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Introduction to Acting and PerformanceDiploma Course

At some point, most of us have wondered what being an actor might be like. For many, this thought goes no further. However, some of us consider how we might turn that thought into a reality.

The Introduction to Acting and Performance Diploma Course provides a comprehensive overview of the many facets of the performance industry, introducing exercises designed to engage your voice, body, heart and brain – the same essential skills found in some of the world’s leading performance training programmes.

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Course overview:

Certified

Accredited

10 Modules

Study Group Access

Earn reward points

What Will You Learn?

The course begins with an overview of the history and societal role of theatre across the world. You’ll explore the techniques and styles of key practitioners of modern theatre, become familiar with ideas, terms and roles within the performance sector, and understand the distinctions between acting for stage and for camera.

You’ll be guided through vocal and physical warm-up techniques, creating and bringing your own characters to life, and analysing text – examining character motivations, emotional expression, relationships and the internal and external factors at play. Physicality is also incredibly important – you’ll learn the components of a walk and the theories of dynamics and tension.

No acting course would be complete without Shakespeare. We look at how to interpret Shakespeare’s language through his use of techniques such as imagery, iambic rhythm and antithesis and how to embody the characters of Shakespearian plays.

The course concludes with guidance on auditions, creating self-tapes, building your personal brand, laying out an actor’s CV, and finding an agent.

By studying this course, you will:

Gain a greater understanding of theatre culture
Know how to prepare physically and vocally for performances
Be able to develop and apply techniques for creating characters
Understand how to dissect scripts to understand characters
Know how to use structured techniques to step into a role with confidence
Have insight into the performance industry and its requirements

Who Would Benefit from This Course?

The main purpose of this course is to outline the first steps for anyone looking to go into acting, whether on stage or in front of the camera. However, it’ll also prove useful if you want to gain a basic understanding of the processes employed by actors to embody a character – whether that’s out of general interest, as a screenwriter, or someone looking to work within the performance sector.

Modules

Module 1: A History of Performance7 Parts

Introduction
Part 1: The Definition of Performance and the Early Days of Western Theatre
Part 2: The Renaissance and Restoration
Part 3: Theatre’s Rise in the East
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 1 Assessment

Module 2: Modern Performance8 Parts

Part 1: Introduction to Modern Performance
Part 2: Konstantin Stanislavski
Part 3: Bertolt Brecht
Part 4: Augusto Boal
Part 5: Styles of Theatre
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 2 Assessment

Module 3: Knowing the Craft7 Parts

Part 1: Stage Directions
Part 2: Different Performance Spaces
Part 3: Glossary of Industry Terms
Part 4: Glossary of Key Roles in Theatre
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 3 Assessment

Module 4: Preparing for Performance12 Parts

Part 1: The Importance of Preparation
Part 2: Vocal Physiology
Part 3: Warming Up the Breath
Part 4: Warming Up the Resonators
Part 5: Facial Warm-Ups
Part 6: Exercising the Lips and Tongue
Part 7: Pitch
Part 8: The Body’s Framework
Part 9: Physical Exercises
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 4 Assessment

Module 5: Creating a Character8 Parts

Part 1: Where We Can Begin
Part 2: The Nine Questions
Part 3: Contextualising Your Character
Part 4: Finding Your Voice
Part 5: Writing a Monologue
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 5 Assessment

Module 6: Playing the Part8 Parts

Part 1: Getting into Character
Part 2: Breaking Down the Text
Part 3: Annotating Scripts
Part 4: Embodying Our Discoveries
Part 5: Going Solo
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 6 Assessment

Module 7: Physical Performance8 Parts

Part 1: The Language of the Body
Part 2: Laban’s Theory of Dynamics
Part 3: The Seven Levels of Tension
Part 4: Elements
Part 5: Create a Movement Sequence
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 7 Assessment

Module 8: Shakespeare8 Parts

Part 1: A Brief History of Shakespeare
Part 2: Iambic Pentameter
Part 3: Translating Shakespeare
Part 4: Analysing Shakespeare’s Text
Part 5: Movement and Shakespeare
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 8 Assessment

Module 9: Acting for Camera6 Parts

Part 1: Differences in Stage and Screen
Part 2: Techniques for Screen
Part 3: Camera Shots and Angles
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 9 Assessment

Module 10: Into the Future8 Parts

Part 1: The Audition Process
Part 2: Making a Self-Tape
Part 3: Building a Presence
Part 4: Useful Resources
Conclusion
Test Your Knowledge
Key Learning Points Exercise
Module 10 Assessment

Accreditations

The Introduction to Acting and Performance Diploma Course will take you up to 150 hours to complete, working from home. There is no time limit for completing this course, it can be studied in your own time at your own pace.

This is a Level 3 course and will give you 150 CPD (Continued Professional Development) points.

Upon completion of your course assessments, you receive 2 certificates. A certificate from the Centre of Excellence and a CPD certificate displaying the number of CPD points earned from the course.

This course is endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme. Therefore, upon successful completion of this course, learners can also receive a certificate of achievement from Quality Licence Scheme and a Learner Unit Summary, which lists the details of all the units the learner has completed as part of the course. (This certificate is optional and costs an additional £25).

The Quality Licence Scheme is part of the Skills and Education Group, a charitable organisation that unites education and skills-orientated organisations that share similar values and objectives. With more than 100 years of collective experience, the Skills and Education Group’s strategic partnerships create opportunities to inform, influence and represent the wider education and skills sector.

The Skills and Education Group also includes two nationally recognised awarding organisations; Skills and Education Group Awards and Skills and Education Group Access. Through their awarding organisations they have developed a reputation for providing high-quality qualifications and assessments for the education and skills sector. They are committed to helping employers, organisations and learners cultivate the relevant skills for learning, skills for employment, and skills for life.

Their knowledge and experience of working within the awarding sector enables them to work with training providers, through the Quality Licence Scheme, to help them develop high-quality courses and/or training programmes for the non-regulated market.

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FAQs

How much time do I have to complete my course?

There is no time limit for completing your course it can be studied in your own time at your own pace.

How long will the course take me to complete?

All of our courses vary in length but most of our courses will take you between 50 - 250 hours to complete. The length of this course can be found in the Accreditations section above.

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