Course Content

Unit 1; Investigating Practitioner's Work

Understanding the contextual factors that have influenced and informed the work of performing arts practitioners has an important role in developing your own professional practice and understanding of features, such as response to a theme, performance styles, genre and purpose. A personal evaluation of the work is important; judgements need to be based on effective research and secure critical analysis. In this unit, you will develop skills that allow you to investigate the work of influential performing arts practitioners. You will identify the contextual factors that influence their work and critically analyse key information, such as creative intentions, performance, production and repertoire in order to develop and communicate independent judgements. To complete the assessment tasks within this unit, you will need to draw on your learning from across your programme. This unit will give you skills in research, critical analysis and extended writing that will support your progress to higher education. As a performing arts practitioner you will need to have a good understanding of the work of influential practitioners to inform your own work and professional practice.

Unit 2; Developing Skills & Techniques for Live Performance

The work of the professional performer requires time and dedication to training, developing and improving the tools of the trade. Employment opportunities in performing arts often require the performer to demonstrate skills in more than one style, for example the ability to perform in classical texts or repertoire as well as contemporary works. Training, development and practice of skills are lifelong commitments, enabling the performer to respond to the demands of rehearsals and performances with commitment, imagination and accuracy. This unit serves as an induction into the performing arts where you will develop the appropriate skills and techniques in one or more of the performance disciplines of acting, dance, musical theatre, physical theatre and variety/popular entertainment. You will participate in regular workshops, classes and exercises where you will acquire, practise and develop the necessary technical, practical and interpretative performance skills to help you succeed when performing live to an audience. You will consider the nature, skills and attributes of the performer’s role in your chosen discipline. You will work with existing performance works, analysing and interpreting the material in order to understand and apply the relevant skills and techniques appropriate to the style. In practical classes you will demonstrate the discipline, focus and commitment the role of the performer requires. Ongoing review and evaluation will allow you to monitor your progress and set targets for the development of your performance skills.

Unit 3; Group Performance Workshop

Many professional practitioners work as devising companies to develop new, and often innovative, performance material. This may be in response to a specific commission, to meet the needs of a target audience, or to explore an artistic theme or idea. In this unit, you will learn how to respond to a given stimulus as part of a group, using research, discussion and practical exploration to develop performance material and later present an informal presentation of the work to an invited audience. As a member of a team, you will contribute to the creative development and rehearsal process, shaping and refining the work and applying performance and teamwork skills. You will share responsibility for creative decisions regarding the nature and direction of the intended performance, and your individual contribution will reflect your own skills through the group’s interests and ideas. You will reflect on the development process, considering the success and potential of the work for further development, as well as evaluating your own contribution to the process and the product. To complete the assessment tasks within this unit, you will need to draw on your learning from across your programme. The experience, skills and knowledge gained through this unit are applicable to a range of job roles, including performing, directing, choreography, devising, Theatre in Education (TIE) and project leadership.

Unit 4; Performing Arts in the Community

Performing arts in the community gives you challenging and exciting ways to apply your specialist performance skills. You will perform in a range of venues, for example schools, community centres, care homes, theatres and in the street; allowing you to educate and inform as well as entertain groups from different communities. In this unit, you will develop skills and techniques that allow you to apply your performance skills, such as dance and drama, to a community project. You will learn how to respond to and meet the needs of the community by listening and sharing ideas with beneficiaries, and modelling these into a performance. You will reflect on your progress as you develop and apply skills and techniques, setting targets and reviewing your progress. The skills you develop in this unit will give you progression opportunities and transferable skills that can be applied to a range of performance types. Skills such as working with others, creative thinking and problem solving will support your progression to further study or employment.

Unit 5; Individual Performance Commission

Practitioners working in the performing arts often create work to order. This process, known as working to a commission, involves creating performance work to suit a specific purpose and target audience. This unit will give you an exciting opportunity to experience the work professional practitioners undertake when responding to a commission. In this unit, you will learn how to respond to a commission, using research and practical exploration to create a proposal that explains how your ideas meet the objectives of the brief. Once you have made your initial decisions, you will develop and shape your ideas into an individual performance. The work you create in this unit will also be evaluated in a vocational context. You will need to reflect on the success of the final performance in meeting the commission brief as well as the process undertaken when creating the work.

Unit 6; Final Live Performance to an Audience

Preparing for a live performance holds challenges and opportunities for a performer, from initial planning stages to the first performance for an audience. Rehearsals allow for creative aims and intentions to be explored and for performers to interpret the work and develop their role in it. In this unit, you will gain understanding and experience of rehearsal methods and techniques. You will demonstrate essential personal management and collaborative skills necessary when working in a performing arts ensemble. The unit culminates in the realisation of your rehearsed work to a live audience, where you will demonstrate practical performance skills to communicate interpretation and meaning. Throughout the rehearsal and performance process you will reflect on your individual contribution, allowing you to set targets and to monitor and support your development. The experience, skills and knowledge you gain in this unit will prepare you for progression to the performing arts industry, further study in higher education or training courses at drama, dance or musical theatre schools. Through completing this unit, you will gain essential skills and understanding applicable to a range of performance job roles and future opportunities.