Performing Arts BA (Hons)
3-Year Bachelor's Degree
The total service fee for this program:
€ 499
Pre payment for this program:
€ 99
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ABOUT
Learn to be a versatile performing artist. Personalise your studies between dance, drama and musical theatre to suit your evolving interests and aspirations. Become a confident, experienced, industry ready professional.
Overview
Study in a multidisciplinary way – which you will know is reflective of the industry. Experiment with new things, create a personal pathway with a focus on dance, drama or musical theatre or a mix of all three. Personalise your studies to suit your evolving interests and aspirations. Build the necessary skills to succeed in higher education, recognise your own strengths and idiosyncrasies and establish yourself as an employable practitioner.
Whether you wish to dance, act, devise, choreograph, teach or facilitate, this course will give you the skills, techniques, confidence and experience to be industry ready. You will develop as a creative and versatile individual; we want you to graduate with the best opportunities possible that will prepare you for a successful career in the performing arts world.
Successful completion of this course will qualify you for Spotlight adult performer membership.
Why us?
- Our Drama & Dance courses are ranked 14th in the UK (The Guardian University league tables, 2022)
- A musical theatre strand is embedded in the course – a popular choice of our students
- Placement opportunities throughout the three years of study in both education and community adds to the development of skills for a broad range of careers
- Flexibility to create a pathway of study based on your areas of interest or career destination
- Successful completion of this course will qualify you for Spotlight adult performer membership
- Professional theatre venues used for assessments plus external opportunities to perform in professional productions. Previously students have appeared in Cilla: The Musical, Evita and have performed alongside Jack Whitehall
- We have a residency with Live Theatre. Emeritus Max Roberts, who joins us as a Visiting Professor until 2021 delivering industry relevant modules and employability workshops, including sessions taught at Live Theatre
Course structure
Teaching is largely studio-based with supporting lectures, seminars, workshop discussions and independent learning. All modules integrate theory and practice; tasks and problem-solving which engage you in interactive learning.
Assessments are often practical or performance-based and also include presentations, workshops, essays and e-portfolios. We provide regular feedback to help you to develop your work.
The first year provides you with a solid base with a range of diverse learning experiences. As you move through the course, you have a choice of modules and opportunity to undertake a placement.
Whatever your route, you will perform at a range of venues and in professional theatres including Arts Centre Washington and The Customs House, South Shields.
Part-time study
If you study this course on a part-time basis you will typically complete 40-80 credits in a year, rather than the 120 credits of full-time students. All modules are taught during the day time and you will be studying alongside full-time students.
Year 1 (national level 4):
Core modules:
- Ensemble Performance (60 credits)
Get involved with the production of a pantomime. Audition for character, dance and ensemble roles. Create and perform in a variety show. Explore the concept of a triple threat.
- Performance and Me (20 credits)
Review your autobiography and undertake self-assessment with a view to locating yourself within the performing arts industry. Explore new styles and practices through research, creative development, experimentation, and performance. Develop a range of performance skills (vocal, linguistic, physical) and explore/apply these in relation to vocational practice.
- Showcase Performance (40 credits)
Focus on performance primarily through the practical exploration of skills including diction, portrayal of character, control, fluency, expression, orientation and design of the body in space, physicality, application of dynamic qualities and relationship to others. Develop the ability to respond creatively and effectively to directorial and choreographic methods and approaches for example task, score or script led activity.
Year 2 (national level 5):
Core modules:
- Cabaret (20 credits)
Focus on cabaret performance, examining the key ideas with which cabaret is associated, its origin and history, and its form and content. Learn about cabaret’s association with social critique and political satire, which is examined through practical workshops that address skit, slam, burlesque, neo-burlesque, music, song, drag and heels. Participate in a multi-disciplined performance and explore cabaret’s ambition to challenge social norms through an analytical essay.
- Approaches to Creative Practice (40 credits)
Explore the concepts, processes and people involved in the transferral of a play text to the stage working with professionals at Live Theatre in Newcastle. Gain an introduction to relevant practices through examination of selected key exponents, beginning in the studio and progressing to working in a site-specific context. Learn about the process of dance composition as a choreographer, with a focus upon the relationship between dance and music.
- Mid Showcase Performance (20 credits)
Further your awareness of the performance requirements of specific contexts whilst enhancing your skills in movement, character, voice, and related fields where appropriate. Focus on ‘authenticity’ including emphasis on projection and interpretive skills and issues related to the circumstances which form the setting for the event, for example social and cultural expectation. Undertake research to inform your practice and consider the transferable nature of your artistry. Realise your work within a pertinent context, for example Washington Old Hall, a studio / virtual environment, Beamish Museum and Sunderland Minster.
- Arts Identity and Industry (20 credits)
Gain an insight into selected current topics and issues in the industry, for example: Identity; Performing Bodies; Arts and Disability; Arts and Health; Arts and Education; Effective Preparation and Application; and Corporate Arts. Deepen knowledge and understanding of one of these areas via a project proposal for funding, informed by research into current initiatives.
- Musical Theatre Preparation (20 credits)
Investigate the terminology ‘hit musical’ with reference to the implications this may have on the wider production. Research and explore two to three Musicals of your choice in order to understand why they might be considered a ‘hit’. Become familiar with a range of musicals from both Broadway, West End and Film adaptations in order to interpret the relationship between the components of the genre for example music, dance and drama. Explore the synthesis of your own skillset through the realisation of a public performance in an ensemble context. Develop an understanding of key components of a Musical including subtext, use of fantasy, and contextual issues. Perform within a professional setting for an audience.
Final year (national level 6):
Core module:
- Final Showcase (40 credits)
Extend your artistic practice and/or demonstrate your creative innovation. Develop skills including artistic competence; choreographic, compositional, devising and directorial processes; performance skills and creative use of small-scale staging techniques. Negotiate with your tutor one role for assessment, such as choreographer, director, performer, or stager. Undertake aspects needed to stage a performance of this type.
Optional modules (choose 80 credits):
- Creative Enterprise Project (20 credits)
Gain a broad overview of developments in the creative industries, examine trends and developments in relation to the work of selected practitioners and theorists, and investigate current research, thinking and practice. Develop and apply specialist and transferable skills and knowledge working in a range of professional creative employment contexts. Plan and implement a small-scale project and experience a work placement aligning to a possible career outcome. Develop a professional online portfolio/digital CV which showcases some of your best work.
- Commercial Tour (40 credits)
Explore the role of the performer in a working context. Experience and develop new approaches towards performance, for example using props, costume, and narration as integral elements. Perform and take on a production role. Consider the role of the performer within contexts such as professional, community and education and engage in independent research linking directly to your own career aspirations.
- Independent Study (20 credits)
Work independently to develop new, critical, and creative thinking with regards to a research-based project in either written or practical and written forms. Apply relevant knowledge and skills in a specialist area demonstrating an understanding of key learning emerging from the project and relating to its context. Work in an independent way supported by tutorials as agreed with your supervising tutor.
- Musical Theatre Performance (40 credits)
Study and rehearse a musical for public performance. Take on a high degree of responsibility for the planning, direction, and management of your own development as a performing artist and as the member of a creative production team. Work as a company to prepare and perform a musical within a professional context for an audience.
- Multi-Platform Performance (20 credits)
Progress the practical understanding of techniques and skills relevant to different styles and genres of performance for the screen actor, to add to your professional show-reel. Take part in workshops that explore diverse areas of screen performance such as virtual reality, TV presenting and motion capture. Analyse and evaluate the challenges and advantages of your selected multi-platform performance.
- TV Drama Project (20 credits)
Collaborate with Northumbria Police and produce an awareness and training film that addresses crime. Learn how to act in front of the camera and explore business on screen, hitting a mark, audition techniques and reactions to camera. Analyse scenes from screen performances and explore the creation of meaning in performance.
Facilities
This course is based at the Priestman Building, the main base for art, design and performance on City Campus. The Priestman Building provides state-of-the-art teaching space and resources as part of a vibrant and creative learning environment.
Dance City and Live Theatre have studios just a stone’s throw from campus. With the city investing in culture, it’s an exciting time to become a performer in Sunderland.
Entry requirements
Audition requirements
We’ll ask you to prepare an audition piece lasting one minute. This should show your ability to not only perform with confidence but communicate with an audience. Previous applicants have auditioned with monologues, songs or dances, so choose whichever you are most comfortable with. Please note that we are not looking for perfection, we appreciate you’re still developing as a performer.
Career ready
You will gain highly transferable skills in communication, presentation and collaboration with others. These skills, together with a track record of creativity and innovative thinking, provide a valuable advantage when it comes to applying for many different fields of employment.
Career options
This course prepares you for roles in the performing arts such as:
- Performer
- Teacher of dance/music/drama/musical theatre
- Facilitator/Corporate Trainer
- Entrepreneur in dance/music/drama/musical theatre
- Producer/Director/Choreographer
- Arts Administrator/Manager
- Freelancer/self-employed in community arts education
- Practitioner of arts therapy
Links and contacts
The academic team have an extensive network of professional, education and community contacts in the region. You will benefit from these in your negotiated projects, workshops and visits. Extracurricular classes are available throughout the year with a range of guest teachers, for example musical theatre repertoire with touring cast members, one to one vocal lessons, yoga, character development, street dance and harmony singing.
Where possible, we invite visiting companies and artists to the University. Examples include Opera North, South Paw Dance Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Rosie Kay Dance Company, Rambert Dance Company, Live Theatre; Newcastle, Open Clasp, RashDash, Dramatrain, Geese Theatre Company, Bell and Bullock Circus Theatre, Dell A’Mimi Circus Training and The Stand Comedy. We also encourage visits to theatres, events and exhibitions.
Work by our students is hosted by venues such as The Customs House South Shields, National Glass Centre, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, Washington Arts Centre and The Empire Theatre. These venues also hold masterclasses led by visiting artists.
Placements and projects
The independent study module allows you to take educational and professional opportunities as they arise. Examples include the production of a new play performed at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a cross-generational performance with a professional choreographer and dancers. Many projects are sited in schools and the wider community.
We also arrange end-of-year performances in a professional arts venue, working alongside schedulers, box office staff, technicians and professional performers. Your involvement in these performances develops skills in marketing, design and communication with venues.
All students studying on-campus undergraduate Performing Arts courses can take up a CV-enhancing work placement, a University-led industry initiative, or a professional and business development boot camp. By the term placement, we mean we are offering you a taste of the industry which might last anything from two days to four weeks on a part-time basis.
Creative Industries Week
Creative Industries Week gives everyone in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries the opportunity to participate in a range of projects, workshops, talks, industry visits and career events. This exciting week encourages interdisciplinary working, broadens your experience, builds your confidence and helps develop your career path.
If English is not your first language you should have at least one of the following qualifications (or equivalent) as a minimum.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
You need an overall score of 6.0, with at least 5.5 or higher in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking. An alternative approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) will also be accepted if the applicant’s element scores are equivalent to those required for IELTS. After 6 April 2015, you must take your IELTS exams at one of the test centres listed on the UKVI website.
Pearson Test of English Academic
You need an overall score of 59 with no less than 59 in each skill.
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
You need grade C or above.
Cambridge Certification in Advanced English (CAE)
You need grade C or above.
Deadlines
26 January 2022 – UCAS deadline
Applications for all UCAS Undergraduate courses, except those with a 15 October deadline, should arrive at UCAS by 6pm on 26 January 2022. This is the ‘equal consideration’ deadline, which means course providers must consider all applications received by this time equally.
25 February 2022 – UCAS Extra opens
If you’ve used all five choices, and you’re not holding any offers, you can add another choice using Extra.
19 May 2022 – University decision deadline
If you applied by 26 January and you’re still awaiting a decision from one of your choices, we have until today to decide whether we’re making you an offer. Any choices that are still outstanding after this will be made unsuccessful.
9 June 2022 – Deadline to reply to offers
If you receive all your university decisions by 19 May, you must reply to any offers by today (except if you are using Extra to find a place), otherwise they’ll be declined.
30 June 2022 – Final day to make an application to five universities
You can still apply with up to five choices until 6pm today. After this, your application will automatically be entered into Clearing.
4 July 2022 – Final day to apply for a course in Extra
This is the last day to add an Extra option to your 2022 application. If you don’t hold any offers after this, you will be able to add an additional choice using Clearing.
FREE VISA SERVICE
One of our very suitable solutions for applicants is to provide free visa services to study in this field from a pleasant country. If you need to receive free visa services, let us know your request
Expenses (GBP)
13000
Application Fee
0
Program expenses
University & General Expenses
accommodation
The university offers three different student residential buildings, all of which are within walking distance from the university campuses. All students that are residing in these buildings can take advantage of the free transport that the university offers. What is more, all the dorms are equipped with facilities like fridge, Shower, toilet facilities, Wi-Fi, bed Wardrobe, Washbasin and mirror, as well as car parking and bicycle storage.
The first student residence of the university is called Scotia Quay that costs up to £95.50 per week. Each room is suitable for up to 5 students. the second one is named Panns Bank costs about £77.79 a week and is also suitable for families of four. Lastly, Clanny House also costs around £77.79 per week and is suitable for couples as well as single students.
After Graduation
All the students have the opportunity to seek help from The Careers and Employability Service, a team dedicated to helping students find proper and suitable employment either during or after their education.
Students are encouraged to take on part-time vocational roles in order to gain perspective on the reality of the labor market and also earn extra cash. As a matter of fact, the university helps and guides them during this process. It helps students find part-time jobs that do not impact their studies or temporary jobs that can be done during vacations and breaks. Students also have the chance to take part in paid or unpaid internships and job placements that are related to their field of study.
The Careers and Employability Service also helps students with finding employment after graduation. They help students with the resumes, CVs, job applications and job interviews.