Performing Arts Practice - Level 3 Extended Diploma

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 2nd September 2024
End date: 5th June 2026
Information Event: Yes

Course fee: FREE (Eligibility criteria may apply)

If you’re passionate about Performing Arts and eager to launch your career, the Creative Practice Diploma in Performing Arts is the perfect course for you. Designed with input from industry professionals, this qualification offers hands-on learning and practical experience to prepare you for further study, apprenticeships, or employment. You will develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed in the dynamic world of Performing Arts while gaining valuable industry experience.

Why Choose This Course?

• Equivalent to 3 A Levels: Gain a qualification that opens doors to higher education or career opportunities.
• Industry-Relevant Skills: Learn about career options, develop your performance abilities, and build essential professional skills.
• Real-World Experience: Participate in industry workshops and full-scale productions, gaining practical experience in acting, set design, costume creation, and more.
• Collaborative Projects: Work with students from creative industries departments on films, music videos, and animations.
• Progression Opportunities: Prepare for further education, apprenticeships, or enter the workforce with a solid foundation in Performing Arts.
• State-of-the-Art Resources: Benefit from access to cutting-edge facilities, including our new performance space in St Patricks Hall, rehearsal studios, and creative workshops designed to enhance your learning experience.
• Experienced Industry Lecturers: Learn from lecturers who are active in the industry, bringing real-world insights and current practices to your studies.

Course Content

This practical course combines the core elements of Dance, Drama, and Musical Theatre to help you develop key performance skills. You will explore:

• Performing to a live audience
• Dance and singing performance
• Drama improvisation
• Musical theatre
• Acting technique

Through these units, you’ll develop your performance range by exploring different styles, creating material, and performing for an audience. You’ll also gain insights into the industry, including career planning, building a professional profile, and networking.

Hear From Our Students

Learn how past students have gained valuable industry experience and progressed in their careers. 

Course Aims

• Obtain a qualification equivalent to 3 A Levels.
• Learn about employment opportunities in the Performing Arts sector.
• Develop skills needed to start a business or career progression as a performer.
• Develop a range of personal skills and attitudes required for the industry.

Special Features

• Coursework and project-based learning covers a significant percentage of the assessment.
• Students will have the opportunity to improve their existing skills as well as learning new skills while working on formal assessments and extracurricular activities.
• The main aim of this course is to get students into industry, which we do by immersing them into a professional working environment. We facilitate this by giving the students the opportunity to perform in full scale productions, devising and producing student led events and performances. Our most recent performance was ‘Cinderella’ pantomime, where students not only performed but also helped to create sets, designed costumes, staged choreography, and assisted with makeup for the event. It was performed for local schools, family and friends over 2 days and nights and received glowing reports from those who attended, “it was great to hear about the level of cross college involvement in set design, painting etc- true project-based learning”- Another review “Such high standard could not have been achieved without hard work and weeks of practice, you should be really proud of yourselves”.
• Students collaborate in teams with other students enrolled in the creative industries departments by working on short films, music videos and animations.
• We will also prepare for the next step on your education ladder by exploring what courses and apprenticeships are available to you upon achieving a Level 3 qualification. Special links have been made with universities such as Liverpool Hope University and UCLAN the University of Central Lancashire.

Assessment Methods

• Practical Performance: Showcase your abilities through live performances and rehearsals.
• Assignments & Case Studies: Engage in realistic tasks and work-based assessments that reflect the industry.

Applicants should have at least 4 GCSEs at Grade C or above or other relevant qualifications.

In the event of the course being oversubscribed, we may request a recorded performance e.g., singing, acting, dancing.

If you are accepted onto this course without a Grade C or above in Maths and/or English, you will be required to complete the relevant Essential Skills qualification. This will be a compulsory part of your timetable.

Upon successful completion students may progress to employment or a related higher education such as the Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Performing Arts at our Newtownabbey campus or related degree programmes at University.