Acting & Creative Practice BA (Hons)

• Overview

  This programme provides knowledge, skills and vocational training to become a professional actor able to work successfully on stage, screen, in voice-over work and collaborative performances. Including training in stage combat, acting through song, and movement. You will tour and create either text-based or original work, plus have a creative social media presence. This programme has over 30 hours training per week for three terms, so you will need to be dedicated, enthusiastic and highly committed.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  Course

  Highlights

  • Links to prestigious Royal and Derngate theatre.
  • Theatre visits and workshops including West End and Shakespeare's Globe.
  • Focus on practical training.
  • Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.

  HP Laptop and software included with this course.*

  *Terms and Conditions apply

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  The first stage introduces you to the fundamental techniques forming the basis of your studies – how to act with a text, how to create text from character, how to improve vocal strength and health, and how important the body is to the craft of the actor.

  Your second stage will develop your fundamental acting skills and challenge you to adapt and apply them in contexts such as acting for TV and film, radio acting, approaches to Shakespearean text and physical theatre. Creative work continues with opportunities to create a contemporary piece of theatre and a scene for film/TV. There are two public facing performances during the year.

  The final stage is transitional, switching from studying acting to preparing for all aspects of employment. You will form your own theatre company and perform in a venue of your own choice as part of the annual Flash Theatre Festival. We will teach the key aspects on preparing for life as a professional actor; Acting CV, Headshot, Show reel, Business Planning and Audition Technique.

  At the end of the course you may be invited to perform at our London Showcase in front of agents and other key industry representatives.

  Methods of Learning

  Classes are largely studio-based and practical in nature, stretching you physically, personally and preparing you professionally. You will have over 30 hours of practical sessions per week. The acting industry is competitive and we aim to equip you for it by teaching you a wide range of skills. You will also work with inspiring and creative professional directors who are active in the industry.

  Assessments

  Most assessments are practical performances, worth 80% of your final grade, but each module has a theoretical component, worth 20% of your final grade, that is either written in essay or rehearsal journal form or spoken in a viva voce examination.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  End of year performances

  You will be involved in performances at the end of each year, forming your own theatre company and performing in a venue of your own choice for the annual Flash Theatre Festival.

• Careers and Events
  • The Northampton Employment Promise.

    *We promise to secure paid experience for you, if you need it.

    We work with employers to understand what they’re looking for and we’re confident that if you follow one of our structured awards, as well as committing to your studies you’ll be in a competitive position when it comes to applying for graduate jobs.

    We’re so confident, that we promise to secure a paid 3-6 month internship for you, if you need it. Find out more about the Northampton Employment Promise, including how it works and who is eligible.

    
  • Open Days

    See for yourself

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a packed programme of subjects talks, advice sessions and activities designed to give you all the information you need about studying at The University of Northampton.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    As a graduate you will be equipped with the skills you need to work in your own companies creating work for stage, screen or radio. You will also be able to work for directors who wish to engage creative actors able to devise material and work closely with texts. Transferable skills equip you to be employed as a workshop leader, animateur and theatrical development worker to name a few related areas.

    If you wish to develop a further specialised area of performance you might consider studying for an MA in The Arts.

    
  • Student Story

    Freya Mawhinney

    Freya is currently studying our BA (Hons) Acting & Creative Practice programme. She dreams of becoming a working actor in a touring theatre company and is convinced that the standard of training she is receiving is preparing her for the journey ahead.

    “The Performing Arts industry is ever growing, and with so many universities and conservatoires generating hundreds of graduates every year, the game is getting tougher. My course has provided me with at least five days a week of training for the past two years, and I feel very prepared already with one year still to go. We are taught about how the industry works and the level of professionalism required to get through it healthily and with a thick skin.

    
• Requirements

  A typical offer would be in the region of BBC at A-Level or DDM at BTEC, in conjunction with an extensive audition.

  We welcome applications from a range of non-traditional education or professional qualifications.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
    for study at undergraduate level

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

   

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Enquire online
  Online enquiry form

  Applying for 2019
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Stage 1
  • Stage 2
  • Stage 3

  The first year introduces you to the fundamental techniques that form the basis of your studies – how to act with a text, how to create text from character, how to improve vocal strength and health, and how important the body is to the craft of the actor. We will introduce you to the supporting skills you will need as actors, such as stage combat and singing.

  • Actor’s Body and Movement 1 (20 Credits)
    Module code: ACT1004

    Core Module Y
  • Acting Methodologies 1 (40 Credits)
    Module code: ACT1001

    Core Module Y
  • Vocal Technique for Actors 1 (30 Credits)
    Module code: ACT1002

    Core Module Y
  • Creative Theatre Practices 1 (30 Credits)
    Module code: ACT1006

    Core Module Y

  The second year of study develops the fundamental acting skills and challenges you to adapt and apply them in different contexts such as acting for TV and film, radio acting, approaches to Shakespearean text and physical theatre. Creative work continues with opportunities to create a contemporary piece of theatre and a scene for film/TV. Supporting studies in stage combat and singing continue. There are two public facing performances during the year as well.

  • Media Acting (40 Credits)
    Module code: ACT2004

    Core Module Y
  • Vocal Technique for Actors 2 (20 Credits)
    Module code: ACT2002

    Core Module Y
  • Creative Theatre Practices 2 (60 Credits)
    Module code: ACT2006

    Core Module Y

  The third year is transitional: preparing for all aspects of employment as an actor and creative practitioner. You will form your own theatre company and perform in a festival-style environment. You will also be taught the key aspects of how to prepare for life as a professional: small business management, marketing, finance, touring, building a website, having a presence on social media and audition technique.

  At the end of the course you may be invited to perform at our London Showcase in front of agents and other key industry representatives.

  • Negotiated Project (30 Credits)
    Module code: ACT4001

    Core Module Y
  • Acting for Social Change (30 Credits)
    Module code: ACT3007

    Core Module Y
  • Creative Theatre Practices 3 (60 Credits)
    Module code: ACT3006

    Core Module Y

  • Reading List
    • Respect for Acting by Uta Hagen
    • Actions: The Actor’s Thesaurus by Marina Calderone

  Module information is quoted for 17/18 entry. Please note that modules run subject to student numbers and staff availability, any changes will be communicated to applicants accordingly.

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  • eight bespoke rehearsal rooms that are stimulating and at the same time practical, safe and ideal for learning the craft of acting
  • dramatic and adaptable performance environments
  • fully equipped television and radio studios including sound and video editing studios
  • lighting and theatre technology
  • lecturers with professional experience as actors and directors
  • direct links to the prestigious Royal and Derngate theatre who also audition students for their main house productions
  • theatre visits and workshops which typically include the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, London’s West End productions and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London
  • Student Equity card
  • talks and workshops by directors and actors from Royal and Derngate theatre and other industry figures. In recent years actors such as Samantha Bond and Lesley Joseph have spent time with our students
• Further Studies
  • Research

    at the University of Northampton

    We are committed to delivering outstanding research that makes a difference to society. Our Research Institutes and Centres work closely with external partner organisations, locally, nationally and internationally. We produce internationally renowned and relevant research and disseminate knowledge on an international scale.

    Visit our Research Hub page for more information.

    
  • Business and Enterprise

    Opportunities Available

    We are committed to supporting and encouraging business growth and we are involved in a variety of initiatives which seek to benefit the wider community as well as students and staff of the University.

    Discover what businesses we work with and what opportunities may be available to you on our Business and Enterprise pages.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250
  Part Time: £1,450 per 20 credit module

  Additional Costs

  Students are required to pay an annual Fee of £90 to cover theatre trips.

  Show Reel: £120 (approx)
  Head shots: £70 (approx)
  Spotlight membership: £100 (not compulsory)

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250
  Part Time: £1,400 per 20 credit module

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £12,900

  Additional Costs

  Students are required to pay an annual Fee of £95 to cover theatre trips.

  Show Reel: £120 (approx)
  Head shots: £70 (approx)
  Spotlight membership: £100 (not compulsory)

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £12,500

  Scholarships

  Sir Thomas White Scholarship

  The Sir Thomas White scholarship will support and acknowledge an academically gifted student, with the proviso that the selection panel is confident that there is…

  TD Lewis Scholarship

  The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

  Wilson Endowment Scholarship

  The Wilson Endowment Scholarship provides a £1,500 scholarship to undergraduate students from the Northamptonshire area. The endowed scholarship was donated in memory of Mr Lynn Wilson,…

• Mentors Matter

  Sometimes the most valuable advice can actually come from people who have walked in your shoes.

  We have an Alumni E-Mentoring scheme that does just that. It puts you in touch with other University of Northampton graduates who in turn can offer a number of mentoring services. From CV advice to the possibility of job offers, sign up to become a mentor or a mentee.

*Course data provided by Unistats