UAL Level 3 Diploma Performing and Production Arts (Acting)

Course overview

Our Level 3 Diploma in Performing and Production Arts (acting) is an internationally recognised qualification through the University of The Arts London. It is included in the UCAS tariff and attracts tariff points for each final grade, which supports University applications.

This 1-year full-time course will introduce you to acting and theatre career opportunities and push your creative potential by building acting, voice, movement, theatre, performance and production skills.  With state-of-the-art facilities, including movement and rehearsal studios, aerial space and our in-house Theatre and Fringe Venue, we offer the best to start your creative journey.

Opportunities for practical work experience will be available through PASS industry connections. Immerse yourself in the art of acting as you gain essential experience in professional environments and make crucial connections with theatre professionals. Theatre visits, workshops and graduate Q&As will enhance your learning throughout and you will showcase your developing skills in at least two performance opportunities throughout the year.  This highly practical course is centred around performance projects aimed at nurturing and enhancing your performance skills.  Students in this course will collaborate with other students across Performing Arts Studio Scotland.

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What you will learn

A highly practical course designed to support you to realise and achieve your performance potential through project-based working. Please see an overview of your units and the projects you will be working towards.

Project 1 - Technique and Performance (Units 1,2,3 and 4)

• UNIT 1-Principles of performance
• UNIT 2- Engaging with an audience
• UNIT 3- Introduction to professional practice
• UNIT 4-Critical and Contextual Awareness

Project 2 - Performance Skills and Context (Units 5,6 and 7)

• UNIT 5- Production Skills and Context
• UNIT 6-Performance Skills and Context
• UNIT 7- Preparation for specialist study

Project 3 - Collaborative Performance Project (Unit 8)

• UNIT 8- Collaborative performance project

Placement information

• No assessed placement but students have participated in Cultural Exchange Trips with Edinburgh Festival Carnival to South Africa, Brazil, Costa Rica and Cuba where they have worked with arts organisations in a variety of contexts. 

How the course is assessed

• Recorded class discussions and presentations
• Rehearsal and Live performances 
• Production process evidence - Research
• Digital and or written portfolio 
• Evaluation

Number of days per week

• 3/4 days per week plus self-directed study outside assigned College hours
• Please note during rehearsals you may be asked to attend additional hours but will be notified in advance of timetabled changes.

Entry requirements

• A strong  personal statement with a desire to make a career in performing arts 
• You must be committed to participating in a full-time course
• Entry will be based on a practical audition where we look for potential, commitment, energy and focus 

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

Audition and Interview Breakdown

To successfully gain a place on our course, all candidates must take part in an audition at Granton Campus. The audition process will likely last between two and three hours and contain four sections: 

•  A tour of our facilities with current HND students
•  An induction session
•  A workshop with fellow auditionees
•  An audition monologue performance followed by an interview

The piece you perform should be one short monologue from a published play. This should be no longer than 2 minutes in duration. We recommend you choose a contemporary piece and character who is about your age, please do not perform any classical pieces, including Shakespeare.

Please also avoid pieces that you have done in Higher/National 5 Drama or English or any of the plays listed below as these pieces tend to be very popular at auditions:

• The Letterbox or Tally’s Blood by Ann Marie de Mambro
• The Steamie by Tony Roper
• Men Should Weep by Ena Lamont Stewart
• Passing Places by Stephen Greenhorn

Immediately after the performance of your monologue, you will have a short interview where we will ask you about your reasons for wanting to train to become an actor and about the kind of theatre that interests you.

If you have difficulty finding suitable monologues ask your English or Drama teacher for suggestions. If you are looking to buy plays the Traverse Theatre offers an extensive back catalogue of their productions for sale at their box office at very reasonable prices. Good quality monologue/audition books are also available online and in most of the larger bookshops in town. Please note that we expect you to have read the play from which your audition piece originates.</

English Proficiency Requirements

Progression and Articulation Routes

Progression routes at PASS onto HND Level Courses:

• HND Acting and Performance 
• HND Musical Theatre 
• HND Dance Artist
• HND Technical Theatre

Career options

• Audition for further training and or work in the industry as an actor, performer or within production on Stage, TV and Film.