Classical Acting: Performance & Practice

The second part is a stimulating 6-month addition to the MA course and is a comprehensive journey into the landscape of drama pedagogy and adaptation. Taught in the evenings (and online), the course provides an opportunity for you to discover and hone your own approaches to teaching. It also provides a platform for you to explore the contextual, political and artistic considerations when interpreting, adapting and presenting a Classical work.

In the first 12 months, you will work on plays from the Shakespearean, Jacobean, Spanish Golden Age, French classical and Restoration periods, you will undertake the rigorous technical and imaginative work required to tackle this heightened text. You will also discover how classical theatre translates across centuries, cultures and languages whilst building an awareness of its historical, political and social context, and its impact on modern theatre.

You will take skills classes to develop and strengthen your existing abilities and prepare you for the rehearsal process. Delivered throughout the year, these will include acting classes, voice and speech classes, movement, singing and dance.

And you will also flex your own creative muscles with the creation of a practical thesis presentation reflecting on the relationship between your classical training and contemporary theatre practice.

You will progress through the application of your acquired knowledge of both theory and practice as it relates to the intelligent exploration and development of original characters.

Your intensive year will culminate in the staging of a Shakespeare production to which agents and casting directors are invited.

In the second 6 months, through tutor-led seminars, workshops, observation classes and lectures, as well as self-directed study, as a Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre Masters graduate, you will be able to further your knowledge and understanding of drama pedagogies as well as imagine and create a portfolio assignment: an adaptation of a Classical text which relates to their interests of the world and its modern context.