Acting for Stage and Screen with Foundation Year

This course is offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.

If you’re looking to break into the performance industry, this degree in acting is an excellent launch pad to help you get there. On this BA (Hons) Acting Stage and Screen course you’ll get to fine-tune and extend your acting skills, working on live briefs, networking with industry creatives, and taking part in diverse projects.

Why study BA (Hons) Acting Stage and Screen at BNU?
Best of both worlds
While numerous acting programs predominantly concentrate on theatre, our curriculum uniquely prioritises both stage and on-screen acting. Recognising the substantial demand for roles in film, television, and online media in today's industry, our course ensure you are prepared for the many roles that make up the industry.

Taught by the industry
This BA (Hons) Acting Stage and Screen degree is led by a dedicated and experienced course team. Benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. Many of our guest lecturers are industry-experts and alongside your lecturers, they’ll nurture your learning and professional development.

As well as this we seek to bring your work into the wider world and to bring the world into the university. During your time at BNU you’ll have the opportunity to perform at external venues and take part in workshops with leading companies, both on and off campus. Previous theatre companies and practitioners include Paper Birds on devising theatre, Out of Joint on contemporary texts, Mark McGann on acting for camera, and Station House Opera on intermedial theatre.

On occasion you could also find yourself using the professional venue at Wycombe Town Hall, which is less than two minutes from our campus.

Inspiring facilities
At BNU we ensure you have creative spaces to bring your ideas to life. On this course you’ll have access to drama studios. Each space brings with it unique features, from moving lights and fully equipped sound systems and projection to mirrors, a tiered seating bank and sprung floors. You’ll also have access to our props store where you can find everything you’ll need to bring your performances to life, from costumes and wigs, to lamps and even a coffin.

You’ll also have access to high quality camera equipment, a greenscreen room and lighting rigs and sound recording facilities, all suitable for film and TV screening.

A degree for you
During your time on this course, you will create your own performances, including your own shows, films and short scenes – and take things in the direction that interests you, whether that’s directing or devising, or focusing on a particular theory, piece of research or playwright. You’ll develop an understanding of what is required for acting on screen as well as stage, and will become a motivated team player able to think about the world around them.

In your final year, you will manage your own significant screen or stage-based production, from conception, to venue booking, marketing and performance. You will also set up your own artistic company, and learn about all the elements involved in that, from budgeting and funding applications, to promoting yourself as a professional artist.
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Foundation Year
Core Modules
Contextual Studies: Intro to Performing Arts, research & writing
Professional Practice
Introduction to Acting
Contemporary Performance
Collaboration in Creative Practice
Project

Year one
Core
Actor Training and Theory
Acting Techniques 1 and 2: Voice and Movement
Introduction to Production
Movement for Screen
Performer Training for Stage and Screen

Opportunity
2 x 10 credit year one Opportunity modules

Year two
Acting Techniques 3
The Body and Performance
Theatre and Film Production

Optional
Directing for Stage OR
Directing for Screen 2

Year three
Core
Advanced Production
Strategic Professional Practice: Marketing & Promotion
Strategic Professional Practice: Work Placement
Practical Dissertation

How will I be taught and assessed?

Assessment is varied, catering for different learning styles and enabling students to develop a wide range of academic and performance skills. These include solo performance, group performance, group presentation, written project proposal, written reflection on creative work, and workshops.

We're passionate about giving our students as many opportunities as possible so you’ll be able to work on a number of exciting projects. We know the importance of catering for different learning styles and enabling our students to develop a wide range of academic and performance skills.

We don't have any written exams and we encourage you to develop your own response to open briefs, giving you independence and creative control over your work.

Throughout the course, an attempt is made to connect practical and critical work, with an understanding of the links between theory and practice evidenced in written work. Teaching methods may vary but will include workshops to develop practical and production skills, seminars and lectures, performances (some of which are formally assessed) where you will perform to an audience or be mediated (i.e. for camera) and study trips, giving you the opportunity to watch professional theatre.