Level 3 Acting & Musical Theatre

An exciting and immersive two-year course that is suitable for anyone who is passionate about having a career in the performing arts industry. This creative course allows you to develop the practical skills and the underpinning knowledge required to be successful as an actor or musical theatre artist. Taking part in a variety of practical, structured workshops, you will develop your performance skills across a variety of genres and work collaboratively to rehearse and present a wide range of performing arts productions throughout the year.

Whether you would love to be on stage yourself or help others realise their potential through teaching, this exciting course will help you unleash your talent and propel you towards a rewarding career in this fast-paced industry.

This energetic course is ideal for those who wish to pursue a career as an actor, director, or drama teacher in community/educational settings. Previous students have gone on to run their own drama schools, teach in schools and colleges, or become actors on television, in theatre or on cruise ships. This course is ideal if you wish to further develop your creative, performance and technical skills in order to progress on to university or employment within the performing arts industry.

The course focuses on developing practical and performance skills rather than preparing you for an exam, and all theory will underpin the live projects and performances you are undertaking. Each successful applicant will become a member of the college’s resident performing arts company ‘Boom Ensemble’, where students will learn the processes of being a member of a professional theatre company. Each year, you will take part in at least four performances at college.

Throughout this course, you will further develop your creativity in acting, vocal and movement. It is vocationally driven and will help you develop the underpinning skills required for industry. These include practical/performance skills, audition techniques, marketing materials, professional etiquette, communication skills, and performance collaboration approaches. You will focus on a wide range of theatre genres, look at reflective critique and peer assessment, develop research techniques, and have the opportunity to take part in at least four performances per year.

You will also be given the opportunity to develop production skills in costume and set design, lighting and make-up.

After successfully completing this course, you will have the skills and knowledge needed to progress on to employment or further/ higher education. You may wish to enhance your skills further by progressing on to our HNC and HND courses, or perhaps you would like to apply for a performing arts related degree programme at a national university or drama school.

Warrington & Vale Royal College is dedicated to enhancing your employability skills and knowledge of your chosen industry. Throughout your course you will take part in guest lecture workshops with employers as well as undertaking live performance projects for local community groups and employers. You will work with a variety of external agencies in order to strengthen your knowledge and experiences, including Culture Warrington, Warrington Museum, Community Objectives, and various professional theatre projects.

The expert tutors on this course have numerous industry contacts, which means you will have access to valuable work experience placements and benefit from meeting industry professionals.

You will be allocated a progress coach who will provide you with support to help you succeed on your study programme and progress on to your chosen career or progression path. We have a team of staff dedicated to providing learning support if required, as well as a Welfare Team that is on hand to offer guidance, support and help when needed. 

Additionally, eligible students can access a wide range of finance and funding support to help them during their time at college.

Click here for learning support: https://wvr.ac.uk/college-life/learning-support

Click here for finance support: https://wvr.ac.uk/college-life/financial-support

Throughout your course you will be taught by highly skilled staff with both acting and dance specialisms. The tutors in this department have excellent industry connections and are still practicing within the industry, giving you a real-life insight into the performing arts sector, and allowing you to benefit from their experience and expertise.

You will study in a range of excellent performing arts facilities including a well-equipped theatre with sprung floor, staging, lighting, and sound. The course focuses on developing, rehearsing, and performing a wide range of showcases throughout the year, both within college and at external venues.

On this course you will also have the opportunity to take part in enriching local and national trips to acting studios, theatre performances in the West End, and live music performances.

The performing arts department are very proud to be working alongside University of Arts London, who will be the awarding body for this qualification.

You will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and/or maths, or you will have need to have successfully completed the Level 2 Performing Arts course. If you have not already achieved a grade 4 in your either your GCSE English or maths, you will be required to work towards this as part of your study programme.

As a student on this course, you will be required to purchase your own costumes for shows and must wear black clothing for lessons (t-shirt, leggings/jogging bottoms, hoody, jumper). You will also need to provide your own basic equipment such as notebooks, folders, and pens.