Magic Goes Wrong’, and ‘The Full Monty: UK Tour’.
• Christopher Hill – Award-winning playwright. His BBC Radio 4 play ‘Killing Maestros’ starring Bill Nighy won the inaugural Tinniswood Award for the best original audio drama script.
• Robby Graham – Artistic Director of Southpaw Dance Company. Key accolades include a £250,000 Arts Council England capital grant for digital innovation (2024), success in the Creative Fuse Innovation Pilots (2017), and awards from the National Campaign for the Arts for community cohesion.
• Renaud Wiser – Artistic Director of Fertile Ground dance company, who fosters local talent through paid professional opportunities while offering workshops, community collaborations, and touring performances.

You will engage with industry throughout your time with us. We have a number of industry opportunities that happen yearly:

• The Point – In May, we stage an original large-scale production at The Point in Sunderland to around 250 people. This is open to the public, and we invite agents, theatre producers, and casting directors.
• Hylton Castle – Every Halloween, we create an immersive theatre performance at Hylton Castle, inspired by the London Dungeons. We completely transform the 3 floors of the castle over the course of a week to create an unsettling atmosphere for our students' performance. In 2026, our 10 shows sold out in under 20 minutes, and students performed to over 180 people.
• Theatre Space NE – Our students audition around April every year for paid performance work over the summer with Theatre Space NE, with whom we have a great relationship.

This is a 2-year full-time course. Each year has 30 weeks of study. Typically, you will have around 12 contact hours per week, with an additional minimum of 4 hours a week of group rehearsals and independent study. Near major performances, you will be asked to attend additional rehearsals and tech days. You are likely to be scheduled over 4 days a week, though staff try to keep this to 3 days when possible.

We aim to produce proactive, versatile performers who are ready to navigate and shape their own careers in the performing arts industry. Through practical training and engaging in large-scale productions, you will build an extensive skill set that stands out to agents, casting directors and employers. Our graduates leave with the confidence and practical skills needed to perform with purpose, smash auditions, and a comprehensive understanding of how to secure jobs. We aim to equip you with core and unique skills to make you a valuable individual in the industry, and produce alumni who have long and prosperous careers.

Year 1:

• Creating Atmosphere: Devising Through Movement (20 credits)
• Playwriting: From Concept to Stage (20 credits)
• Naturalism: Techniques for Theatre (20 credits)
• Contemporary Performance: Movement, Dance and Expression (20 credits)
• Screen Acting: Film and Television (20 credits)
• Working as an Ensemble: Collaborative Process and Performance (20 credits)

Year 2:

• Immersive Theatre: Community Project (20 credits)
• Non-Naturalism: Post-War Innovations and Theory (20 credits)
• Individual Performance: Finding and Shaping Repertoire (20 credits)
• Musical Theatre: Collaborative Performance (20 credits)
• Voice Acting: Studio Performance (20 credits)
• Performance Project: Engaging an Audience (20 credits)