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Performing Arts Courses

students mid-dance
Getting Ahead

Performing Arts Courses at South Downs Campus

Are you studying Acting for Stage & Screen, Musical Theatre, Dance Performance & Choreography or Performing Arts at South Downs Campus in September? If so, you’re in the right place! 

Welcome to Performing Arts at HSDC South Downs! We are looking forward to seeing you in September. Please select your chosen pathway and engage with this summer activity to get your creative juices flowing and prepare you for your journey ahead. 

Musical Theatre – ACTIVITY ONE 

Acting for Stage and Screen – ACTIVITY TWO 

Dance – ACTIVITY THREE 

a group of students acting out a play

Take a look at the below types of musicals and write a brief description for each one. (To help you, just pop in ‘types of musicals’ into Google and this will point you in the right direction). 

  • Book Musical 
  • Jukebox Musical 
  • Concept Musical 
  • Rock Musical 
  • Golden Age Musical 

Then list at least two musicals that would fit into each type of musical. 

Complete this activity for the Acting courses.  

Find images of each of the following types of theatre space (staging styles) label them with their name, location, and the source that you got the image from.  

  • In-the round 
  • Thrust stage 
  • Traverse stage 
  • Arena or Amphitheatre 
  • End on stage 
  • Proscenium arch theatre 
  • An Apron stage

Then for each type of audience configuration or stage – list the benefits or difficulties of that set up. Consider views, angles, set and lighting impact as well as emotional response and relationship between the actors and the audience. 

Acting course research

View the following clips and write a paragraph describing the style of the theatre, the different production elements (such as music, lighting, staging, costume) and techniques you see being used by the performers. 

Frantic Assembly 

https://youtu.be/ieWs3hl3O4w 

https://youtu.be/x8f9saYLJJc 

https://youtu.be/2pN-effv8PY 

Katie Mitchell 

https://youtu.be/NOdzJWssnjk 

https://youtu.be/B9zzxgYl_hk 

Steven Berkoff

https://youtu.be/iggQhdntrgo?si=bpSNANUEaf4XV7vI

https://youtu.be/2ZQOEZO1n10?si=PxXbWYuiCWglwKQr

Theatre Performance Response

Watch this short video clip and write down some of the features of this performance (for example ensemble), then write a short paragraph outlining your reaction to this footage. What did you enjoy? What did it make you think of?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-sVanEA1Yw

Write a 400 word review of your favourite professional dance work.

Identify

  • The choreographer
  • The name of the work
  • The date of the work
  • The company
  • Who performed the work
  • Details about the dance
    • The genre, style, choreographic devices, costumes, set, props, music

Then discuss why this is your favourite professional dance work

 

Resources

Meet your Lecturers

  • dance lecturer matt newman

    Matt Newman - Musical Theatre & Dance

  • Polly Hadzis - Acting

  • Jimmy Ryan-Shedden - Acting

  • Sarah Parsons in the photo

    Sarah Parsons - Dance

  • Zoe Majczac - Dance

  • Chris Earle - Musical Theatre

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Your Learning Space

“I owe the staff a lot and I wouldn't be where I am today without them.”

Tom Andrews, A Level Student

“HSDC provided me with the opportunity for autonomous study and the choice of subjects that I wanted to study, which helped me develop relevant knowledge as well as relevant skills for the workplace.”

Lucas Ratcliffe, A Level and CTEC student

"I am delighted with my results and am really looking forward to studying Law at Oxford University. I really enjoyed my time at HSDC Alton and I really appreciate all the help and support from my fantastic teachers, without whom I wouldn't have got my place at Oxford."

Catherine Goldie, HSDC Alton A Level Student