Acting - Contemporary, MA

at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Indicative course content includes: 
 

In the first term four weeks of practical work on building ensemble, neutral mask and intensive physical and vocal training is rooted in an exploration of personal story and contemporary, poetic language. Texts may be drawn from spoken-word poetry and imagistic theatre and will invite exploration of personal identity and narrative structure, storytelling, ensemble, audience and space. Accompanying contextual seminars address the social and political contexts that influence the creation of modern plays.
 

For the subsequent ten weeks, we will develop your understanding of script-based rehearsal, laying in the fundamentals of the Stanislavskyan approach to text analysis, improvisation and character exploration. Classic early 20th texts, such as those from Chekhov and Ibsen, in modern translations and adaptations, will form the basis of our material. Practical classes in stage combat, movement, voice and clowning continue the training in embodied storytelling begun in the intensive. Contextual and theoretical seminars continue throughout the term. Practical assessments, showings and feedback panels take place at the end of term, and individual personal guidance from tutors is available throughout the year.
 

In the second term your focus will move to transformation and the psycho-physical creation of character. Animal studies, vocal transformation and dialect, and a range of étude work will allow you to develop your skills in observation and  transformation. You will study textual form, including the use of fractured narratives, codified silence and stillness. You will begin the process of collaborating directly with writers and develop your own writing or creation of work. Practical assessments, showings and feedback panels take place at the end of term. 
 

The course’s outward-facing work begins after the mid-session break with an industry showcase, either filmed or in a professional theatre venue. Screen acting classes help to prepare you for auditions for TV and film. 
 

The public productions season involves participation in two professionally supported productions of modern plays either in Central’s theatres or external theatre spaces. One of these could include a devised piece or a fully  realised 20th or 21st Century extant play. The other will usually be a play specially commissioned for the course from an established writer.   
 

Throughout the practical training, you will work on a Sustained Independent Project (SIP), which may take the form of either: a solo performance with a 4,000-word critical reflection; or a 12,000-word dissertation. 

Applicants will normally have either undertaken conservatoire training, have professional acting experience, or have a degree in the broad field of performance and drama studies. Students from other disciplines may be considered if you have sufficient experience of theatre. An offer will normally only be made after audition and interview, and you may also be required to take part in a short practical workshop and/or submit a short piece of written work.

English Language Requirements

Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to prove their English language proficiency by gaining an overall score of 7.0 in an IELTS test. We do accept equivalent English language qualifications. Applicants are advised to gain this certification as early as possible and more information can be found
 

Auditions

• We audition all applicants for MA Acting.
   

We will require you to submit a self-tape including the following elements:

• Two contrasting speeches of your own choice lasting no more than two minutes each. One of these must be from an Elizabethan or Jacobean play, the other a 20th or 21st century modern piece. 
• The process will also give you the opportunity to learn more about the course. 
• Selected candidates will be invited to attend a recall audition and interview at a later date, and may also be asked to submit a short piece of written work (again at a later date) to demonstrate their aptitude for the course.
   

All candidates will be informed of the outcome of their audition at a later date. We strongly recommend candidates ensure their first-round video link remains ‘live’ until they have received a final decision from Central (ie. an offer or unsuccessful decision) as the panel may wish to revisit this to make a decision.

The fees for Acting - Contemporary, MA  may vary from £25,000 to £35,000 annually for tuition fees. The fee's prices may get higher for International Students.

Graduates have performed in leading theatre venues worldwide including national and international tours, West End and Broadway.
National Theatres: National Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland. London Theatres: Royal Court, Shakespeare’s Globe, Old Vic, Young Vic, Lyric Hammersmith, Hampstead Theatre, The Rose Theatre Kingston, Bush Theatre, Finborough, Gate, Theatre 503, Southwark Playhouse, Park Theatre, Kiln, Arcola, Bunker, the VAULTS Festival. Regional Theatres: Northern Stage, Manchester International Festival, West Yorkshire Playhouse, The Royal Exchange, Birmingham Rep, Bristol Old Vic, Clwyd Theatre Cymru, Chapter Arts Cardiff, Theatre Royal Bath. UK Theatre Companies: Frantic Assembly, Punchdrunk, The Factory. International: Old Globe (San Diego), ACT (San Francisco), Playwrights Horizon (New York), Pop-up Globe (Auckland/Sydney), Seattle Rep.
 

Screen includes:Universal, MGMM, BBC, ITV, HBO, Netflix, Amazon, S4C, Fox 21 Television Studios

Graduates have also worked as writers, directors, designers, filmmakers, producers, agents, musicians, singers, scholars, comedians, acting teachers, acrobats and dancers.