Acting and Performance

UCAS code: W410

Here's what Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh says about its Acting and Performance course.

This course is available for advanced entry into Year 3 only

This two-year course draws on QMU’s rich and highly respected teaching expertise within the performing arts and provides the training needed to pursue a contemporary career as an actor on stage and screen. It is an articulation route for students who have already achieved an HND Acting and Performance/Musical Theatre or who have completed two years of an appropriate degree.

Why QMU?

• QMU has been training actors since 1971 with 2021 marking the 50 year anniversary of our teaching in this area. • QMU is a member of the Graduate Spotlight Scheme. • Our course is tailored to a modern era with a 50:50 split of theatre and film training. • You will be part of a large performing arts department, studying alongside students on the Costume Design and Construction, Drama, Film and Media, and Theatre and Film courses. • Many of our staff are active theatre/film makers, writers, voice practitioners and movement specialists and bring that experience to our rehearsal rooms. • You can select from a range of optional modules that complement your training as an actor and will improve your future. • The rich and varied curriculum will provide a distinctive actor training in the conservatoire tradition and provide you with the knowledge and skills required for the diverse range of opportunities which the industries offer. • QMU has an holistic approach to learning and teaching.

On this course you will:

• Focus on intensive stage and screen actor training with additional options that allow you to expand your skills to include areas such as community theatre, playwriting, directing, devising and creative entrepreneurship. • Experience practical and practice-led teaching methods to explore the ways in which the skills you already have can be developed and enhanced to embrace the demands of theatre, media and performance. • Deepen your knowledge of the fundamental skills of acting, voice, movement, textual analysis and interpretation, examining the ways in which they are deployed and synthesised to create character and performance, on stage, screen and in media work. • Engage with current industry professionals and organisations.

This course enables you to convert an appropriate existing qualification into a degree and is equivalent to years three and four of an honours degree. You will complete a range of modules each year as outlined.

Year Three •Advanced Acting: Skills •Advanced Acting: Text and Techniques •Advanced Acting: Screen and Media

Year Four •Audition and Showcase •Honours Performance Project •Creative Entrepreneurial Project •plus options that could include: Playwriting/ Writing for Radio/ Creativity with the Community/ Drama and Education/ Directing, Designing and Performing Shakespeare/ Directing, Designing and Performing Contemporary Plays/Devised Physical Theatre/ Performance Art Practices

Please check the website for any updates.

A large portion of your course will be delivered through skills-based workshops, you will have the opportunity to undertake student-led research projects, perform in professional standard productions, prepare a personal portfolio to support your career after graduation and showcase your work to industry professionals. You will be assessed through a range of performances, viva, workshops participation, reflective portfolios and reports.