Foundation Acting provides rigorous and intensive vocational training that will give you vital skills, techniques and confidence essential for higher education (degree or MA/MFA), or a career in the performing arts.
Students enrolled in this course benefit from a dedicated full-time professional preparation week. This week offers an opportunity to review CVs and engage in mock auditions guided by experienced professionals and casting directors.
The course is designed to support your development as an actor in training, auditioning and future practice in a way that is rigorous and professional.
In 2020, 100% of our students expressed that they were ‘satisfied’ with the course, with many noting that it exceeded their expectations.
Why choose this course?
London location
You’ll study in one of the world’s great international cities, based at the Omnibus Theatre, in Clapham.
6 month course
An intense 22 week course that includes 26+ hours of teaching and learning per week.
Teaching and industry connections
Delivered by experienced professional actors, tutors and directors with many guest leading experts.
Student support
Each student has a personal tutor and is expected to keep a Personal Development Journal that is reviewed in 1-1 tutorials each term. You will also be given support and advice regarding applications for further study and entering the world of professional work.
Course breakdown
The Foundation Course is designed to develop you physically, vocally and imaginatively whilst encouraging an independent and in-depth approach to your work. We arrange a number of workshops as well as audition panels with outside theatre and casting directors. Students get help to build their actor’s portfolios of songs and speeches.
- Foundation Acting is a 22 week course and includes 26+ hours of teaching and learning per week. Classes are delivered between the hours of 9am and 9pm
- Delivered by experienced acting staff and visiting directors
- Masterclasses include; Building your audition portfolio, Grotowski, physical theatre, audition technique, Augusto Boal, acting through song, Uta Hagen, acting for camera, clowning, stage fighting and unarmed combat, Alexander Technique, musicality (all masterclasses are subject to change)
- Classes include; acting (studying Stanislavski and Meisner), performance/audition technique, movement, ensemble, voice, text study, sight-reading, Shakespeare, singing, acting for TV/film
- There are two full-time rehearsal projects during the course; Term 1 contemporary scene study and Term 2 Shakespeare, as well as weekly masterclasses with outside professional directors and theatre companies.
Split into two terms:
- TERM 1: The Actor and Foundation Skills (September to December)
- TERM 2: The Actor and the Audience (January to March)
Your future career
At the end of our programme, you will be prepared to study on either BA/MA/MFA courses. Graduates of the Foundation Course have also successfully found professional employment and agent representation in the UK, EU and USA.
Students from our course have been offered places on both our BA and MA courses, whilst others have been offered places or had final round auditions at; Central, East 15, RADA, Drama Centre, Italia Conti, LAMDA, Royal Welsh, Mountview, Guildford, Drama Studio, Guildhall, The American Academy of Dramatic Art and Stanford University.
You will receive guidance in CV writing, professional headshots and show reels, self-taping and practice mock auditions with casting directors. There will also be workshop Q&A’s with actors and directors, so you understand about the industry as well as a toolkit to manage your well-being and build resilience and discipline.
Course Director Foundation Acting
Having trained as an actor, she moved into teaching and directing and then joined the College in 1999 on the BA (Hons) Acting and Actor Musicianship programmes as an Acting Teacher, Director and Professional Development Coordinator. Pat started her own theatre company in the early 1990s, producing and developing new writing. Pat continues to work as a personal development coach and trainer for business, education and the arts, working with individuals and organisations, and she is also a freelance theatre director.
Read their full profile Course Coordinator for Foundation Actor Training
Having begun his creative life as a professional actor, Edward is now predominantly focussed on the teaching of Acting & Voice in Higher Education establishments, as well as being a freelance voice coach for individuals and companies. Edward studied acting at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and completed a Masters in Education at the same institution also.
Read their full profileHow to apply
Open to applications from anyone over 18 years old at time of enrolment.
There is no academic qualifications entry requirement.
Please complete the short form on this page. You will then be asked to complete another form and submit 2 self-taped pieces of no more than 2 minutes each from one classical and one contemporary play.
Successful applicants are recalled for an informal interview online.
Useful Information
Please note that these courses are not eligible for Student Finance England (SFE) funding, so you will need to have the funds in place if you are made an offer. All students who are offered a place are required to provide the name of a guarantor before commencing the course.
Early bird discount: A £500 discount is available for early payment of full fees by 31st July 2024.
International students can take part in the course under a standard 6 month visitor visa, a student route visa is not required.
Institution code: Not applicable
Course code: Not applicable
Auditions and interview guidanceCourse Summary
Duration
6 months
Mode of study
Full time
Start date
September 2024
Course Type
Foundation Course
Acting Foundation Course Tuition Fee for UK & International students
£9750