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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 – PATHWAY ONE 

Acting for Stage and Screen – PATHWAY TWO 

Dance – PATHWAY 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. 

Please complete the following tasks in preparation for the beginning of the course.  

Please feel free to also look on Google to help you!

Activity 1.  Theatre practitioners research

Watch and complete research. You will need to create a one-page fact sheet per practitioner.  You may use a PowerPoint and a slide for each practitioner if you wish.  

Please Include: Techniques,research, information about their style of work and techniques used (ensemble, physical theatre, direct address) past productions, production elements (use of lighting, music, staging, costume) and some images.

1 – Emma Rice / Kneehigh 

Emma Rice’s North By Northwest  – Watch the Trailer

Malory Towers – A nostalgic and naughty musical for all ages from Emma Rice

Clip: Emma Rice’s ”Blue Beard” | Wise Children | Marquee TV

Highlights from “Brief Encounter”

2 – Katie Mitchell

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/resources/practitioners-in-practice-katie-mitchell-film/

3 – Bertolt Brecht.

An introduction to Bertolt Brecht | National Theatre

 

4 – The Paper Birds.

The Paper Birds: 5 Key Ingredients – Verbatim

The Paper Birds: What We Do

 

Activity 2.  Did You Know? The process of making theatre. 

Look at and read the following website page.  

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/about-us/how-we-make-theatre/

Using the following sub-headings summarise what you have read in your own words in 2-3  bullet points for each heading.  

  • Developing an idea.
  • From design to reality
  • Into rehearsal
  • Running the show
  • From stage to screen

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

  • A picture of Chris, a course lead at South Downs.

    Chris Earle - Musical Theatre

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Your Learning Space

I’m very, very happy, I didn’t expect to do so well. The College has been helpful and supportive. I loved my courses, and the teachers were really good – every single one of them. The facilities are great, but it’s the staff that really make this place.

Matthew Randell, A Level student

My experience at the college has been really good, it’s been really rewarding, all the lecturers were so lovely and supportive there’s no way I could have done it without them - the teaching has been outstanding.

Lucie Brooks, A Level student

The tutors were really supportive and it was all thanks to them that I have achieved what I have. I’ve also made loads of great friends and really enjoyed my time at the college.

Lizaveta Sinkerich, A Level student