FOUNDATION ACTING - 2027/8

Module Overview

The module is delivered over two semesters/three teaching blocks focusses upon the rudiments of the actor's craft. The module focusses on the following core subject areas:

• Acting Technique
• Audition Technique
• Skills
• Performance Projects
• Applications and Personal Statements
• Workshops and Masterclasses

Module provider

Guildford School of Acting

Module Leader

CHOUDRIE Ameer (GSA)

Number of Credits: 120

ECTS Credits: 60

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Each teaching block, students will undertake weekly practical studio based classes. Throughout the year content will vary, but will include the following disciplines: 

• Acting Technique; Fundamentals, Improv
• Audition Technique; Classical, Contemporary, Industry
• Skills; Voice, Movement, Supplementary Training, Group Singing
• Performance Project rehearsals; Ensemble Storytelling, Text, Writing/Directing
• Application and Personal Statements; UCAS, Drama Schools and Conservatoires
• Workshops and Masterclasses; Intro to Screen Acting

At the end of each teaching block, students will engage in tutorials, sharings and opportunities for reflection and action planning.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate a practical evidence of a developing methodology as an emerging practitioner. Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Acting Technique: Continuous Assessment 60%


• Performance Project: Performance Assessment 20%


• Introduction to Screen Acting: Practice Assessment 20%

Formative assessment

Continuous formative assessment occurs in every class and 1:1 tutorial and students will be guided to understand and recognise formative verbal feedback in addition to formal written feedback as essential to their development and learning journey. Formal formative feedback weeks will fall at the end of Teaching Blocks 1 and 2. Formative feedback helps students understand where they are on their learning journey, and which particular areas may need greater focus in order to maximise potential, prior to summative assessment.

Feedback

Student feedback is received continually, verbally, from teachers, from peers and of self as directed. Students receive informal and formal verbal and/or written and also benefit from personal tutorials/feedback panels where this feedback can be discussed after reflection and grading has taken place. Formal feedback will be published via SurreyLearn by a published date within three weeks. Encouraging and developing students as resourceful and resilient learners is key to this module. This is supported through engagement within groupwork/peer-to-peer settings, allowing integral attributes such as respect, empathy and support to be demonstrated.

Module aims

• This module aims to nurture and develop skills and techniques for those who aspire to training within either a conservatoire or higher education environment in pursuit of a career within the creative industries. This is both an innovative and intensive pre-vocational programme, led and taught by GSA's highly skilled trained tutors and industry professionals. Students have the opportunity to:
• Develop a broad range of performance skills relevant to the actor
• Receive guidance and preparation for the selection and delivery of monologues required for auditions onto professional performance programmes
• Study a range of audition techniques relevant to drama school auditions and industry
• Access support and guidance for the submission of applications to conservatoires and higher education institutions
• Participate in practical workshops engaging with a range of faculty and associates
• Engage with basic camera techniques and skills required for further screen acting training
• Perform in a Public Performance Project of work within one of GSA's performance venues

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Enable active, experiential engagement with baseline practical technical performance skills
• Enable the articulate, reflective practitioner
• Enable the student to prepare for audition for professional training programmes
• Engender a focused and professional attitude to actor training, both as an individual and within collaborative settings.
• Acknowledge the existence of AI and how it can be used as a learning tool for research, reflection and idea generation.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ACT1035

Other information

GSA delivers its provision across three teaching blocks, within the University of Surrey¿s existing semester structure.

Resourcefulness and resilience 

The focus of this vocational programme is to provide students with the requisite practical and theoretical skills to undertake training at a more advanced level. Students are encouraged to recognise the value of learning from feedback to their learning journey, building confidence through taking ownership of identifying strengths and areas for improvement, and their own agency in the process, actively contributing in moderated safe spaces for dialogue and peer feedback opportunities. 

Global and Cultural Capabilities 

This programme employs inclusive approaches, drawing upon a range of cultural viewpoints and practices. Material covered will reflect the continually developing global perspectives within musical theatre, whilst acknowledging, exploring and understanding the historical contexts. 

Sustainability 

Throughout the delivery of this programme, students will be encouraged to empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. 

Digital Capabilities 

Students will frequently engage with the virtual learning environment and other online resources, ensuring all graduates of the programme are instilled with the requisite digital fluency to engage with further study at conservatoire level.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2027/8 academic year.