Two Year Acting Course
The course is divided into six terms - three per year. It includes all the same
subjects as the one-year course, but allows us to offer a greater variety of teaching
styles and devote more time to developing techniques. There is scope for longer classes when
needed, with more team teaching and more flexible approaches to a student's needs.
The course has the levels of pace and emphasis suitable to those who require a less
intensive learning pace, and those still gaining their emotional and cultural maturity,
giving greater time for absorption and reflection. In addition, students who need more time
to correct technical problems, for example vocal or physical, would benefit from this
course. Applicants should be over 21, but in exceptional cases we may consider slightly
younger candidates.
With a standard working day and only very occasional weekend or evening work, the course
allows you to maintain a part-time evening or weekend job. Also, the 2½ month Summer
holiday allows you to work to build up funds for the second year. This is an advantage for
people on limited budgets. However you must bear in mind that the work required for the
course will demand independent home study and research time outside of the scheduled
timetable.
More time
As a two-year student you may start off less experienced and need more time to develop
skills and experiment with complex literary language. The course methodically brings you up
to speed on all the expectations that acting and the theatre will impose. There is a balance
of emphasis between physical theatre and devised work, whilst also allowing you time to
absorb fully the value of text and language.
How to study
Especially in the first term, there are more opportunities to look at how to study
effectively. You will find out about coping with and managing the demands of the course,
changing old learning patterns and building confidence. You will also discover why there
are no right answers.
The two-year course is designed to turn you into a working actor, taking you into
professional life with the full complement of skills and knowledge you will need. You only
train once – it has to be right for the real world of acting; it has to be right for you.
Film, TV and Radio
Core acting classes for screen, TV and radio stretch throughout the year. You work with
current professional directors on all styles of screen acting. You also have training in
Commercials and TV Interviews, with sight reading on camera, and microphone (Radio,
Voice-over etc) acting skills.
Preparing for Work
Industry-oriented classes are added as the course progresses. These instruct you in
auditioning skills, letter writing, CVs and photographs, culminating in a Work Week where
the students are given the opportunity to work with agents, casting directors, TV and
theatre directors, producers and other professional employers.
YEAR ONE
Technique - Term 1
The Technique Term concentrates on the technical needs of individual students, using
different approaches to identify problems and start correcting them. Most of the work takes
place in the classroom environment. There are no performance pressures on you in this first
term, although you will work on play texts in class. Reflective and diagnostic processes are
introduced alongside the improvised and rehearsed. Classes last different times depending on
the material. There is a mixture of whole group and individual activities.
The process in rehearsal - Term 2
At the beginning of an actor’s training the Stanislavski and other methods are used to
explore the actor's vocabulary within the work process.
The term explores texts in three scene studies using minimal technical requirements. These
scene studies gradually build in complexity as you become equipped to deal with them.
Scene Study 1: Two or three–handed scenes from modern texts are used to explore basic
acting rehearsal techniques, culminating in a performance directed by your Course Tutor.
Scene Study 2: More of the same with a different Director and in a different group. The
scene may have a more complicated atmosphere, relationships or style of writing.
Scene Study 3: Changing groups again, more challenging modern scenes, again with a different
Director.
Language - Term 3
The term starts with a workshop based on Shakespeare's First Folio and the performance clues
he wrote for his actors within his extraordinary use of language. The term then continues to
explore his texts in scene studies, initially with minimal production values.
Scene Study 4: Short Scenes from Shakespeare's plays. A one-week intensive rehearsal period,
working on very short scenes, in which the student can become comfortable with adjusting
their acquired acting skills to the language and style of Shakespeare.
Scene Study 5: Longer scenes with a longer rehearsal period using the Histories and
Tragedies.
Scene Study 6: Scenes from the Comedies and Late Romances. This is the first project in the
year with full production values.
Scene Study 7: Completing the first year is a devised piece.
YEAR TWO
Commedia - Term 4
The second year starts with a comedy workshop, incorporating some Mask work, based on
Restoration plays and Commedia del´ Arte. This is a chance to develop exaggerated characters
and explore texts where the world of the play has very different rules to our own.
Scene Study 8: Restoration. You will work on texts from the late 17th century. Style, wit
and language set within the context of gossip and intrigue.
Scene Study 9: A combination scene study and workshop week, exploring the physical, vocal
and emotional demands of working with masks, culminating in a short performance.
Scene Study 10: Pantomime. You will rehearse a specially written pantomime in a week and
then perform it in local schools.
Ensemble Term - 5
Scene Study 11: The plays of Anton Chekhov.
Scene Study 12: Plays from the late–19th and early–20th century cannon, including works by
Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward and George Bernard Shaw. From this point on you will have an
opportunity to explore whole plays. Groups may not be exactly the same size. Parts may be
shared or a student may take several roles as appropriate. In preparation for the Final
Term, the profession will be invited to these productions.
The Finale - Term 6
The graduates' showcase takes place in a West End theatre early in term 6. Agents, casting
directors and other industry professionals are invited to attend.
Television Project
Guided by professional directors, as a culmination of the Television work, the students, in
small groups, will write, perform and produce a series of short films.
Graduation Production 1
A fully produced production of a modern (mid 20th – early 21st century) play.
Graduation Production 2
The students will work on a final production, which will possibly have a life outside the
school. It may be an open-air Shakespeare, it might be a devised piece working with a
writer, it might be a piece taken on tour to another location.
Festivals and Competitions
In the second year, students will be eligible to represent Drama Studio London in the BBC
Carleton Hobbs Radio Competition, Spotlight Showcase, Sam Wanamaker Festival at the Globe
Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company Workshops. There will also be a joint cabaret with
one-year course students.
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